Jewish World Review Feb. 27, 2004 / 5 Adar 5764
By Mark Kellner
http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com |
Checksoft Home & Business, a $39.99 Windows-compatible software package from
Elibrium is a solid, easy-to-use software application
that'll solve a problem that you may not even know you have. Permit me to
explain. (Click HERE to purchase. Sales help fund JWR.)
One of the greatest assets the personal computer has brought to humanity is,
I believe, the personal finance software program. You can parse your
checkbook and budget as fully as any Congressional analyst can crunch the
trillions of dollars in the Federal budget.
But there's one thing lacking in Quicken, Microsoft Money and related
programs, and that is a way to create and print the checks you want to
write. For this, you have some choices: order checks from your bank (not
cheap), order them from Quicken or Microsoft (not at all cheap), order them
from one of those companies that advertise in Sunday newspaper supplements
or on the Web (more reasonable for some formats) or print them yourself
(reasonable cost, tremendous flexibility).
My preference for now is to print my own, for a couple of reasons. One is
the flexibility factor: I can update my address and telephone information
very easily, and not waste pre-printed checks that have outdated
information. I can also put any sort of picture, bank logo and other design
on a check, and I can change those designs at will.
Those features are what Checksoft Home & Business does, along with adding a
checkbook program (in case you don't have Quicken or Microsoft Money) that
will ably record your transactions and let you reconcile your checkbook. I
will focus a bit more on the check design, printing and check writing
capabilities in this evaluation.
Key to check creation is an included "Check Designer" program whose
templates cover a variety of styles, in wallet-sized and business-sized
layouts. Editing these layouts, once you input basic account information
such as name(s), address, bank information and account numbers, is easy and
flexible. You can re-arrange several elements of a check's design, such as
the bank name and address, to make for a better layout. You can add a
background picture, although it's well worth doing a test print before
running off a large quantity. If the resulting picture is too dark, you can
change its brightness, contrast and Gamma profile to make the image subtler.
There's also a one-click way to make the picture fit the entire check,
resulting in a more pleasing image presentation. One of the final formats
are forms which can be separated, stacked and bound into a traditional
wallet-style checkbook that is virtually indistinguishable from the bank
version.
Instead of paying around 15-cents per check at the bank, the "roll-your-own"
checks come out at about 7 cents each, versus around 4-cents for the plain
vanilla Web-ordered kind. But again, I can more easily control things using
software and an inkjet or laser printer at my desk. That's an intangible
benefit, in my opinion.
With or without pictures, the check printing is simple and straightforward,
making it easy for recipients and their banks (as well as yours) to read the
check and process payment. I've had a .500 batting rate with my bank, so
far: one check sailed through their computers, another required the adding
of a separate MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) strip.
However, some banks may require true magnetic ink printing on checks you as
a customer issue. That means using a laser printer and a magnetic toner
cartridge for checks, with cartridges costing around $200. The other is that
banks may accept your checks with non-magnetic ink, but add a processing
charge. Chevy Chase Bank, a near-ubiquitous force in the Washington, D.C.,
region, slaps a $1 per item fee for non-magnetic checks, for example.
My bank, hapily, is far more accommodating. Also, the vast majority of my
payments are online transactions, or are made with a debit card. As a
result, I'm happy to print checks on an ad hoc basis. If you're like me - or
if you have other specialized check writing needs Checksoft Home &
Business is an option you might want to explore.
Find this column useful? Why not sign-up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Mark Kellner has reported on technology for industry newspapers and magazines since 1983, and has been the computer columnist for The Washington Times since 1991.Comment by clicking here.
Blocking pop-up ads
Another check creation option
Apple's super-cool iBOOK G4
MSN, the AOL alternative?
It's Konfabu-lous (and other Mac joys)
The world on my wrist, courtesy MSN
Treo 600 is great business tool
How to make good computer choices this year
The year behind, the one ahead
Last minute gifts, and other thoughts
Something special in the air, again
Veterans Admin plans computer revolution
More holiday gifts
Holiday Shopping Ideas (One of a Series)
Now, Mr. Gates Joins War on Spam
Stopping "Phishers" From Scamming You
Staying safe online
Franklin Covey Brings Order to Outlook
Upgrades: Should you do it?
Time to dump Ma Bell?
Palm T3 widens users' options
Electronic reading
Lessons from a hurricane
Can the PC and phone really merge?
The case of the curious keyboard
The season ahead
New keyboard adds flair to motion tablet
Upgrade path smoothes a bit
Dreamweaver, make me a web
Experiments in upgrading
A tale of two headsets
A declaration of Mac-dependence
Fuji's Fine FinePix S602Zoom
In search of good Mac apps
Little gadgets make computing easier
Adobe Acrobat 6.0 scores
Toshiba's Twisting Tablet PC
HP printer a steady worker
iTunes store, Mailblocks are cool online services
Palm's objects of D-Zire
Gateway's Tablet a winner
Outlook 2003 beta: A promising program
Tungsten's handy "Dubya"
Lexmark's winning all-in-one
Wireless ways
Long distance tech support does trick
Tablet Planner software a hit
Up and down the road with Joyride
Clarion's "AutoPC" is no "Joyride"
Apple's Keynote is PowerPoint for less
Moving adventures
Traveling companions
HP's Compaq Tablet PC a winner
The war on spam continues
Browser for Mac users has good start
New Adobe software organizes photos
Techno-war
The year the PC grew up
PC meets philately: one hit, one miss
Digital Nikon camera a winner, at a price
Honey, they shrunk the COMDEX
Last-minute ideas
Microsoft's Tablet PC has promise, problems
Upgrade with a plan
Palm's New Tungsten PDA Shows Its Mettle
Nobody asked me, but ...
Love, in Quicktime
T-Mobile's sidekick a good partner
Put on a (happy, unwrinkled, tanned, whatever) face
Apple software upgrade very useful
I came, I saw, iPod
How's that? A tech critic reflects, briefly
Satellite radio gets favorable reception
HP's desktop printing marve
Mac satisfaction --- and some really good software
Off to college ... with eMachines
Have PC, must travel
After Shot manages your digital camera images
X200: Mobile worker's fantasy
Beware: Consumers face a fee for printing own checks