Graphs and reports in QuickBooks 2012 appear to be much improved, having shed the pre-OS X look that has persisted throughout the years. Data from reports can be exported, without additional setup, to Apple's Numbers and Microsoft's Excel where you can then tweak your data and add it to printed reports you create in applications like Pages and Word.

Although I've seen it in action, one of the features I haven't yet had the chance to personally test out is the automatic categorization tools that Intuit picked up in its purchase of Mint.com a few years ago. Like Mint, QuickBooks is now able to take any of the transactions imported from your bank, figure out where and with what institution the transaction took place and then automatically rename the payee and properly categorize the transaction in a way that makes sense, with very little interaction from the user. This is one of my favorite Mint.com features and if it works like it does on Mint it's bound to be a huge time-saver to anyone importing banking data, as most banks use odd naming conventions for ATM withdrawals or purchases made at chain stores.

It's hard for me to know yet whether or not the updated QuickBooks is all that it promises to be, but it seems that, unlike previous versions of the program, QuickBooks 2012 is much more than changes to the façade. I like the new forms interface, and I think the program's new smart search features are likely to make it easier for users to create the kinds of useful custom searches that most businesses need.