Blog

IT NEWS      Sustainability        - Virtualisation   
Technology news and Jobs arrow Our Blogs arrow The BeerFiles arrow Intuit slow on Quicken and Quickbooks for Linux
Intuit slow on Quicken and Quickbooks for Linux PDF E-mail
User Rating: / 20
PoorBest 
by Stan Beer   
Sunday, 11 November 2007


The next package I tried, GNUCash, did not require any downloading because it comes packaged with the Ubuntu. Just use the add/remove programs and the Synaptic package manager installs it for you. GNUCash is an ongoing open source project and can also be downloaded from websites gnucash.org (where you can find most of what you need to know about the product) and sourceforge.net.

GNUCash aims a bit higher than Moneydance, targeting not only the consumer market for personal finances management but also the small business market addressed by Quickbooks. Among the functions that GNUCash can handle are tasks such as Double-Entry Accounting, Stock/Bond/Mutual Fund Accounts, Small-Business Accounting, Customers, Vendors, Jobs, Invoices, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable - all small business tasks.

The user interface is nowhere near as slick as Moneydance 2007, but this is clearly software aimed more at business users than consumers and everything seems straightforward and easy enough to understand. Importantly for Quicken users, you can import QIF files, as well as a range of other formats such as OFX and HBIC. If I were a small business user running Linux, I would certainly consider GNUCash, since it appears to be very well supported and, despite what some posters on some forums say, the learning curve does not appear to be all that steep - then again I don't have to use it!

Another possible replaced replacement for Quickbooks is Qasar from Linux Canada which is released under both GPL and commercial licenses. I have to admit that I didn't have a close look at this one although I did go through a 60 page features presentation. It looks like it can handle pretty much most small business accounting functions, including retail. There doesn't seem to be a download tailored for Ubuntu though, which is a little surprising. However, I assume from discussions on the Ubuntu Forums that it can be tweaked to run on Gutsy Gibbon without too much angst.

I also didn't try Kmymoney , another personal finances manager capable of importing QIF files which is getting good reviews. Kmymoney is for distros running a KDE interface. The screenshots look fairly impressive.

Another package worth looking at is Grisbi , a personal finances manager that seems to have been designed to run on just about anything. However, I couldn't get it to install on Gutsy Gibbon - allthough I admit I was tired and didn't try too hard.

The conclusion to all of the above is that there are quite a few inexpensive but powerful options out there for businesses and individuals looking for financial packages to run on their Linux desktops. It would be nice if Intuit got off its collective backside and also made its products available for Linux desktop users. However, since Intuit doesn't think those users are important, I don't see any reason for them to wait until the company changes its mind when they have a number of viable alternatives available right here and now.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to post your comment!


Get stories like this delivered daily - FREE - subscribe now


 
< Next story in category   Previous story in the category >
iTWire Technology feature

Virtualisation

Servermaximise your infrastructure, maximise your business

Read more...

Custom Search
 
You don't need to login to post a comment





Lost Password?
No account yet? Register
Subscribe to our free daily newsletter.
BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice
August 23, 2008 (All Day)
BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice consists of 5 one day training modu...

BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice
August 24, 2008 (All Day)
BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice consists of 5 one day training modu...

BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice
August 25, 2008 (All Day)
BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice consists of 5 one day training modu...

BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice
August 25, 2008 (All Day)
BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice consists of 5 one day training modu...

HP QuickTest Professional Public Training
August 25 (9:00 am) - August 26 (11:59 pm), 2008
This instructor-led course provides a comprehensive understanding of using QuickTest Professional...

NICTA Big Picture Seminar - Dr Rodney Brooks "Robotics: Shaped by and Shaping the World in 2000 - 2050"
August 25, 2008 (4:00 pm - 5:00 pm)
ABSTRACT: As the 21st century has dawned we have seen a dramatic uptake of robots for unstructure...

BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice
August 26, 2008 (All Day)
BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice consists of 5 one day training modu...

BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice
August 26, 2008 (All Day)
BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice consists of 5 one day training modu...

PR Online
August 26, 2008 (9:30 am - 12:00 pm)
PR Online Sydney, August 26, 2008 Speakers: - Michael Henderson, Specrum PR - Jeremy Mitche...

ICT SMART: OFFICE SHOW
August 26 (10:00 am) - August 28 (11:59 pm), 2008
ICT SMART office show, is a business-to-business trade event featuring the latest in business tec...
New event listings
SolidWorks Innovation Day (Melbourne and Adelaide)
October 17, 2008 (All Day)
Hosted by Intercad, SolidWorks’ Innovation Days will give designers, engineers and manufacturers ...

SolidWorks Innovation Day (Sydney)
October 16, 2008 (All Day)
Hosted by Intercad, SolidWorks’ Innovation Days will give designers, engineers and manufacturers ...

SolidWorks Innovation Day (Brisbane and Perth)
October 15, 2008 (All Day)
Hosted by Intercad, SolidWorks’ Innovation Days will give designers, engineers and manufacturers ...

LIXI Industry Forum 2008
September 10, 2008 (All Day)
Wednesday, 10 September 2008 The Westin Sydney The second annual major industry event for the...

BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice
August 22, 2008 (All Day)
BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice consists of 5 one day training modu...

BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice
August 21, 2008 (All Day)
BCI Training – Understanding BCM Principles and Good Practice consists of 5 one day training modu...

View Full Calendar
Subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter
Contact , Register , Advertise with iTWire , Links , About iTWire , Feedback , Post your jobs , Events , iTWire site map , Start Blogging , MyBlogLog page
Industry Releases , Submit your release now