Software Problems

b young

I am looking at expanding my software capabilites. I am currently using Quickbooks Pro 2002. I want to be able to use the software from the office, my home, and a lap top and have more than one user at a time. I have looked into the Quickbooks Internet version but you can not due estimates on it. Is there anything else out there that may be the answer. I have tried PC anywhere but if you don't have a good connection you will be waiting a long time. Any help would be great.

brian

Ken_8

Hey Brian,

We just upgraded to Pro 2004 and it was a deal at Costco. Cost about $130 for the upgrade. I went from 01 to 04. They still support your version however, so no need to upgrade - yet.

Re the multiple use situation. We run QBPro'04 just like 01.

The end result is as follows:

Two computers in the office are linked via a router. We keep overhead way down by simply buying the single user product and via the router, access the "master" with the real program in both office computers. The only draw back is both computers cannot run QB at the exact same time. That's never been a probblem. We also have a laptop that we drag around and occassionally will do work in another location with that - also using QBPro'04. The way we do it (and it's a pain sometimes) is to backup on a CD and simply "restore" the latest data into the laptop. Do work or whatever in QB and then backup on the same RW CD the latest data, do a restore when back in the office and both the master and the "slave" office computers are then brought up to date.

The only drawback is that when the laptop is off-site and being used to post or run QB tasks - no one can alter any data on the "master or slave" back at the office - until the backup of laptop work is "restored" into the "master." Since we are a small 6-man shop, it has never been a problem. Son Scotty and I are the only ones who use them anyhow.

CD's are so fast and easily hold three or four years of uncompressed QB records, it really is fast, cheap and accurate way to backup.

As long as no one comes in and starts using the master or slave - while the laptop is being used off site, this method works quite nicely.

No biggy if someone does use the office machine(s) - the work just has to be re-entered again after the restore is installed. Were that to vere happen, the least work add-on would be the one that would be manually re-entered.

If however you want all computers to have equal access and they are all connected/linked to the "master," then you have to buy the 5-pack for around 600 bucks! For that much money, QB should sing AND dance.

Hope this helps?

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tim smith

software

Buy a router, maybe netgear with pro/firewall. Install cable or dsl to office computer and at home. The router will give you networking capability and remote access. As far a the laptop. I would just load software onto laptop for proposals and when you get back to office, transfer file of quotes given to main computer. Cell phone transfer still unreliable. The cable or dsl will give you good fast connection to office environment. Use MS XP for networking. Will take a bit of tweaking to get it online.