Jim Barry

Jim Barry,s journey started recently when he bought his first computer.We are following him throughout 2004 as he moves into the technology age of public accounting.We,ll witness his trials and tribulations, see what works and what doesn,t, and, most importantly, gain insight into where and how he saves time and money and where he doesn,t.

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You,ll recall from past issues that I,m following the technological progress (or as is the case this month, lack of progress) of one of the last non-computer using practicing accountants in America.Dexter, Michigan-based Jim Barry has run his small but successful sole practitioner office for over 20 years and has yet to productively employ computer technology.As previously reported, he did purchase a computer late last fall with great resolve to computerize before tax season.Unfortunately, the ,urgency of the here and now, won out over the ,importance of the future.,

Tax season came and went with his clients, tax forms seeing only the business end of his PenTel.No software for this guy!

With the urgency gone, Jim is again focusing on the future.His software sales contacts have all but given up on him, but he has ordered demos (again) from Drake and ProSeries.As a board member of the Michigan Chapter of the NATP, he,s needed to adopt e-mail, and has.He,s using Outlook Express and claims at least some degree of comfort in dealing with e-mail, although he claims he ,can,t open certain file attachments.,

Jim resolutely maintains that he WILL, eventually, be a computer user.

With the urgency gone, Jim is again focusing on the future.His software sales contacts have all but given up on him, but he has ordered demos (again) from Drake and ProSeries.As a board member of the Michigan Chapter of the NATP, he's needed to adopt e-mail, and has.He's using Outlook Express and claims at least some degree of comfort in dealing with e-mail, although he claims he "can't open certain file attachments."

Jim resolutely maintains that he WILL, eventually, be a computer user.

Dexter, Michigan-based Jim Barry has run his small but successful sole practitioner office for over 20 years and has yet to productively employ computer technology.As previously reported, he did purchase a computer late last fall with great resolve to computerize before tax season.Unfortunately, the "urgency of the here and now" won out over the "importance of the future."

Tax season came and went with his clients' tax forms seeing only the business end of his PenTel.No software for this guy!

With the urgency gone, Jim is again focusing on the future.His software sales contacts have all but given up on him, but he has ordered demos (again) from Drake and ProSeries.As a board member of the Michigan Chapter of the NATP, he's needed to adopt e-mail, and has.He's using Outlook Express and claims at least some degree of comfort in dealing with e-mail, although he claims he "can't open certain file attachments."

Jim resolutely maintains that he WILL, eventually, be a computer user.