CES offers all sorts of technology -- some is directly related to the practice of public accounting, some has no relationship at all. Some is boring, most is interesting, and a bit is actually fun. This adaptation of technology meets the “fun” test (IMHO) but completely fails the “related to public accounting” one. But -- since it was SO interesting I decided to make a real stretch and tell you about it. Thus the cheesy headline.

The EasyBloom Plant Sensor is an Internet-enabled gardening device that recommends which plants will thrive in a specific location and diagnoses plants. You stick it in soil next to your plant and the device records soil conditions, sunlight, moisture and temperature. After 24 hours you plug it (the other end, silly!) into a USB port and the EasyBloom Web site will analyze your conditions and recommend plants that will thrive or will tell you what is wrong with your (probably dying if it’s tax season!) plant. The online database is very extensive and the technology quite sophisticated.

It’s available now at Amazon.com and other on-line retailers at about $60.

Maybe my anemic-looking ficus tree has hope after all!!

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Lots and lots to see here in Las Vegas at 2009 CES. Last night at the press-only opening session (CES Unveiled) I spied several neat things in which I think we as practicing accountants might be interested.

First on the list -- from Lenovo a dual screen laptop! The ThinkPad W700ds sports a second 10.6-inch display that extends from the primary 17-inch lid providing a true multi-monitor experience. It is VERY expensive and VERY heavy, at $5,100 and 11 pounds, but it certainly shows a future for remote workers (read -- your audit staff!) that desperately need dual monitors while working in the field. Perhaps not ready for purchase THIS year -- but soon, very soon.

Visit the Lenovo site for more details.


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The small practitioners bane starts tomorrow -- the client who needs to file just one or two 1099s. They expect help and they resist fees because “it’s just one single little form.” And you want to make sure they stay compliant. Many of us relegate the duty to an admin, but it still eats time and overhead.

My tip of the  day is to point your clients to www.FileTaxes.com.

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