Quicken and Quick Books. How much difference is there?

There's actually a good bit of difference, since they're two totally different programs made by two totally different companies. There are obvious compatibility allowances, though, but overall the look, style, and feel of the software is unique.

Both are fairly straightforward book-keeping systems. Perhaps a better all round solution for you would be to take a course on actual book-keeping. This way you would understand what the programme does and why. In this manner you could use any system on offer with the minimum of practice. A current failing that I have discovered in modern book-keepers is that they are so reliant on the programme that they do not recognise when they have made an error and more importantly how to rectify that error.

Courses are widely available, full-time, part-time or even by correspondence and I think that you will find it money well invested in your future.