These discussions mark just how the computing environment has shifted from an almost PC-only world for tax and accounting firms to one in which PCs still dominate in tax and accounting applications but web and communications are moving to tablets and smartphones.

Another marker came when Dana "Rick" Richardson gave his annual technology futures talk in which he makes predictions about the direction of companies, products and technologies. When he asked several hundred attendees how many use the Apple iPad, perhaps half the audience members raised a hand.

The Boomers centered much of their talk about how necessary it is for firms to make changes to infrastructure to accommodate Apple products, whether the iPad or the iPhone. For our purposes here, that is not the important point. The important point is that Apple products are going to grow as a part of business environment. This is not fad.

"Executives are driving decisions about Apple," said Jim Boomer." This is driving firms to make purchases of Apple products. We need to be in there and figure out how to prepare for this."

Bob Scott

• Email

Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards.  Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He  has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that.  A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind