trkrhelp,
Thank you for sharing your article. You are correct. It is indeed as relevant today as the day you wrote it. But I find myself bristling when I read it; not because you said anything wrong, but because computers still suck. You said:
"Computers are somewhat intimidating and many of the old timers remember looking into computers back in the days when you needed to be a programmer to work on a computer. But that has changed over the years. Today's computers, and software in general, have improved to the point that almost anyone can master using a computer with a few hours of effort. There are, of course, still a number of things to learn and it is doubtful that you will bring your new computer home and begin computing that evening, but with a couple of evenings at the computer, and a little help from a friend, or the children who are exposed to computers daily in school, you should be able to start getting some meaningful use out of your computer in a week or two."
While that is true, it does not address the fact that a computer problem of one sort or another will certainly develop. It may have nothing to do with the software you sell, but for the driver, it's a problem just the same. And such problems can be frustrating enough to make one think about tossing the computer out the window.
It's the year 2006 and Microsoft is still issuing fixes for it's Windows 2000 product. And then they issue a fix for the fix! Almost every month, a new computer virus makes the news. Users must be very careful to install software and configure their computers to keep hackers out. Spammers fill e-mail boxes with endless streams of crap. You go to a web site and get messages that you are using an antiquated browser and you must download the latest and greatest player so you can watch a totally useless presentation on that site's home page.
Even doing something that should be simple like printing a page often takes users into the business of installing drivers. Installing drivers? What the heck is that? A driver is a person that hauls freight, isn't it?
Computers take non-computer people into a world that speaks a foreign language. Programming? Something on TV. Node? WISIWIG? .jpg? Backup? Megabyte? Mouse? Who is the idiot that decided to call it that? Google? sounds like something a baby might mumble before she learns to talk.
Listen to how geeks talk and try to hear it as non-computer people hear. "I Googled 'compression program' and clicked on Tucows where I was able to download WinZip."
When computers develop problems, users are encouraged to call technical support. As often as not, you get someone with a heavy east-Indian accent who starts throwing out geek terms, leaving users feeling inadequate and helpless as they click away as instructed, but having no idea what they are doing or why.
I'm a fairly-skilled computer user and try to use our TWO laptops in our truck to maximize our profits. (We own two because we got tired of waiting for the other to finish with the one.) Having once worked as a software instructor, I can say without reservation that for many people, computers are not empowering devices, but intimidating.
It's not just your average Jane or Joe that has such complaints. In 2002, the MIT Technology Review featured an article, "Why is Software So Bad?" It was written by an MIT computer expert who was frustrated by the computer problems he and all other users encounter day by day.
The more I learn about computers, the more I appreciate the value of a pencils, paper, and books. As one wag said, "If computers are supposed to take us to a paperless society, why are there so many computer books?"
Pencil and paper bookeeping systems are vastly superior to computer systems in many respects. Backing them up is as easy as making photocopies and keeping them at home, while keeping the originals in your truck. They don't crash. They don't need electricity or batteries to operate. You don't have to know how to type to use them. And after you let them sit for a few years, you don't have to worry that the technology (pencil and paper) and flie type (an actual file in an actuale file cabinet drawer) has changed so much that you cannot access your records without first upgrading your technology by a generation or three (and paying technology vendors money for the upgrades).
Whether you are using a computer or paper, you still need to develop an understanding of bookeeping and basic accounting principles. With paper, you can do that without encountering computer problems.
Any bookeeping system is better than no system. Even for people who are comfortable using computers, it may be wise to start with the paper resources mentioned above. Doing so will give you a better understanding of the bookeeping processes the computer programs are using when they guide you through their setup process.
I could go on but I won't. (I probably will later, as part of the Business Planning for Successful Expediters series. Thank you for getting me started. See:
http://www.expeditersonline.com/artman/publish/business-planning-expediters.html)
Short story: Computers suck. While you can indeed milk profits out of your business by using a computer to pick the fly doo doo out of the rice, a good pencil and paper bookeeping system, combined with the services of a truck business services and tax preparation firm will help you drive profitably down the road without a computer-based bookeeping system.
Drivers who know how to use a computer are probably better off than those who don't, but learning how takes no small amount of time and effort. The value of that time and effort, including opportunity costs, should be factored in when talking about the value of computer bookeeping systems.
