Error loading Turbo Tax 2012 on Macbook (2007)

Perhaps you can share what happened and what you did to get it to work? This might help others-- unless it's something really dumb, but then again, we all do those things.

Bob Meighan, VP TurboTax

So you guys can't handle backward compatability? You just make a version that checks what processor the user has and loads the older Software for people like me who have the dual processor. I pay for my TurboTax software BTW and WAS a loyal user for many years, going back to when the company first started. I just tried loading the complimentary CD that is mailed to me every year to get started and had this problem. I am really disgusted that Turbotax is willing to jettison customers like this, especially since in the past I always recommended your software to others, I was going to actually buy two licenses this year to do my mom's taxes as well. Oh well, I hope H&R Block's software is as easy to use as TurboTax was.

I agree. This is pathetic. I'm a software engineer myself, backward compatability isn't that hard a problem and the dual processor is still widely in use. I was a loyal Turbo Tax user since the company started.

"If you got a copy from the library, that is a copyright violation. You should not be installing the software unless you are the legitimate purchaser. The library is equally at fault. "

FYI, I don't think the library was nesessarily doing anything wrong. Turbo Tax gives out a free promotional CD that gets you started but you have to pay to really get it to work, actually the library was doing Turbo Tax a favor by distributing these CDs, generating business, well except that Turbo Tax doesn't seem to want the kind of people who use libraries and old computers as customers anyway.

JGatsy... Backward compatibility is not a problem if the development tools, compilers, debuggers, etc work for 32-bit. Unfortunately, the development tools we adopted do not support 32-bit Macs (as most current development tools also do not support). However, we have great alternatives that others like you have chosen. Your historical and future data files are 100% compatible with TurboTax Online (yes, even with a 32-bit Mac), TurboTax for iPad and TurboTax for Windows. As with others, if you already paid for the 2012 software, I can offer you the migration you need at no additional cost. Just contact me at "turbotax_advocate" + "@intuit.com".

When a library is distributing fully functional TurboTax software, that is a copyright violation.

I hope this information helps.

Bob Meighan, VP TurboTax

I cannot believe Mr Meighan's response to what he claims is 1% of his customer base. Essentially we are not important enough for him to solve the problem. Engineers solve problems all the time and this is a very minor problem. However since he does not feel he has any competition and that the online version, he feels, is a real alternative then I guess this opens the door to some other company to walk in. From my perspective there is something odd about the company pushing this online version (data minding maybe). This is very bad customer relation move. All my friends have 32-bit Mac's so I do not buy the companies position, however time will judge their decision.

Dwight... We do NOT data mine any tax information. Also, we are not pushing anyone to Online solutions. We offer alternatives and let customers decide which products or services they use. If you don't want to use TurboTax Online, then I suggest you consider TurboTax for iPad or TurboTax for Windows.

Bob Meighan, VP, TurboTax

First on backward compatability. I'm a software engineer. To say that your development tools are tied to a specific chip is something that people learned to get past in the 80's. If you work in Java it should be portable just about everywhere. But even if you work in an older language like C++ or even C the vast majority of tools have compilers for older chips. I have a lot of software on my iMac. Much of it is FREE software developed by researchers like the Semantic Web team at Stanford that distributes Protege. Before this the ONLY time I had software that wouldn't run on my iMac was Final Cut Pro which requires a more advanced graphics chip. That totally makes sense, I never bought this machine to do video editing in the first place. But a Tax program give me a break. Either your technical team is incompetent (which I don't think is the case) or you are trying to push your users to cloud computing. And I can appreciate why you would want to do that. More and more tools I use are cloud based. I just don't have enough confidence in the security yet to do my taxes that way.

"When a library is distributing fully functional TurboTax software, that is a copyright violation."

Jesus Christ you don't even know how your own software works. Its NOT fully functional. Its an intro CD, you load it and it gets you started but you have to pay to get a complete license. I got the same CD that this guy got from the library mailed to me. And the demo software, the part that works before you buy the license, wouldn't install. The library is doing you a favor but by all means hunt them down and sue them so they stop.

So ... according to Mr. Meighan, Intuit's hands are completely tied! I can only sumise that I need to buy a new Mac in order to use Turbotax 2013. Geez, Mr. Meighan, that would really cut into my refund!

Instead, I returned the Turbotax and bought H&R Block's Tax Cut. Worked fine ... basically the same. Only difference: it works on my 32-bit computer!

Try it folks. Just drop Turbotax.

JGatsy... Backward compatibility is not a problem if the development tools, compilers, debuggers, etc work for 32-bit. Unfortunately, the development tools we adopted do not support 32-bit Macs (as most current development tools also do not support). However, we have great alternatives that others like you have chosen. Your historical and future data files are 100% compatible with TurboTax Online (yes, even with a 32-bit Mac), TurboTax for iPad and TurboTax for Windows. As with others, if you already paid for the 2012 software, I can offer you the migration you need at no additional cost. Just contact me at "turbotax_advocate" + "@intuit.com".

When a library is distributing fully functional TurboTax software, that is a copyright violation.

I hope this information helps.

Bob Meighan, VP TurboTax

Just joining this conversation. Like the others I have a mac, and I've been using Turbo Tax for years but I think it is time to try something else. The software clearly says it works on a 32-bit. The software worked to fill out my federal return and let me download and run my state return. What it won't let me do is buy audit protection on line or buy another state for download. I've been on the phone for close to 2 hrs trying to buy these things over the phone. Bad enough the software doesn't work as advertised...but when I called tech support they couldn't help me (after a 45 minute wait to get through) and then they sent me to somebody else and she's trying to help me as I write this. All I want to do is buy more products from Turbo Tax so I can get my taxes done, and Turbo Tax has made it seemingly impossible to get the software I need. And even when you get through to customer service they can't help you. Turbo Tax is a train wreck for Apple users.

Howard61... TurboTax for Mac does NOT work on a 32-bit machine so I would strongly suspect you have a 64-bit machine. Although I am not aware of any issues purchasing audit protection or another state, I would suggest you retry and see if your payment is accepted.

Thanks,

Bob Meighan, VP TurboTax

I have to say Mr Meighan, your reponses are arrogant and short sighted.

Thank you.

A VP who offered "direct connection" to another is arrogant?

Seems you need to reach a tax store yourself Monday, whether or not you have to work, to file by Apr 15th.

And good luck to you if you accuse the people at the store of arrogance.

I think i was allowing my frustration with the situation affect my comment. I do not intend to make this a negative thread, so I take your point and will return to being peaceful and loving. Thank you and have a good weekend. You too Bob.