Computer Accounting Essentials Using QuickBooks Online Edition teaches you how to use QuickBooks Online Edition, a popular online accounting package for small businesses. From any computer connected to the Internet QuickBooks Online Edition users can work on their business's finances anytime, anywhere. Owners, employees, financial advisors, and accountants can work simultaneously in different locations.

To use QuickBooks Online Edition, you need a connection to the Internet and a browser. A browser is the software used on a computer to connect and display information from a Web site called a server. Commonly used web browsers are Internet Explorer ® and Mozilla Firefox ®. You will use Internet Explorer ® for this text.

The Internet is the worldwide electronic communication network that allows for the sharing of information. The Internet is also called the World Wide Web (WWW) or Web.

QuickBooks Online Edition works on computers with Windows 98, XP, or 2000. An IBM-compatible 1GHz computer with 256MB RAM is recommended. Mac OS is not supported. It uses the browser version 6 or above of Internet Explorer ® for an Internet connection to QuickBooks Online Edition and a high-speed Internet connection is recommended. The screen resolution minimum is 800x600 and Adobe Reader 4.0 or higher is required for printing forms (free download available). Exporting to Excel requires Excel 97 or later. Active X component is also required (free download available).

To make an Internet connection, your computer must be equipped with a modem. The word modem is an abbreviation of Modulator/Demodulator. A modem is a device that allows you to connect to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). ISPs can be companies such as America OnLine™ (AOL), Earthlink™, or local providers. If telephone lines are used to make this connection (not recommended), your connection will be very slow since most telephone lines were designed for voice communication not electronic data from a computer.

Faster connections to the Internet are possible using an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or leased lines. An ISDN line is a digital network that provides faster transmission of voice, video, and text. Leased lines, referred to as T-1 and T-3, are available for faster connections, too. The backbone of the Internet consists of T-3 lines. Leased lines are expensive and used by companies that need to transfer massive amounts of data.

Faster Internet connections are also offered via cable, wireless radio modems, and satellite TV. A digital subscriber line (DSL) is another way to access the Internet faster. DSL lines are always connected to the Internet (are always on) so there is no need to dial up. Continuous high-speed Internet access using DSL, cable modem, or T1 is recommended when using QuickBooks Online Edition.

In the next section, Accessing QuickBooks Online Edition, you will learn how to go to QuickBooks Online Edition’s website at http://oe.quickbooks.com. You will also start using QuickBooks Online Edition to record business transactions.