CPA Technology Blog

Rotten Apples

Apple announced earlier this week that they were recalling 1.8 million notebooks because of faulty batteries.  While this is a surprise to many, it is now odd that the only video I could find last week on exploding notebooks was of a Mac laptop burning like a disco inferno!  I guess I understand the recall better now.

Power and Router for EVDO.....

So... I was reading my e-mail this evening, responding to some questions, and the lovely and talented Abbie Watters posted a trackback about the Sprint EV/DO Card - she evidently bought the same one I purchased (and I think I've seen her in a class down there). (side note: if you're looking into EVDO, visit EVDOInfo.com - they have info on a newer, faster Novatel card - the Merlin S720) Abbie indicates that she's having power issues, and is concerned about going "unplugged".  Here's what I'm using on my end:

1. Kyocera KR-1 Wireless Router (also on Froogle)- Think about using EV/DO to set up a wireless network in the middle of a power outage - and running your mobile office for 3-4 people when you're on a car trip together.  That's exactly what you can do with the Kyocera KR-1 Wireless Router.  This device has a slot for your Cardbus EV/DO card, a USB port for a USB-enabled EVDO phone, a removable antenna, an AC adapter, a car cigarette lighter adapter, four wired ports, and lots of 802-11g, WPA enabled wi-fi.  I suggest one of these, along with an EV-DO card for every CPA firm.  While the primary use may be for when your auditors are in the field (or on vacation at an inconvenient time), they also can serve as a backup internet connection for your office.
2. Kensington's universal power adapter (the 120W one).  This device is my backup for when I'm on the road, and one of those power supply cables gives out.  It also has tips and splitters that let it take power from car cigarette lighters, AC, or even the EmPower jacks on newer (mostly transcontinental) aircraft to charge both laptops, the iPod, and my Treo.  Last week, I had a flight from Dallas to Cincinnati, and used the onboard power to recharge my laptop while on the plane - very cool.  I've also started using the two DC-powered devices to create a mobile network in the car - so if I'm out on appointments, I can set up a network to go and get some work done, and I can share the internet connection if I need to patch a second laptop - as long as the car is on and I have coverage, the work continues as I'm rolling.  Oh yeah - you can also use it with a standard 110 volt outlet.
3. HP's battery expansion pack - I've been coveting this for a while, and I'll probably get one later in September.  Tommy, Randy, Bob, and Mac all have them, and they love them - and with my AMD Turion 64 ML-34 processor in the HP laptop, I think I can use the extra juice.  There are also some universal power bricks from APC, but I've avoided them thus far - I haven't seen the value proposition with some of the price points as high as $300 - for a battery.
4. AC Power Inverter - These are available from many sporting goods stores, and let you run just about anything you want off of your car.  One caveat - while many are rated at 400, 800, or even (gasp) 1000 watts, the fuses for most cigarette lighter adapters are 15 amp fuses - which means that they will blow at 180 watts - so no fridges here.  I've seen clients run two laptops off of one - which made a 10 hour family road trip much better.  These, combined with one of the universal FM adapters made for audio gear with a 1/8" jack can let you use your car stereo, along with your widescreen laptop to make your older car into a rolling home theater without making a permanent committment to hardware installation.  Hey - and you can check your e-mail with the EV-DO router above.  Who knows - maybe some kids will be having a rolling LAN party on laptops soon - it's all possible - it's just money.

Cat 5 BCP? Take an EVDO, VOIP, and 802.11g, and Skype the President in the morning

Wi-Fi is part of the continuity plan for New Orleans, as is VOIP.  The big question I have is why it isn't part of yours as well. There's a great article in Network World this week about how the City of New Orleans used VOIP to connect Mayor Nagin with the President in the midst of the Katrina mess -

"(NO CIO Greg) Meffert gained national attention immediately following Katrina when he went into a looted Home Depot, grabbed a Cisco router, found a single live connection at the Hyatt Hotel where the mayor was holed up and used a Vonage client to connect the mayor with President Bush." - Network World, 8/21/2006

(My thought:  Never underestimate the innovation that can be done by a geek in the eye of a disaster.  Meffert's McGuyver manuever with a router, an internet connection, and some luck got the Mayor back in touch with the President.)

Read the rest of the article for more info on how they're planning to use these technologies in the future, as well as how they've deployed a mesh network to cover the center of the city for future disasters.   (an earlier article discusses the mesh network in slightly greater detail, and how it's helping the NOPD fight crime)

Another article discusses the secondary and tertiary challenges faced by the city, including how to handle the flood of building permits, inspections, and demolition needed to bring the city back - create kiosks (just like the airlines.)

Notes from 30,000 Feet

I recently completed an article titled 'The Technology of Financial Services' (as well as one called "Just the Apps, Ma'am") for the CPA Technology Advisor. It was an interesting project, and I even got to interview a man named ‘Batman'- Tony Batman, that is. (I had to work on the wordings to avoid phrases like 'According to Batman' and 'Batman says', as I enjoy the writing, but don't want an excerpt to end up in Jay Leno's monologue. All kidding aside, thanks to Tony and all of those who made time to allow me to interview them- I think the article came out well.

Big thanks to Averatec for replacing my Averatec 3715-EH1 with an AV2260-EH1 this week. The 3715 had been a lemon from the start, and had spent almost as much time in the shop as it spent in use. The new laptop has a 1280x800 12.1'' screen (very bright), a Turion 64 processor, and weighs four pounds. The 2260 also has an easily accessible service panel on the bottom- a welcome change from the 3715, which in addition to being cheaply made, required technical skills beyond most mortals to upgrade the RAM or HDD. Seriously- the old machine required me to remove no less than 10 screws, the keyboard, three ribbons, the processor fan, and disassemble the screen from the base, and took me (a guy who has worked on PC hardware starting with an Apple II+ in the 1980's) a full half hour of concentrated work to perform this work. Thanks for standing behind your product, guys. I'll be reporting how well the device holds up to the demands of a road warrior.

My HP Compaq nx6125 is on its way to recovery after a corrupted registry. It's in Kansas now, recuperating from its recent illness (owner overinstallation disease). I'm looking for a good comparison of the performance of VMware vs. MS Virtual PC/virtual server, as I'm in the process of moving my testing to a virtualized environment- maybe this will help me keep my teaching machine leaner & meaner. Any tips and tricks from readers on how to max out the performance of VM's would be appreciated. I'm particularly intrigued by the concept of booting to a 64 bit version of Linux which would be locked down and let me just run virtuals of Windows, Linux, and Windows Small Business server. I have two desktop boxes at home which I'd like to get more out of than I'm currently receiving. I also have a four year old who needs an environment which can be easily refreshed- so I'm going to be playing with the VM products in the next few weeks.

I am currently working on an article about Portable Apps and the new computing models which it ushers in. An example is my 2GB Kingston u3 drive- I run the following apps directly from the drive:
- Firefox Browser
- Thunderbird E-mail
- Zinio Magazines (PC World and PC Week, of course)
- Skype (!)
- Open Office
(it's worth noting that I would prefer to run MS Office 2003 instead of OpenOffice for my portable office apps, but have no clue how to set up Office as a U3 app. It occurs to me that portable apps could be combined with an MP3 player (think iPod with Linux) to allow you to present Powerpoints from the iPod's video out (and use the Apple remote to control the slideshow). This, combined with video clips of software demos could make it possible for a guy like me to use my iPod video as a backup to live presentation. Ahhhhh.... the projects for the Fall conference season. (Lots of new toys in my future, for sure.) If anyone knows how to boot an OS on a PC from a thumbdrive or an iPod (with a universal setup like the ones out there on the Linux boot disks), please drop me a line with any useful links.

Whipping all over the Internet with EVDO 2 Go.

My son is very interested in trains right now, and I had the opportunity to ride commuter rail with him over the weekend in Dallas. While on the train, we sat at a table facing each other, and played with his cars and trains. I also worked the laptop into the trip, and we visited some of his favorite internet sites on the EVDO card while speeding across the Texas prarie at Road Runner speeds (physically and virtually).
The last couple of times I rode commuter rail, I used my laptop and EVDO card (Sprint), and was very pleased with the results. Even at 60 mph, I was able to get 700k download speeds and 100k upload speeds. If you commute via rail, you may want to look into these cards, currently provided by Sprint and Verizon (mine is a Novatel Merlin S620). If you're in the market for one of these cards, visit an EVDO site to learn about the pros and cons of each cards- lots to read, but you'd better like what you get- because you're going to have it for a couple of years.
I get to go back to NJ at the end of next month for a few days, and am looking forward to seeing how the card performs on NJ Transit. Thus far, I've used the card on LIRR and on the subway in NYC and on TRE between Dallas and Ft. Worth. I've also used the card in NYC, Cincinnati, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Long Island, Syracuse, and Denver. The only place the service really stunk was in Syracuse (and the Sprint service map shows no EVDO service there anyway).
The other place that the card really saves the day is in the airport. In the past, I carried a $40 a month unlimited T-Mobile Wi-Fi plan so I could check e-mail in Crown Rooms and most airports- that has now been supplanted by a $60/mo addition to my Sprint bill (which is now the size of the GNP of Tuvalu each month.)
I will also be testing the Kyocera router for my EVDO card during Monday's NCACPA tech fest in Charlotte- will let you know what I learn about the experience.
If you spend much time waiting on planes, trains, and automobiles, look into an EVDO card. Those who spend most of their time in top 100 metro markets (like me) will probably discover new ways to be proyductive between meetings. Who knows- it may even help you set yourself free from the mortal coil that is the ethernet cable and the Telco/Cable mafia.
(Ed. Note: The picture above was taken on a CRJ-50 from CVG to CLT. The picture shows the domesticated 'Redneckus techgeekus' in his silly face mode. This tends to reduce the likelihood of mating, so this behaviour is rarely seen in the wild.)

Dude. Your Dell may get a new battery.

Details from www.dellbatterprogram.com

Potentially affected batteries were sold with the following models of Dell notebook computers or separately as secondary batteries:
* Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810
* Inspiron: 500M, 510M, 600M, 700M, 710M, 6000, 6400, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, E1505, E1705
* Precision: M20, M60, M70, M90
* XPS: XPS, XPS Gen2

Free.... everybody's favorite four letter word.

(Bob Palmer has this one too.... and I'm glad to see him back with Movable Type (!))

Identity Theft and the CPA Part 1: Hard Drive Wiping

[This is the first in a series of posts on Information Security issues - As I have time (and feel led), I'm planning to post on topics related to identity theft and information security, an essential subject for today's CPA]

It seems to happen every day - we learn that 3 million of our friends and neighbors have had someone release their private information to the entire free world.  While our profession has discussed this issue for a while, I think we could all use a refresher.

Let's go back to those halcyon days of May - back when we had the whole summer ahead of us, and busy season was close in the rear view mirror.  Many of us received a letter informing us that our data could have been released to unauthorized individuals (and you know what organization I'm speaking of here, so I'm not going to name it).  As part of that letter, we were informed that the organization would pay for us to subscribe to a credit monitoring program - at their expense.

I think most of the facts on this incident have been discussed in the trade press, but I don't think any of us realize what a non-issue this instance was in our daily lives.  Here's what happened:

• An unencrypted hard drive containing names, addresses and Social Security numbers of AICPA members was lost when it was shipped back to the organization by a computer repair company.

This would be a non-event to many CPA practices, as many would just write it off as a lost Fed Ex package.  Many may not be aware of the need to "wipe", or in layman's terms, remove all of your data from a hard drive before you get rid of a PC.  This is taken so seriously by the folks at the NNSA facilities in Oak Ridge that their IT people "wipe" the data off of drives to military standards, and then the security personnel use the old drives for target practice.  Some are even destroyed in an incinerator, and returned to their bare metal state.

So let's all be careful out there.  Use a wiping utility when getting rid of your old PC's.  One example is a FREE app called "Eraser" from Sourceforge.net (http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/download.php).  This program lets you delete files securely up to DOD standards.  Try it - you'll sleep better.

When donating old PC's, I recommend to my clients that they wipe the hard drive, install the OS again, and then donate the PC in "ready to use" condition.  It takes a few minutes, and you'll sleep better.

No Notebooks on Airplanes?

WSJ Article (subscription required)

Please.  Step away from the Federal Register.  Put your hands above your head.  Don't do anything rash - no sudden movements.  Please. In the name of all that is Holy, Mr. FAA, please don't take my laptop away.

Frequent travelers are already likely to stink, since we can't take deodorant and toothpaste on board (these must now be checked).  Now, the FAA is investigating whether or not they should be taken on airplanes at all (!).  As I tell the TSA agents I speak with (usually when they're swabbing my laptop bag), "Thanks for what you do.  I love architechture, and I appreciate your work to help keep me from becoming part of some building somewhere."  I've got no problem with folks doing what they need to do to keep us safe - but I've traveled with a laptop for ten years.  My laptop is my security blanket in many respects.  If I can't carry my cell phone, projector, and my two laptops, it's going to be pretty hard for me to teach seminars.

I can make it work, but the point is that the life of a road warrior is hard enough already.  You have late or cancelled flights, rude hotel or airport personnel, gate agents who stop helping you get on standby on a boarding aircraft to speak with their boyfriends on their cell phones (Yes, it really happened - USAir, Philadelphia), lost or damaged luggage, lost reservations for hotels and rental cars (I actually slept in a rental car and showered in a truck stop before a big meeting one time), and many other indignities.  Please - don't take away my link to the outside world.  We can work it out.

Dell to Announce Huge (4MM units) Notebook Battery Recall

The Wall Street Journal reports today that Dell is expected to have a huge notebook battery recall announcement in the next few days.  It’s not known which models are affected, but the affected notebooks can, in rare instances, spontaneously combust.  Accordingly, I’m recommending that you turn off and unplug your laptop every night to be sure that you don’t leave a ticking fire bomb in place.  While the chances of you having a fire are remote, the preventative step is painless, so please – don’t leave a laptop plugged in and unattended.

Find out if you are affected - visit https://www.dellbatteryprogram.com/ .  Interestingly enough, the issue is really a Sony issue, since Dell uses Sony's batteries, and may affect other computer manufacturers.

(ed, note: FYI - this is the largest ever notebook battery - 2.7 million US notebook batteries, and 1.4 million batteries abroad - WSJ has a good table on this - it's an order of magnitude larger that the next largest recall. Since these notebooks were shipped as far back as 2004, these new batteries will give a new lease on life to many aging machines.  My recommendation:  If your laptop is over a year old, take time to reinstall everything from CD when the new battery comes in.  Reinstalling Windows and apps can make your PC run much faster.)

Since fiery notebooks would have a significant negative effect on the data stored on your notebook, I also recommend that you back up your notebook as soon as possible to a USB hard drive or other device.  Salescircular.com has a category called "Hard Drives" which lists drives on sale at national office supply chains and electronics stores by state.  {If I could do it all over again, I'd buy 3-4 500GB MyBook hard drives.  Small form factor, huge storage, and attractive enough to sit on your bookshelf.}

The original Wall Street Journal Article appears here (subscription required).

CPA Firm Technology Update

It's been a busy summer thus far - I've traveled about 50,000 miles for speaking gigs this year.  I've got a lot of good tips for all of you, but they're currently between my ears - so over the next few weeks, look for some posts to discuss things I've learned recently which you might find interesting.

New Tools on my test and production systems:

• HP Projector
• Targus Docking Station
• Logitech io digital pen
• Kensington Bluetooth Mouse
• Novatel Merlin S620 Air Card with Service by Sprint PCS
• Kyocera KR1 Router for Air Card
• Logitech Quickcam for Notebooks Pro (with earbud that works with Skype)
• SnagIt and Camtasia Studio
• Peachtree Quantum 2007 and Peachtree Complete 2007
• Betas of Office 2007 and Windows Vista (yes, my laptop will run the Aero setup)

Probably my favorite two tools this far are the Logitech io digital pen and the Novatel Merlin S620 aircard.  The combination of these has made it much easier on the road.  I'll have detailed discussion on these over the next week or so, but they're doing a great job of making my life easier.  Summaries are as follows:

io Digital Pen:  Great tool, paper costs too much.  I'm using this to take notes and transfer them to MS OneNote.  While I'd like to have a tablet long term (I hear HP has a killer new tablet - and would love to test one on the road this summer and fall and write about it), the io digital  pen seems to be a nice stopgap measure.   The nice thing about the digital pen is that it lets you take notes and fill out forms with someone without the technology becoming the conversation instead of enabling it.

Sprint PCS Novatel Merlin S620 Air Card: Internet.  Anywhere.  This is an EVDO internet access card provided by K2 for me to use when on the road.  I get good coverage in most cities.  Here's my summary of coverage thus far this year (by city)

NYC: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up (3 Park Ave, 31st St @ 6th Ave, Penn Station, Jamaica, Newark airport, JFK airport, and LGA airport)
Long Island: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up (Worked in room at LI Marriott, Hicksville train station, on LIRR to NYC, and the only place I really had trouble was in tunnels.
Chicago: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up - Worked well in Oak Brook Terrace area as well as in Deerfield.  (on a personal note, I got to see the Cubs on August 1st - while I would have liked to see Harry Caray sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" drunk, I was able to go on '70s night.  There were some people with absolutely unbelievable fros and getups - lots of lambchops, Elvis lookalikes, etc.  Good game - Cubs won).
Syracuse: Not Good - dialup speeds.
Knoxville/Farragut: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
Denver (Tech Center Area): Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
CVG Airport: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
ATL Airport: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
DEN Airport: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
TYS Airport: Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
Nashville (Brentwood/Franklin): Outstanding - 500kb down, 80kb up
Sevierville, TN: Good - 60Kb both ways.  Not EVDO, but good for a new subdivision, and great for a non-EVDO area.