Parallels program and an "Ode to Macintosh"

I was perusing my own blog today.  I came upon my punishing blog against my MacBook.  Yes, I bashed Apple.  But let me back up.  I purchased a MacBook because I had a bad problem and crash on a fairly new expensive PC.  So, with many recommendations from friends, I purchased a Mac.  Now, at the Mac store, I was sold a program that I could simultaneously run Windows on my Mac.  It did not work well.  It was built for someone more technology-saavy than myself.  Then I tired Boot Camp.  Again, No Good.   So, I gave up on my Mac.

I purchased an inexpensive PC.  It was a Toshiba from Best Buy.  I even purchased the tech-support plan (against my better judgment).   All was well with the world.  My QuickBooks for Windows worked like a dream.  I must admit, I liked the way the Mac did everything else, (email, internet, calendar, etc.) but QuickBooks for Mac is just not the same as Windows.  And I am in QuickBooks more than any other program (it is my business, of course!) and QuickBooks for windows is far superior to the Mac version.

Then, one day, the "c" key on the keyboard did not work on my Toshiba.  Then the "l" key, etc. etc.  I marched right back into Best Buy and asked the Geek Squad to fix it.  I paid for the extra warranty. for goodness sake.  Well, they said "Okay, but it may take one month because they ship it to Texas to be repaired"  So much for the Geek Squad and repairs being done in the local store.  Apparently, they needed to replace my keyboard.  Well, I don't know about you, but I cannot be without my laptop for a month!  That is crazy.  I had given my old MacBook to my husband.  I told him I would teach him how to use it.  I never did. So, I took it back.  Yes, I was an Indian-giver.  Actually, I dreaded teaching him because I struggled to learn using a Mac.  My best description of learning to use a Mac is -- It is like learning to use your left hand and you are right handed.

I had a client who successfully has a beautiful Mac and uses Parallels program.   Never has a problem.  So, I purchased Parallels the day I dropped the Toshiba off for repair.  Back home, I took the MacBook back and installed Parallels and Windows and QuickBooks and all of my data files.   Good to go. 

It all worked wonderfully.  I used the MacBook and quickly realized, "I don't want that crappy and cheap-Toshiba back". It is inferior to this MacBook.

So, when I picked the Toshiba up, I gave it to the Hubby to use.  And I kept the MacBook.  And I love it!  Am I now a Mac girl?  Yes, I guess I am.   

Can you believe it?  

Lynda

Check out my website www.artesanibookkeeping.com

Reconciled transaction...are you sure you want to delete? Yes, whoops, No!

As soon as you did it, you knew it was wrong.  But you clicked "okay" anyway.  And then it was gone. Gone forever......

But you can replace it.  I have seen this many times.  I client will call me and say, "my beginning balance on my bank reconciliation is off.  It was correct when I left it last month. How can it change?"

The quick answer is "you must have deleted a reconciled transaction".  All clients say, "No, I did not".  But thankfully, there is a report in QuickBooks where I can see if something has been deleted.  It is under bank rec screen, reconciliation discrepancy report and also there is one under reports, Accountant, Voided and Deleted Report.

Once I have located the deleted transaction, I reinstate and re-reconcile the one transaction.

So, don't worry if you accidentally delete a reconciled transaction.  It can be reinstated and re-reconciled.

Lynda

Check out my website www.artesanibookkeeping.com

Trying on QuickBooks for size -- The QuickBooks Premier Trial

Has your high-end accounting product been discontinued?  Is the product that you are using "unsupported"?  Have you been thinking of changing over to QuickBooks, but are unsure if you will like it?

I have the link for you:

http://proadvisor.intuit.com/product/test-drive-trials/index.jsp

You can download this link and get the entire product for free to use for 30 days.  I recommend this to new users to test it out, play around in the sample files and get familiar with the program.  This is a wonderful way to see how easy QuickBooks is to use.  It is a very versatile product and will work for most clients.  

This is the best time of the year to make the change.   And if you need help in getting started, please contact a ProAdvisor (like me).   

Lynda

Check out my website www.artesanibookkeeping.com

Artesani Bookkeeping - Out with the old and in with the new!

So, I officially said I would blog here more as part of my normal day/week.  What happened?  Tax season.  And I have opened up  my business officially in Southwest Florida and have closed Rhode Island Bookkeeping.  I was surprised at the paperwork involved in closing RI Bookkeeping.  Most of the forms and things you had to do were on the state level.  And the cost to close!  Wow!  It cost me almost $1,000.00 to close that firm with fees to the state of Rhode Island.  In that respect, I say good riddance! 

Now, I am a born and bred "Rhode Islanda", but if I did not do the paperwork in the correct order, Rhode Island would have charged me corporate tax again at a fee of $500.00 on top of the above fees.  Guess what the corporate tax is in the great state of Florida?  Zero.  Now the difference in these two states is night and day (as far as business friendly goes).  And I have to say the same goes for the economy.  Although Florida was hit hard too, it is rebounding more quickly (thank you, tourism industry) and the bad weather up north only makes it better down here. 

So, life is good in Florida and for Artesani Bookkeeping.  I do miss my friends in Rhode Island and I am encouraging them to visit.  And thanks to the Internet and the USPS, I was able to keep most of my Rhode Island clients and do their work from Florida. 

Lynda

Check out my website www.artesanibookkeeping.com