Operating System Could Offer Windows of Opportunity

By Bruce H. Nearon

By now you probably have heard about Microsoft’s exciting new operating system, Windows XP. If you or your clients buy a new computer, it most likely will come with XP pre-installed. However, maybe you are unfamiliar with XP.

Perhaps your practice is limited to tax and accounting. Why should you care about computer operating systems? What if a tax or accounting client called you and asked whether they should upgrade their computer to XP or buy a new one with XP pre-installed? What if you haven’t got a clue about XP and the client realizes that? The answer: the client may call a competitor for information technology (IT) advice, and then you not only lose the chance for additional fees from IT consulting, you lose the client’s tax and accounting work as well.

Or what if your client does upgrade to XP in the middle of an accounting period and the old DOS or Windows 95 accounting package is incompatible with XP—or worse, all of the accounting data files are trashed on the upgrade and no backups were made? Attend the upcoming New York State Society of CPAs Emerging Technologies Committee continuing professional education (CPE) presentation on Windows XP and learn of the opportunities the XP operating system offers to you and your clients. Led by one of the accounting profession’s IT experts, the session also will cover implementation and upgrade issues.

About the Presenter

Walter C. Schmidt says he met his first computer—the IBM 1130—in 1965 and it was love at first sight. After years of working with the evolving personal computer, including running Lotus 1-2-3 on a PC with a 512Kbs motherboard and a 10Mb hard drive, Schmidt realized “the benefits of doing windows,” he has said. Considered a Microsoft Expert Zone Associate Expert, Mr. Schmidt is a leading proponent of Vortals—websites with news, research, statistics, online tools and other services geared toward one particular industry.

Mr. Schmidt is a past president of the NYSSCPA Suffolk Chapter and is recognized as an authority on information technologies in business. He has contributed to Lotus Magazine, PC Magazine, The Chamber of Commerce Executive Network, The CPA Journal and The National Computer System’s Comprehensive Information Management for Schools Users Network for Information Technology in Education Newsletter. He also has been a speaker at the annual Comdex computer convention. Mr. Schmidt can be reached at walts@dorsai.org.

Additional Information

Emerging Technologies Committee CPE presentations are free to NYSSCPA members and $15.00 for nonmembers to qualify for one hour of CPE credit. At the session you will get the chance to network with the profession’s and the industry’s IT leaders. A free continental breakfast will be provided by J.H. Cohn LLP.

Advance registration is recommended because seating is limited.

For presentation information, contact Gary Carpenter at (315) 487-4567 or gcarpenter-cit@worldnet.att.net or Bruce H. Nearon at (973) 403-6955 or bnearon@jhcohn.com.

To register, visit the Society’s website at www.nysscpa.org or call (800) 537-3635.