By Victoria Hall Smith
Peachtree’s latest version continues to refine features while adding new functionality and beefing up e-commerce capabilities. User-requested updates include a new Fast Add feature for streamlining the addition of new customer and vendor accounts, similar to the Quick Add feature in QuickBooks. Viewing transaction detail has been improved to include Receipts and Payments screens, but is still lacking in financial statements.
The new e-mail alert feature allows users to monitor critical indicators and have an e-mail generated when certain conditions are met. Inventory now supports up to ten item price levels. Users can set default price level calculations based on various percentages and apply them on individual or all inventory items. Price levels can even be associated with customer names. Out-of-stock warnings have been added to the sales order and sales invoice screens, and storing e-mail addresses on customer records.
Peachtree Web Accounting lets users input sales orders, check inventory, print reports, and authorize their accountant to view and maintain data remotely.
Use the SurePay payment gateway for processing credit-card payments. Users still must input information into the credit-card window to send it for processing.
We feel the extensive upgrades certainly justify upgrading to Peachtree Complete 2002.
Peachtree Complete Accounting 2002
Rating: 90
Manufacturer: Peachtree Software; 800-247-3224; www.peachtree.com
Price: Single-user, $269; multi-user, $599
Requirements: Win 95/98/2000/NT 4.0+/Me; 64MB of RAM; 70 to 100MB of disk space; 70+MB for IE 5.5; CD-ROM; Internet service; MS Excel 97 or 2000
Pros: Online capabilities are greatly improved, including remote access and use
Cons: Drill down for detail is still not available in common financial reports
