Microsoft Money 2002 Financial Suite

Another year and the new Microsoft Money software is here again. As before, it comes in three flavours - Standard at £30, Financial Suite as reviewed here at £50, and Personal and Business at £70.

Most of the new features are improvements in personal finance management and include MoneyViewer, online banking and more versatile reports.

MoneyViewer adds its icon to Internet Explorer 5.5 and launches itself in the browser's side pane, showing your balances and other financial details without opening Money itself.

The new Online Services Manager lets you sign up to your bank and other accounts, automatically downloading statements and updating your Money accounts.

The new Background Banking feature claims to be able to connect and update Money's account registers automatically, even when the program is not open, although we weren't able to test this.

Money's Reports Gallery lets you view and print out your data as text reports or charts. You can review your cash flow, set up a budget forecast and even work out your total worth, including listing and valuing your house contents.

There's a will-maker, a useful organiser and worksheets. The Tax Centre helps with income tax matters and you can use your data in third-party taxation software.

If you are struggling to keep tabs on your finances, Money 2002 Financial Suite is flexible, powerful and relatively affordable. Owners of last year's model are unlikely to gain enough to warrant upgrading.

Contact
Microsoft 0845 700 2000 www.microsoft.com

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