The Tech Gap

Building Components -- the Concept is NOT dead!!

Having been a tax practitioner since way back in the Wilbur Mills era I fondly remember the days of aggressive building componentization for tax purposes. Unfortunately, I also remember Congress shutting down most of the fun --- ahhh, the good old days. Last week I had a conversation with the Managing Partner of the firm where I office and we discussed the re-emergance of componentization. Seems I've been a bit asleep at the switch and that some of the fun is back. So, being a technology guy I went looking ..... and found CSS Technologies.

CSS Assistant is a tool for CPAs who perform cost segregation studies. It is designed to improve accuracy and efficiency and provides integration of asset detail, construction cost data, depreciation calculators, legal reference materials, and reports. If you perform cost segregation studies CSS just may be the tool for you.

Available Reports:

• Feasibility Analysis Report
• Executive Summary
• Work Performed Summary
• Statement of Assumptions & Limiting Conditions
• Asset Detail Sheets
• Schedule of Direct & Indirect Costs
• Reconciliation Analysis
• Tax and Legal References
• Depreciation Schedules

Where's Waldo, er Wayne?

Long-time CPA product marketer Wayne Harding has resurfaced as Vice President of Business Development with Denver based Rivet Software. Recently Wayne had been affiliated with K.C. Truby's Global Staffing. Previously, he was the CEO for AccTrak21 - USA.  Prior to AccTrak21, he was a senior director with CPA2Biz and as a vice president with Great Plains (now Microsoft Business Solutions) from 1989 - 2000.

Rivet Software is a leader in the move to XBRL and adding Wayne's deep domain knowledge of both the profession and XBRL positions them well to serve firms scrambling to meet soon-to-be-imposed XBRL filing requirements. Their product, Dragon Tag, is a Microsoft Office-based solution that converts financial statements to industry standard XBRL documents. It works with Office 2000, Office XP, and Office 2003 and is FREE until early February when the "buy" switch will be thrown. Even then, at only $299 a pop it looks to be a cheap addition to a CPA firm's toolkit.

gll

A New View of the Cyber-World

TouchGraph is a really innovative way to help us mere humans to understand just a little about relationships across the Internet grid. It starts with a single website and dynamically generates an interactive "map" (actually it's a graph) of those sites related to it, and to each other. It's simply facsinating to watch the grid develop and then to begin hopping around as it moves under you. Start with your firm's website and I guarantee some surprises and at least an hour or so of "lost time". Come to think about it, perhaps I should have held this post until after 4/15!!!

This map shows relationships for the NY Times.

CCH TAX AND ACCOUNTING'S 2005 SIGNATURE USER CONFERENCE TO BRING TOGETHER TOP PROFESSIONALS NATIONWIDE

CCH Tax and Accounting (CCH), the nation's premier provider of tax and accounting productivity software, research and  services, will hold its first users' conference November 6-9, 2005 in Scottsdale, Ariz., bringing together industry authorities with tax and accounting professionals from across the nation to discover innovative ways to further strengthen and expand their businesses.

"Hands down, we believe the CCH Tax and Accounting Signature User Conference 2005 will be the most fresh, exciting and informative conference of its kind," said CCH CEO Kevin Robert.  "We're dedicated to ensuring professionals come away from this must-attend event clearly understanding the issues, trends and technologies that are critical to their businesses.  And, we will demonstrate how they can further leverage CCH's innovative, integrated tax and accounting research and compliance offerings to build greater profitability and success."

The four-day event at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale will help attendees further strengthen client relationships, make smarter and more strategic investments in technology, and best leverage the industry's most advanced tax and accounting software and services.

Among conference highlights: Keynote addresses from industry leaders on trends in tax, accounting and technology; CPE-accredited education sessions and panel discussions on practical business issues and successful strategies; Product showcases featuring CCH's premier integrated software and research applications; and Opportunities to speak with CCH's senior product management and development teams regarding new products and product enhancements.

Throughout the conference, attendees will be part of a community of CCH customers and will have the benefit of learning informally from colleagues about best practices that have led to success at their firms. 

"CCH customers are among the top tax and accounting professionals in the country, so attendees of the CCH Signature User Conference will have the added advantage of networking with colleagues who are industry leaders," Robert noted.

For More Information
The CCH Tax and Accounting Signature User Conference 2005 will be held November 6-9 at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz.  For more information, please call 1-800-739-9998, option 1, or sign up for more information at http://tax.cchgroup.com/UserConference.

GLL note: This immediately follows the Thomson Creative Solutions User Conference which runs November  2-5th just down the road at the Marriott Desert Ridge. Sure makes it easy for jounalists!

Patch Tuesday

Brent Goodfellow writes:

The second Tuesday of each month in Microsoft land is ‘Patch Tuesday’ when Microsoft releases updates via the Windows Update site.  This time around, one of those updates in the ‘critical’ category will be Microsoft’s malicious software removal tool (or anti-virus light).  The initial version of the tool, code-named Titan, will be able to detect and delete the Blaster, Sasser, MyDoom, DoomJuice, Zindos, Berweb/Download.Ject, Gailbot and Nachi viruses.  Updates to the tool will be provided on subsequent ‘Patch Tuesdays’.  You can also download the tool here.

Brent F. Goodfellow, CPA.CITP, MCSA, MCSE, MCT

Why Landscape Monitors in a Portrait World?

Landscape monitors have been a mystery to me ever since we crawled out of the flickering green and amber through the primordal mud of CGA, EGA, and VGA to today's super sharp 1280x1024 LCDs. But for all that advancement we (for the most part) are still stuck in a landscape world. As more and more firms move to paperless we've seen a lot of discussion about, and some real movement to, dual monitors. It's exciting to visit a firm and see their implementation --- but too often we're disappointed to find both monitors in that old, familiar landscape mode. Inertia and the "fuss factor" are to blame. (We've always looked at things this way, why change now?)

Hint of the day: IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED PORTRAIT, PLEASE DO SO TODAY!

My prediction is that you'll never go back. Now, for an operational hint. I've fielded many questions (actually it's "many, many" but who's counting?) from firms trying to get to portrait. It's actually easy IF you have a pivoting monitor and IF you have a cooperating video card WITH a compatible driver AND the sun and the moon and the starts are all in alignment. If not, you might want to save what can easily become hours of your time (it's tax season, remember?) and download Pivot Pro Version 7 from Portrait Displays.com. . It'll make the job super easy and only set you back about $40. The free trial period will let you know up front if it's goping to work for you.

I promise that when you see a FULL PAGE of a tax return with no scrolling you'll be hooked. Happy viewing.

gll

Microsoft Enters the Anti-Virus Fray!

Last week columnist Brent Goodfellow advised us to keep an eye on Microsoft's acquisition of Giant Software. His post today indicated that he was right on target!

Microsoft today released a beta of their anti-spyware software named "Atlanta". The software was acquired by purchase from Giant Software last month.  According to insiders, Microsoft plans to bundle the anti-spyware with anti-virus software in a subscription service code-named ‘A1’ The anti-virus software was purchased from GeCAD in the summer of 2003.

A-1 is also a steak sauce from Kraft Foods – and like the steak sauce, the Microsoft A-1 is designed to hide flaws in the primary product and lasts about 12 months. Interested parties can download the anti-spyware beta here.

Brent F. Goodfellow, CPA.CITP, MCSA, MCT, MCSE

A Little Tab'll Do Ya!

Well, it's harvest time for us in public accounting. And that means squeezing every ounce of productivity out of every hour. Over the years we've looked at about every part of the production "chain"  looking for weak links and opportunities to improve. When Windows came along many of us were distressed about the mouse and it seemed to call for "hands off the keyboard". Many super-users have adapted and now find the  TAB key is their ticket to progress. Unfortunately, most keyboards don't "feature" the TAB key in a fashion that's real effective for data intensive operations. If your tax prep program (and/or write-up, depreciation, accounting, etc.) calls for a TAB key to advance to the next field you might want to take a look at the ZTab keyboard from Zeomi. The keyboard sports an extra, and very well placed, TAB key, adjacent to the number pad. Very convenient indeed! The company was co-founded by Roger Barlow, an Alabama CPA.

While not a productivity "home-run" it just might be a single. One big plus is its sub $30 selling price. Even if you DON'T find it to be a handy addition, hey ... it's only $30!

gll

Windows NT 4.0 Server RIP

My friend Susan Bradley [aka "The SBS Diva"] posted this on her blog. I enjoyed it SO much I just had to ask her for permission to share it here. If you're just a "tad bit technical" you might really enjoy her blog --- I sure do!

Windows NT 4.0 Server, operating system, died, Friday, December 31, 2004 in Redmond, Washington.

Born 1996 in Redmond, Washington, he was the son of Windows NT 3.1 and Dave Cutler.

Windows NT 4.0 server worked for many years in many corporate offices and was for many years a beloved member of many firms.

He is survived by two sons, Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2003 Server, both of Redmond, and five cousins, Windows 2000 workstation, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home, Windows Tablet PC edition and Windows XP Media Center edition.  He was predeceased by his nephews Windows NT workstation, and Windows 95.  Currently another close relative, Windows 98 is on life support but the Doctors indicate has a few more years left.

Private visitation will be in Redmond.

A Christian burial will be celebrated at midnight [your local time zone] on December 31, 2004.

Windows NT 4.0 server had been in failing health but finally succumbed to the dreaded final “Blue Screen of Death”.

May you rest in peace.

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