makbo wrote:I don't understand the first part of your argument -- what is easier about QBO?
The interface is easier -- not for accountants, mind you, but for some clients. Having fewer options is one part of it.
Frankly wrote:There is nothing inherently easier about software in the "cloud" v. software on a HD. If it's easier it's because the program interface is different than that of another program. And QBOL being "easier" than desktop is highly debatable.
This cloud thing and the higher revenues through subscription pricing will never work unless the vendors put out a better product than currently exists on the desktop. Simply discontinuing an existing product to force a change is a dumb way to go about it. Make it better, really better, and folks will go there.
On your first point, I completely agree with you. A program is not easier because it's in the cloud (aside from not having to attempt to install the software or handle your own backups). It's easier because the program interface is geared toward people who aren't accountants who need to do the bookkeeping. It's not designed for us. It's also why I believe that once a company creates an accountant portal to reflect how accountants think, they will take the industry by storm.
To your second point, we're talking about Intuit here. This company embodies forced change to the consumer -- or does the forced obsolescence of their desktop product not count? How about the TurboTax fracas this year, where they attempted to force some returning users up a product level? Or their never-ending changes in QB desktop of how much you have to pay to have a payroll subscription?
makbo wrote:Desktop has all the same data feeds and matching, doesn't it? I've seen several posts in various places that seem to imply this isn't the case.
Desktop has data feeds and matching, sure, but it's a module rather than being integrated as it is in QBOL.