Sharing.........

[BOB W]

........ of technology has always helped me get past roadblocks in running my practice. One of my first great road blocks, years ago, was getting my computers to talk to each other. It sure beats floppy disk swaping. Networking is so common today and with Windows XP it is so easy to set up it can be done without a tech.

Some on this board are just getting started, not only in setting up their practice, but to be exposured to computers and their attachments. As basic as this it, we have all been there at some time.

Going one step futher, new technology is always unfolding and some get this info quickly and it would be nice for them to share with others. Some in this profession say, "If it isn't broke don't fix it", "status quo is good", but others NEED to be up-to-date on the latest. While I may not understand the workings of new tech functions, I definetly use it and embrace it, anything to make my work go faster and smarter.

Getting through tax season, as we all know, can be mentally and physically demanding. This year I purchased a 21" LCD, boy what a difference on my eyes. If anyone is still using a 14",15",17" screen, you will be supprised at the difference a larger screen will make in your tax season energy drain. The price on these larger screens has come down and this year they will be even lower. Check out "Globalcomputer.com" for prices, under $500 for some 20" LCD. I bought a 21" LCD for $450 when they ran a special in December.

[Bill Tubbs]

Dual Monitors, LCD, Jump Drive

A couple years ago I put a second video card in a computer running Win2000. I was going to switch to that video card, but then (quite by accident) I noticed that Win2000 supported dual monitors, and all I had to do was plug in a second monitor. This way I have last year's return up on the left screen and this year's on the right screen. Clients love it and are amazed by it!

This year I purchased dual 19" LCD's. Of course, about a week after I purchased the second one, I saw an ad for a LCD that was vertically-oriented (portrait; taller instead of the normal wider). And with tax forms being vertical that could have been much nicer! So, I'll be watching out for them at the end of this year.

I do some returns on a laptop, then export them from the laptop, get them over to my desktop, and import into the desktop and e-file from the desktop. This way all my returns end up in one location. Well, to get the export from the laptop to the desktop, last couple years I had been using a network setup. This year, with having purchased a Jump Drive for other uses as well, I found that it was just as easy using a Jump Drive to do this transport than to mess with network. I am a computer geek in my other life, and I have a network set up here for other uses -- so I could use either approach, but I just didn't want to mess with a network with the laptop.

Bill

[BOB W]

Bill.....

.... I've heard several people talk about dual monitors and all love it. Nice concept.

Here is a tid-bit. Tired of fighting with your mouse, get a laser mouse. It never sticks and you never have to clean the insides.(very cheap)

[Chief]

Updating Hardware

I just purchased an LCD flat screen monitor and was I impressed with the clarity of the graphics on it. It hardly takes up any space on my desk. It is a Samsung 17". I looked at larger screens but find this size quite satisfactory for me. A much needed improvement over the large, heavy Dell monitor I had.

I do use a notebook but only once this past season for a shut-in who wanted me to do his return at his home. I have a flash card where I transfer the returns to my desktop which is set up as my transmitting computer. I do have both networked at home. If my practice grows I would not hesitate to network computers. It's a fatal mistake to be afraid of technology; we must use it.

[BOB W]

Chief........

........... you are definitly moving in the right direction and have a good tech attitude.

[Bill Tubbs]

Yep!

.... I've heard several people talk about dual monitors and all love it. Nice concept.

Here is a tid-bit. Tired of fighting with your mouse, get a laser mouse. It never sticks and you never have to clean the insides.(very cheap)

Actually, if my desk were bigger I'd probably get a 3rd monitor too (I'd just have to look around then for hardware support). My dual-monitor card is annoying me though -- only one port on the card interfaces properly with the monitor so that it knows enough to shut down for power-saving when the computer is shut off. So, each night I manually have to shut the one monitor off. I know it's the card because I swapped my monitors around.

I'll one-up you on the mouse -- have a wireless, optical mouse. Got tired of the cord. Also come next tax season will likely get a cordless keyboard -- hopefully by then they'll be more wireless, ergonomic keyboards on the market. I've only seen one so far (Microsoft, I think) and it's a keyboard/mouse combo -- but the mouse is a definate-right-handed mouse, and I use it left-handed (even though I'm a righty). S'pose I could've bought it and see if it conflicted with my wireless mouse...

Bill

[BOB W]

Mouse........

........... wireless mouse, good idea... I'll look into it.....

[geekgirldany]

I've moved from a mouse altogether several years ago. I use a wacom graphic pad. It comes with a mouse but I use the pen instead. I started having problems with my wrist sitting at the computer with my hand in one spot with mouse. Since using a graphics pad my wrist doesn't hurt at all.

Last year I had to get a new computer right in the middle of tax season. Dell online has some terrific deals. I got the computer and 20" lcd for $550. Used a coupon to get it down to that price. The LCDs do make a difference. I also bought a new dell laptop last year during another sale. Insprion 6000 for $600. I got a docking station for it and have it on my other desk for when customers come by and I can do their returns without turning my back.

Jumpdrives are great. I have two 1gig drives. The only thing I recommend is to use the security software that is on the drive. Heaven forbid if you lose that thing somehow. No telling what could be done with the information on it.

[Chief]

Wireless

I had a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse. I got tired of having to replace the batteries. Besides the wired unit dont need to be moved that much. I have all the flexibility with them that I need.

[oceanlovin'ea]

Wirelesss keyboard/mouse combo

I got that Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse combo in March. I love it! Haven't had any trouble with it. It's nice to have 2 less cords hanging down.

My husband bought me a LCD 19" monitor for my anniversary present but he gave it to me in January so I could use it all tax season. I have so much more room on my desk. I can have twice as many piles of papers to sort through as before. Really, I love it. I can actually see the screen now.

Linda F

[BOB W]

Linda...

.... did you notice any effect on tax season ware & tear on your eyes?

[oceanlovin'ea]

Noticed difference

Yes, I noticed a difference. I don't think my eyes got as tired as before. Didn't burn as often. Really nice to have.

Linda F

[BOB W]

Clients.........

............. have always watched me do their return. This year, with my 21" screen, they really enjoyed watching me work. My screen sits on my desk on one edge so I can see it as well a my clients. I actually got some referrals because on it. Most are impressed by how quickly I process their info while covering all their deductions and asking them mulitple questions throughout the interview. They also love to see me pull up last years info in "File Cabinet" and scan in their W2s.

I kind of put on a show for them. I give them my bill and they whip out their check book without a flinch.

[geekgirldany]

Bob you mentioned that you scan in their W-2s. I assume this is for record keeping purposes. If so do you scan in everything the client brings you... well atleast 1099s, 1098s, W-2, etc? I had started doing that one year but quit as it took up so much time. This year I had customers sign an engagement letter stating I only keep copies of the tax returns and they must keep copies of everything else.

[BOB W]

Scanning.......

............ I scan in W2 and 1099s only. At the end of the interview I give back everything but the W2s and 1099's because I attach the originals to their copy of the return, which I mail back to them. I do not have clients coming back to my office after the interview is over.

Yes, sometimes the scanning can take time and depending on how backed up I get will determine if I do it in front of them or not. Towards the end of tax season I found that I was using the flatbed more and just scanning multiple W2s with one scan. ( I separated 1 section off each w2 ).

I have found the some client will misplace their tax info and are very relieved when they call for another copy of their tax return WITH their W2s & 1099s. I would take the time to scan in those W2s and 1099s, bill extra if you have to.