my mom tried to use the app.  She's very familiar with Quickbooks and trains new users.  She came across some usability snags and wrote them up here:

http://colliertech.org/share/My_Gnu_Cash_Experience.html

I'll paste without formatting here:

My Gnu Cash Experience


1. I selected the “create a new set of accounts” button and hit “ok”

2, A page came up that said <no file> at the top.

This was confusing

3. I switched screens and found that a page that said “New Account Heirarchy Setup”

4. I hit “forward”

5. I continued to “Setup new accounts”

I did not understand the term “placeholder”

6. I proceeded to enter my beginning balances, which went smoothly

7. I wanted to enter some scheduled transactions. Quickbooks calls them “memorized transactions” so I would have appreciated some cross-reference to “memorized transactions”

8. Understanding the “help” instructions for “scheduled transactions” was challenging with incorrect grammar and spelling. The instructions need to be written in a manner that is easier to understand.

9. I did like the options available under the “scheduled transactions” menu

10. I found entering bills from vendors very challenging. Creating a new Vendor was very difficult to navigate. Also, creating terms was confusing. I could not find out how to list vendors or terms so that I could see which vendors and terms I had created. I finally looked in the help menu and found out how to list vendors. I never did find out how to look at a list of available terms. I would rather have a “drop-down” list than a “select” box.

11. I was not able to pay a bill because I did not understand how to enter a “post to” account. There is a “drop-down” list arrow, but there is nothing on the list and I am unable to finish paying the bill without this information. Anything I entered there was invalid. There is no help available in the documentation that I can find.