Microsoft Money 99, £30
After successfully managing household accounts for years using Microsoft Excel it was a wrench to move over to Money 99. The new program offered to carry out the same functions, but with the added attraction of controlling accounts online. It was stimulating to think I could do my banking through the program without visiting a branch. The first step was to change banks, to AIB which has an online service, but the great expectations of controlling financial affairs directly from the PC did not last long.
Unfortunately Money 99 has been set up to use the online services of six British banking institutions, and no others. In response to a phone call, Microsoft said the Irish banking system would probably be added next year. That was very disappointing, as Money 99 offers lots of advantages. There are set-ups for 15 types of account, including current, credit card, overdraft and mortgage. It can track cash expenditure and credit card use, plan tax payments and (for the small business) track invoices and expenses. There is a nice strategy on managing cash flow. Excellent built-in help is available, which includes video tours showing how to work with various plans or budgets.
Those who want to save for pensions or future education expenses will find a plan in Money 99 for them. Other "wizards" offer easy ways to organise pension or mortgage strategies. All in all, this is a very smart programme which certainly offers great advantages over Excel for this role. Its full capabilities will not be available, however, until it can work online with Irish banks. Tony Dooley
Rise of Rome expansion, Microsoft, £23
THE Rise of Rome is an expansion for Microsoft's game Age of Empires in which the player takes on the roles of Caesar and family in their quest to change the Roman republic into an empire. From the ice-tipped peaks of the Alps to the scorched sands of Zama, you can command legions and delight in the slaughter of barbarians, for there is little else to do in this dreary spin-off.
The major attractions are the campaigns of Caesar and Octavian which it purports to replicate in intricate detail. This is less than truthful; it just picks up major events in Roman history and, frankly, builds standard soap opera stories around them. The lack of a large map of your conquests and the fact that you must follow the historical path (no matter how well you do) can leave you feeling confused, frustrated and fatigued. The artificial intelligence has the sense of Nero and strangers to Roman history will wonder how Rome became a trans-continental empire when its legionaries had a propensity to walk into trees. The flaws of the original game, such as an inability to wage war on a large scale, are still present. Although, as in the original game, the scenery and characters are visually stunning, nothing in this add-on enhances the impressive original. One senses that Age of Empires 2 is not ready. Daragh Breen