15th October 2001

Advertising helps keep business in business. I expect to see sponsors wherever I find "free" stuff, but I'm not disappointed when none are to be found. Imagine my shock when I discovered that Microsoft Money 2002 came with banners. What?! Yeah, apparently they're not making enough money already. Right! Well, at least they've allowed users to turn them off (even though having them on by default is beyond reproach). This Gnomie offers the workaround: "If you go into Tools | Options | General, there's an option to 'Turn off sponsorship and shopping links.' It's unchecked by default. When checked, it appears to get rid of all of the ads. Now, if I can just find a way to get it to stop pestering me about Passport." Well, I wouldn't count on that. Microsoft's future rests in the success of Passport. If it's security with your own accounts that you're concerned about, consider password protecting that Money file. Go to the File menu and select "Login Lockbox." Yeah, I know. Someone was trying to be cute.