I bought a desktop and laptop in December. Can I claim on taxes..

• I bought a desktop and laptop in December. Can I claim on taxes.. - Seeking tax help. New to IC..
  • You might want to wait on getting new one as MIcrosoft is coming out with new OS at the end of - the year. nm
    • She already bought it, too late for waiting! nm - Blu
      • She said she hated the laptop but was hesitant to get another. That is why I said wait. - nm
  • Tax guy told me because of nature of job and way computers outdate so quickly, could get new one - every year, but would probably only do it every ot
    • every other year, as to not raise any red flags. - nm
  • I knew I saw this a few pages ago and searched for you. - jus me

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you need on your desktop to work, you want on your laptop.   More and more laptops aren't coming with a dial-up modem and I would want that if traveling so that you have another option for connection.   Depending on how/where you travel you may never need it, but I think you always need several options for connecting.   I have used a laptop only for 5 years.   I do use an external keyboard, but it isn't wireless.   I don't know if computers have the ability to have something built-in for a wireless keyboard and/or mouse, but if not you have to have to connect something to your computer and that will just be another piece of equipment to have to keep you with. 

There are a lot of companies who advertise "internet based," but that doesn't mean necessarily that you can just download dictation and work off-line.  Many companies want you to type live into their system, so if you are going to be looking for a new position you need to be sure about the details. 

Some companies require you to use their equipment, so traveling wouldn't work well with something like that.   If you are able to use your own equipment if you had a laptop already they could load your laptop to start with. 

I've had the laptop since January 2007 and the desktop since December 2005. I have been pleased with both.  Tech support is from India but make sure you tell them you use your computer for business purposes and you'll get someone who speaks very good English.  Otherwise, you'll be repeatedly saying, "Scuse me.  Could you repeat that?"

My DH has two HP laptops and has been pleased.  Then again, my DD and her father, my ex-husband, both have Dell laptops and have been pleased.  They don't run theirs as much as I run mine though with several programs running at one time.

Get Windows XP Pro.  Don't go with Vista.  There are still some compatibity issues with MT software.

You needs at least 512 RAM, a good sound card, Ethernet/wireless card, and a dial-up modem if you plan to travel and work, so you have multiple options for obtaining work.   Any computer you buy off the shelf should have everything you would need but maybe the dial-up modem. 

If you use a foot pedal you may need to be an adapter to convert your pedal to USB, if you are using serial/game port with desktop. 

Anyone have an idea about using a desktop computer as a laptop?  I am wanting to take a roadtrip and I had a laptop that has a cracked monitor screen that I used a Belkin wireless internet PCI card in the side of it with WiFi internet connection.  Is there a way to use my physical harddrive and establish the same wireless internet connection with WiFi?  I do not have the same port that the laptop has on my harddrive that the Belkin wireless card fit into, but is there another card that plugs into the desktop harddrive that will have the same effect?  Thank you all.

Not sure whether I would like to buy another desktop or a laptop.  My hubby has a laptop and the only way I can transcribe on his is if I use an adaptor to connect my ergonomic keyboard.  I am wondering if the screen from the laptop would cramp my style.  I am leaning more towards another desktop because I can use my hubby's when traveling, but then still question what brand.  Anyone willing to give some suggestions as far as brand, specs, capabilities.  I would rather hear from fellow MTs versus sales people in the store selling me things I really do not need.  Thanks!!

if they have previously been used on that machine, does the machine have to be turned off before attaching them?  don't know what i'd do without you guys on this board, be lost in space i guess...

ok i just bought a used laptop.  when i was at the guy's house, the internet was going.  now, i'm at my house and it won't connect to my wireless network.  it shows it on the screen, but won't connect.  it is so frustrating.  is it the firewall on?  is there something i need to do to get it to work?  I'm going to get a sprint broadband card for it, so not like it really matters, but i just want the internal wireless to work anyways. why isn't it working?

It was used when I bought it and I want to make sure that I have everything I need to work from home on it.  The PC I'm on now will be going back to the hospital.  It is a Dell Latitude.  It has a Pentium IV processor, 512 mg of RAM, 40 gig hard drive, wireless internet plus ethernet card, Windows 2000.  Will that laptop suffice for working from home?  I assume it will, but I just want to make sure before I starting applying places.

Thanks!   

was a piece of junk, so I'm not the one to ask if you should buy a Dell.   I'd get at least double that processor speed.  My computer is about 10 months old and I have 5 times that, which means that there is probably something faster out now, or soon will be.  It is more than I need for work, but I also use computer to download music/pictures, and a bunch of other stuff.   The Dell I had had 650 mHz and it was slow and that was almost 6 years ago.   You may have to customize anyway to get XP unless you buy one previously owned, which you can also buy from Dell.   It is always a good idea to buy bigger than you need currently just to allow for updates to any software or new software you may add.    You need to also think about tech support.  I know Dell has tech support in India, which can be extremely frustrating.  I don't know that other computer companies don't offshore their tech support, but that would be a question I would ask and find out if there is a locally authorized dealer to handle warranty repairs or if you need to send off the computer.    I would not recommend a Gateway computer and I would not recommend any computer that has a Celeron processor.   They tend to be in all the lower end computers. 

The best days to go are December 18 to December 23rd.  We went to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure on December 21 this year because they gave us discount passes for that week.  There were no crowds at all.  We walked on all the rides.  I think our longest wait was 20 minutes for Spiderman.  The lines were so short that we were able to go on all the rides at both parks, several of them 2 to 3 times each, and we were pretty much done by 3:00.  I asked one of the workers there, and she said that week was the slowest of the year, but that December 24 to Jan 1 is usually very crowded. 

If you decide to go, my kids and I actually prefer Universal/Islands of Adventure over the Disney parks.  We like the rides better, and it is a lot cheaper.  I also like the fact that you can bring one of those big sipper cups in those parks, they will let you refill it for $1.25.  They also let you bring food in the park.  I usually bring PB&J sandwiches and our sipper cups, and then we only purchase dinner in the park. 

Anyone who's from Florida or has been there knows the rates for EVERYTHING go shooting through the sky come the season, which is the week before Thanksgiving through week after Easter.

Granted, the weather's beautiful in December, but you WILL pay for it if you go to Disney, make no mistake..... 

I liked using the CMT Review Guide and the CD that comes with it.  It's very similar to the real test. 

Good luck!!!!

seems like it was just yesterday!  So, so senseless.  Hard to believe Sean's 30 already.  Man, this makes me feel my age!! 

What's your favorite song he wrote?  Mine's "Imagine."  Absolutely love it...always have, always will 

I did not advise her not to claim it, she can do what she wants.  A company can expense out without filing a 1099.  I have expensed out without doing 1099's before and have never been questioned by the IRS.  In fact you have to notify the IRS that you will be filing 1099's.  Do all hairdressers report all of their "cash" tips?   I suppose you could do 1000 jobs at $500 each to make your 50K per year and not claim it but I doubt that you could find that many jobs.   All we are talking about here is one job and that is what I based my answer on not the hypothetical "thousands of jobs under $500".  I doubt that the amount she made would change her "owed taxes" except for social security and even then not that much.  Sp again -- she needs to do what she feels is the correct thing to do and if she loses sleep over not reporting a couple of hundred dollars then report it but do not expect a 1099. 

say so only to make themselves feel superior.  You think you're better because you say what you say.   But how much do you do?  When Bush cut taxes, did you feel  so strongly that it was a mistake that you insisted to continue to send in the former higher Clinton taxes?  Or do you think that only those horrid selfish "rich" people should pay?  Sounds bites and lip service.