| The next time you're in an office where personal | | | | * An optional subtotal column on an etape displays the |
| computers are used, look on the desks. Chances are | | | | current running subtotal throughout the entire etape. |
| pretty good that you will see a mechanical tape adding | | | | * An unlimited number of memories can be created in |
| machine sitting next to many of the computers. That | | | | a well written adding machine program. Switching |
| makes no sense to me whatsoever. Why are such | | | | between memories at any time is a matter of a few |
| antiquated pieces of equipment, that do little more than | | | | mouse clicks. |
| simple arithmetic, sitting next to very powerful, perhaps | | | | * Adding sales tax calculations to an etape can be |
| very expensive computing devices? | | | | done by pressing one button. |
| In my opinion, the advantages of a full featured adding | | | | * A Biz Wizard feature simplifies the calculations of |
| machine program should convince most people that | | | | annuities, loans and depreciation. The results of these |
| mechanical adding machines are expensive dinosaurs | | | | types of calculations, including entire loan amortization |
| that have long outlived their usefulness for personal | | | | schedules, can be placed on an etape with one mouse |
| computer users. To illustrate, here are a few of the | | | | click. |
| advantages a person realizes from using a well written | | | | With these, and several other advantages of |
| electronic tapes (etapes) program instead of a | | | | electronic adding machine etapes, why have |
| mechanical adding machine. | | | | mechanical tape adding machines managed to avoid |
| * An etape is editable. With a mechanical machine, an | | | | the same fate of paper and pencil spreadsheets? In |
| error on a printed tape often means re-running the | | | | my opinion, habit is a large factor. People have been |
| entire tape. Etape entries can be changed, inserted | | | | using adding machines for a long time; long before the |
| and removed. | | | | advent of personal computers. Whenever an |
| * Etapes can be saved to disc and reopened. There is | | | | arithmetic calculation needs to be done, muscle |
| no need to commit an electronic tape to paper unless | | | | memory kicks in subconsciously. The arm extends |
| needed. And etapes on disc can be shared with | | | | past the keyboard and the fingers begin to punch very |
| anyone in the world who has an email address. | | | | familiar buttons. |
| * Etapes saved to disc are encrypted to prevent | | | | I imagine there is also a certain amount of addiction to |
| "back door" viewing and changes. | | | | the whir and clickity-clackity sounds of a paper tape |
| * Electronic tapes that must be stored to satisfy | | | | being printed. When I asked one person why she still |
| statutory requirements can be saved on media, such | | | | used a mechanical paper tape machine she said, "I like |
| as CDs, that will ensure the integrity of the stored | | | | the sound it makes." There is also the intimidation many |
| etapes almost indefinitely. In additon, multiple backup | | | | people still feel with personal computers. A mechanical |
| copies of stored etapes can easily be created. With | | | | adding machine, compared to software, may feel like a |
| backup copies stored off-site, the expense of | | | | pair of well broken in loafers. |
| fireproof storage can be avoided. (While the life | | | | Be it habit, addiction or a comfort factor, mechanical |
| expectancy for data stored on CD's is not yet known, | | | | adding machines have managed to survive |
| I imagine an electronic tape saved on a CD may last | | | | technological advances despite the fact that they |
| longer than a tape printed on paper.) | | | | deprive people of valuable functionality and incur |
| * Editable notes can be added to each entry and | | | | unnecessary costs. A well written electronic adding |
| subtotal on an etape. Each etape can also have a | | | | machine, which can sound just like a mechanical |
| caption. Etapes saved on disc can be searched based | | | | machine, pays for itself quickly with reduced office |
| on file names, captions and/or etape notes. | | | | supply expenses and fewer purchases of |
| * Entire etapes and single etape values can be copied | | | | replacement equipment. It is no longer necessary to |
| and then pasted into any other program that supports | | | | buy cases of adding machine tape or boxes of ribbon |
| the clipboard. This means an electronic adding machine | | | | cartridges. And, since software doesn't wear out, the |
| program works with just about all office and finance | | | | expense of replacing worn out and broken adding |
| software. | | | | machines is eliminated. Not buying paper tape and |
| * With a Master/Derived Value feature, a person can | | | | ribbons in cardboard packaging also means less |
| re-use multi-sectioned etapes for often performed | | | | pressure on our forests. And not throwing out broken |
| calculations. To re-do a calculation, the re-usable etape | | | | machines and exhausted print cartridges means fewer |
| is opened from disc and key values are changed. | | | | non-degradable plastics going into our landfills. |
| Linked subtotals cascade to following etape sections | | | | Using etapes, in my opinion, is a win-win-win situation |
| automatically so that all sections of the etape are | | | | for personal computer users, the bottom line and the |
| correctly recalculated. | | | | environment. |