Sage 50 Accounting - U.S. Edition

[ShirleyB]

Thank you also for your comments BEMike.  I love to hear sucess stories!

Shirley

[BEMike]

I would like to add that Parallels or VMWare can easily be configured to be sandboxed (to not affect the Mac side in any way). This is actually very secure, and doesn't open up the Mac to any of the potential problems from the Windows side. Performance is generally excellent, and backing up the whole system is much easier.

There won't likely be a financially viable rationale to bring Peachtree to the Mac. Even Intuit hasn't hasn't found a reason to bring feature comparable products. There are options as well, but if you like Peachtree, Quickbooks isn't going to be an upgrade, even if it is Mac based.

(And I support a large Mac office).

[StephenC]

There used to be a Mac version of Peachtree, but it was discontinued because there weren't enough users to make it a viable product.  Macs have become a lot more popular since then.  But you still have to look at how many of these new Mac users are looking for accounting software.  I suspect it would be a very small percentage.

The lesson to be learned here is that if your computer is a hobby, you can buy whatever you want.  But if your computer is a tool for business, then you need to decide which programs will do what your business needs to do.  Then you buy the hardware and operating system that will run that software.  The decision should be treated no differently than buying the tools for a company's production facility.

It doesn't matter which platform is better in theory.  It is getting the job done that matters.  Everybody knows that OS2 is technologically superior to Windows but 20 years later I'm still waiting for my OS2 version of Peachtree.  Talk about unresponsive!

[ShirleyB]

Thanks James for your reply, 

You are absolutely correct.  Sage is moving toward the cloud also.  I just spoke with my contact at Sage last week regarding companies that currently host Peachtree Data.  They do exist..  This might be a solution for those that don't want to put parallels on their machine.  

This also works well for anyone that has multi offices or multi workers in the field.   Salespeople can now generate an invoice that will hit the accounting software and go to the client at the same time.  What a time saver.  This is a Win/Win for everyone.

[jamesdoty]

Good evening,

This is my first post on the board!  I am an avid Mac user - at home - but I find that the Mac does not offer the business functionality I need in the environment I am in (tax & accounting).  Sure, the Mac is aesthetically pleasing and (supposedly) immune to viruses, but I could not operate my business as efficiently as I do without Windows programs like Outlook (and the new Mac version does not measure up); large and complicated tax compliance packages; unparalleled network security; etc.  And frankly, I find Apple is becoming much more proprietary about its hardware and software packages it allows to be developed for use with their products.  Do you remember the Apple vs. Adobe battle last year?

Perhaps Sage is looking even further into the future than any of you are discussing below: cloud computing!  There will be a point when we no longer install software on our desktops and our data isn't maintained on our own company servers.  I see this in the tax compliance software world (Thomson Reuters has a nice package that they are really pushing) and elsewhere.  At that point it will be irrelevant what operating system we are using.

To each his own, I suppose.  I like Windows and Mac OS X, but for different reasons, and I am not sure I want to see those reasons collide.  For those considering the switch to Quickbooks for Mac, think long and hard before you do because you will lose so much functionality.  Quickbooks, in general, cannot be compared to Peachtree products and Quickbooks for Mac is not the same as Quickbooks for Windows.

Cheers,

James

[ShirleyB]

 Inail, 

You say "People switch to Mac to GET AWAY FROM WINDOWS!"   You really shouldn't generalize.  Not all people choose MAC's for that reason.   I worked for an advertising agency.  The art department used MACs for the graphics. It is just easier if everyone is on the same operating system to track time and billing.

Don't you think that Sage would have already responded if it was a simple process to switch the entire program to a MAC environment?  Peachtree is a huge program with a lot of old code.  It isn't going to happen overnight.    I attend "Sage Insights" annually.  We discuss the wants and needs of the consumer. This is just one request for this software.  What about multi currency,  multi warehouse,  billion dollar transactions and all of the other requests.  There is a very long list.  Peachtree can't be everything for everyone.  If it was, it would cost thousands of dollars, not hundreds.   

Personally, I didn't appreciate your comment.  It was uncalled for, rude and nasty.  You really don't have to put people down to make your point. Many people do this to justify their own shortcomings or failures.  For some reason they think that if they make someone look small, they look more important. 

We wouldn't talk to you that way, please have courtesy for those that comment on this board!

Shirley

[lnail]

I find it absolutely amazing that Sage can mention everywhere on their Products & Services pages about providing better service and support than competing providers, yet when their customers specifically request something, not only does it take OVER A YEAR for a THIRD PARTY representative to respond, but then the response just elaborates options that everyone has mentioned isn't plausible.

Sure, I could run Peachtree in Windows in Parallels on my Mac.  But, c'mon.. what would really be the point of switching to Mac, if I was still just going to run Windows, even if it is in a sandboxed virtual environment?  Shirley, use that head for something other than a shoulder-holder.  People switch to Mac to GET AWAY FROM WINDOWS! 

I have used Macs for over 23 years.  And I also support windows computers, unfortunately.  Macs are selling at an unbelievable rate, with much higher sales percentages than the PC market in general.  In less than five years, Mac will have a CONSIDERABLE market share, and then where will Sage be?

A company that truly supports their customers and provides great service is also the company that will respond to customer requests or inquiries - and usually within less than year - and typically that same company will take into consideration multiple inquiries / recommendations and, with respect to the market, would re-evaluate its position.

I am currently in the process of switching a large accounting office from windows to Macs.  I have been told to find equivalent Mac software to replace all current windows software used, as they want to get completely away from windows.  Unfortunately for Sage, I will not be able to recommend it. It is sad to see requests from other customers go without response.

Disappointed in USA.

[ShirleyB]

Get Parallels.  You can run Peachtree on the Mac!

[lm123]

I agree. I would love to see Complete for Mac. My company is in the process of switching to Macs, and I am probably going to have to switch to a quickbooks product because Peachtree has not come out with a compatible Mac product. I know I can run it with bootcamp, etc. We are concerned that by opening one machine up to virus and issues common to pc's and being on a network that it will completely defeat some of the reasoning of why my company is moving to Mac.

[jstmbr01]

Please get PT for MAC. I also think about going back to Quickbooks, but the task would be daunting.