Gadgets
Dripping with Practicality
Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA, CITP
Technology impacts every part of an accountant’s practice, but with the technology focus primarily on those items improving tax, audit, and client service production processes, there are a multitude of simple gadgets that are overlooked. This column is dedicated to seven technologies that can improve or protect your information assets. While not glamorous, they are dripping with practicality!
eGrips
Virtually everyone today carries a cell phone, PDA or a smart phone hybrid with them when they work outside of the office. These devices can accidentally be knocked off a table or slip out of your hands causing damage to the gadget. eGrips add a “sticky” gel pad to the back and sides of the device to minimize the risk of this happening.
PowerSquid
Under every person’s desk is a powerstrip that has all kinds of plugs protruding from them, and with all kinds of gadgets having their own adapters, some of these plugs are often wasted. The PowerSquid ($15) solves this by separating each plug individually or their “Calamari” version includes surge protection for about $79.
CardScan Personal
Scanner
Networking with peers and prospects is an important activity for CPAs and often leads to accumulating stacks of business cards that will some day be entered into the firm’s contact management system. Instead of throwing these cards into a drawer, toss them into the CardScan ($149) and watch the information be scanned directly into your personal information manager.
HP 2600n
Today, color laser printing is more than affordable for small workgroups and home offices. With prices under $400, there is no excuse not to add color printing to your repertoire.
Cable Locks
Laptops have allowed CPAs to bring their workspace with them wherever they choose to practice. To protect these devices from theft, companies such as Kensington and Targus sell cable locks ($30), to lock that laptop to a table or chair. New dual head devices also allow printers, scanners or projectors to be attached as well.
Privacy Screens
Laptops allow CPAs to work virtually everywhere, including on airplanes, public transportation and in public places whenever you have a few minutes. Minimize the opportunity for someone to inadvertently see the information on your screen with a 3M Privacy Filter ($40).
USB Backup Drives
Backing up computers is a critical responsibility of all CPAs, particularly for small practitioners or for home computers. To make this easy and reliable, USB hard drives such as those from SimpleTech and Pexagon have implemented “one touch” solutions that back up all the data to a device that is about the size of a paperback. With the cost under $100, there is no reason that this additional layer of protection shouldn’t be in place.
Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA, CITP, InfoTech Partners North America, Inc. — (480) 706-1728.
Learn about these and more practical gadgets at the
ASCPA Governmental Accounting Conference
where Roman H. Kepczyk will be presenting:
008: From Gadget with Love
AZ CPA – January 2007
