Intersection Live - CPA Technology Advisor

 Tech2Go Episode 3 [0:52:31]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1125)

Tech2Go is a fast-paced roundtable discussion with Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, and regular columnists Brent Goodfellow, Dave McClure and Randy Johnston. These thought leaders tackle current technology issues impacting the tax and accounting profession. This month, the panel discusses the Daylight Saving Time switchover, filing season updates, Office 2007 - especially Excel and Pivot Tables, CCH acquisitions of ATX and TaxWise, Practice Management software, and relevant upcoming trade shows and conferences. [Running time is 0:52:31]

Gregory L. LaFollette CPA.CITP

Brent Goodfellow CPA.CITP, MCSE, MST, MCT

Richard Oppenheim CPA.CITP Special Guest

Randy Johnston

Tech2Go Show Notes
Episode 3 – March 2007
Recorded March 23, 2007

Introductions
Greg LaFollette, Host
Richard Oppenheim, special guest
Randy Johnston
Brent Goodfellow

Daylight Savings Time (DST) Change (3 minutes, 20 seconds)
- Significant amount of time spent on getting ready for changeover
- Minor quirky issues, Microsoft DST tool uninstalled Office 2007 without notice
- Another DST change set for the fall, but larger time window to prepare

Filing Season Update (4 minutes, 40 seconds)
- Issues with the web-based filing system that CCH recently launched, but it is a brand new fully from-scratch project
- CCH ProSystemsFx Scan issues
- Watch bulletin boards for problems and issues that others are having
- Increased efficiency for firms going paperless
- Lacerte User Group, Thompson CS Support and the ProFX User Group
Office 2007 Expectations for Accountants (18 minutes, 20 seconds)
- Major changes are in the interface: from menus and toolbars to tabs and ribbons
- Interface designed to expose more features instead of burying them in menus
- Interactive Guides: Excel, Word, PowerPoint – Trains you on where features have moved to from Office 2003 to Office 2007.
- Good help on Office Online – click the “Help and How-to” tab
- File compatibility issues: Older formats do not always open up correctly, and files do not always save with full backwards compatibility.

Microsoft Excel 2007
- Compatibility Mode: Different than just saving in a different version
- Add-In modules that depend on Excel from companies like Thompson and CCH will have to be re-written using the ribbon-style menus and toolbars for Office 2007.
- Pivot tables interface has changed quite a bit – makes it much easier to use, learn, and implement quickly.
- Page layout view with headers and footers visible and editable using the standard markup buttons available
- Support for imaginary numbers and other higher mathematical functions

CCH Acquisitions – ATX and TaxWise (5 minutes, 40 seconds)
- Serves smaller businesses and markets, used in over 50,000 accounting firms
- CCH is looking to add volume by serving the smaller markets
- CCH forms Small Firms Services Group, appoints Jeff Gramlich as president to keep products separate and focused on smaller firms

Practice Management Software (6 minutes, 30 seconds)
- From Reader’s Choice Survey: Huge numbers of small firms use QuickBooks for time & billing, managing accounts receivable, and for managing customers
- Thompson Practice CS – Much more developed and advanced solution – different views for staff, firms, and clients
- CCH is right behind Thompson with a similar product launching soon
- Digital Dashboard for fully customized and individualized view for each person or group
- Expect more features from QuickBooks to better help smaller firms in the area of Practice Management

Conferences, Trade Shows, CPE, etc. (11 minutes, 23 seconds)
CPA Business Tech Expo – May 16-17
New Jersey Accounting Business & Tech Show – May 23-24
NSA – Portland – August 16-17
California Accounting & Business Show – Los Angeles – June 4-5
CCH Users Conference – Dallas – November 4-7
Thomson Tax & Accounting – Hawaii – November 7-10
Sleeter Group – Las Vegas – October 22-26
Florida Accounting & Business Expo – Orlando – May 31-June 1
Illinois CPA Society Business & Tech Solutions Show – Chicago – August 21-22
Florida Institute of CPAs Annual Accounting Show – Fort Lauderdale – September 20-21
AICPA Tech+ - Las Vegas – June 10-13
Microsoft Small Business Summit

 Tech2Go Episode 2 [1:17:44]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1157)

Tech2Go is a fast-paced roundtable discussion with Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, and regular columnists Brent Goodfellow, Dave McClure and Randy Johnston. These thought leaders tackle current technology issues impacting the tax and accounting profession. This month, the panel discusses useful hardware and software tools to boost productivity, Microsoft Professional Accountants Network (MPAN), Microsoft Office Accounting, and the current state of PDA Smartphones. [Running time is 1:17:44]

Gregory L. LaFollette CPA.CITP

Brent Goodfellow CPA.CITP, MCSE, MST, MCT

Dave McClure

Randy Johnston

Tech2Go Show Notes
Episode 2 – February 2007
Recorded February 19, 2007

Introductions
Greg LaFollette, Host
Randy Johnston
Dave McClure
Brent Goodfellow

Hardware / Software Tools
HW – Multi-flash card reader [Like 9-in1]
SW –LavaSoft AdAware Personal SE
SW – Spybot Search & Destroy
Issue: USB ports filled and possible solutions

SW – Windows Defender built-into Windows Vista – built-in anti-spyware and anti-virus for the operating system with no extra cost

SW – Password Depot version 3 – maintains usernames and passwords for a broad number of websites and logins – around $30
SW –Second Copy– replicates data to backup devices like network storage or USB keys

SW –eWallet– similar to password depot
SW – Microsoft OneNote 2007 for taking notes during meetings and calls

SW –Be-in-Sync– allows synchronization of folders between multiple computers, works over the internet so you can access the files from anywhere
HW – SimpleTech 500 GB network storage for backups and additional file storage

Microsoft

Microsoft Professional Accountants Network (MPAN) – FREE signup, fairly easy entry – just show that you are an accountant.
ActionPack - $299 per year – subscription gives you legally licensed software - includes 10 licenses for Windows Vista Business and 10 copies of Office 2007.
The ActionPack also comes with a business critical support 800 number with free support for business-critical issues and offers 27 hours of free CPE credit for training on Microsoft products online or on a disk.

Windows Vista Versions

Business – Equivalent to Windows XP Pro
Enterprise – Has all the extras
Ultimate – Has every Vista technology available; a cross between Windows Media Center Pro and Tablet Edition

You change the product key to upgrade to a different version, or “open” the different features that are associated with each different version.

Microsoft Office Accounting

Office Accounting Express– Free downloadable version that offers very useable accounting features. Has most key features that small business would use. Version includes access to (at a fee) ADP payroll processing, PayPal, and eBay integration and Equifax credit monitoring capabilities.
Office Accounting Professional– More advanced features for larger businesses needing features like multiple users, inventory, journal entry worksheets, etc.

Reader/Listener Letter

Tech2Go comments or questions 800-456-0864 x 2106

Solution

Hosted Exchange server
ASPOne, MyHosting, AppRiver offer these hosted services
Setup full Exchange or SharePoint server for around $30 per month for the basic accounts
AppRiver - $12.95 per month per mailbox, unlimited size, including excellent spam filtering.

A hosted Exchange server allows you to eliminate worry about the technical aspects of handling the data or managing a server. It also allows automatic synchronization of all your emails and access over the web when you are away from the office. Most services also allow for automatic synchronization of your calendar on a PDA device like Palm and Windows Mobile.

PDA Platforms – Palm or Windows Mobile?

1. Pick the carrier that will work best for you – consider data speeds and areas of service
2. Which carrier offers the device you want?

Popular Smartphone Devices

Blackberry Pearl
Samsung Blackjack
Motorola Q
Palm Treo
Nokia E62
Blackberry 7130 Series
iPaq Smartphone

* Consider battery life when choosing a Smartphone device
* Some phone features are crippled, depending on the cell phone carrier
www.pdaphonehome.com – forum for people who have PDA phones – great places to get support and to get your questions answered.

Call and leave us a message

Tech2Go comments or questions 800-456-0864 x 2106