Feature: Specialized Hardware for Tax & Accounting Firms

MOBILE HARDWARE
It seems there are only a few stalwarts left who’ve managed to maintain a firm line between “work time” and “non work time,” and unfortunately I’m not one of them. While I salute these valiant few, for the rest of us there’s a wide market of mobile gadgets, ranging from traditional laptops and the latest generation of smartphones that help us stay connected, to devices that let users perform additional tasks while away from the office, like mobile scanners, printers and other tools.

PORTABLE SCANNERS & PRINTERS
In addition to Fujitsu’s ScanSnap S300 noted previously, there are a few other micro peripherals out there that can help you input or output information while on the road, with some not even needing to plug in since they get their power from the cable attached to your laptop or phone.

Ambir Technology — TravelScan Pro 600 – $150
Barely wider than a sheet of paper and less than two inches in height and depth, Ambir’s (www.Ambir.com) 11.6 ounce TravelScan 600 can quickly scan business cards and documents up to 8.5 x 14 inches. The lightweight tool uses a regular USB cable for both data transfer and to get its power, and can save straight to PDF format.

Planon — PrintStik and DocuPen – Starting at $199
Planon (www.Planon.com) has taken portable scanning and printing to the extreme, providing pocket-sized options that can work with a PC, Mac or even mobile phones. The DocuPen can scan a full page in about four seconds, with full color resolution. And it has built-in flash storage that can hold hundreds of documents. The PrintStik brings printing convenience to those on the go; can print from laptops, computers or smartphones; and doesn’t need its own power supply. This is a handy tool for those air and road trips.

ONE MORE USEFUL TOOL

Matias — Complete Mobile Office – $130
The Matias (www.Matias.ca) Complete Mobile Office bundle combines a folding keyboard, a folding laptop stand and an optical mouse with retractable USB cord, allowing users to quickly set up their portable computer in a more comfortable workstation-like setting. The folding keyboard offers full-sized keys and number pad, while the iRizer laptop stand can be set to various angles to ease viewing. Matias’ products are PC and Mac compatible and are available at Staples, Office Depot and dozens of online retailers.