If you are like many entrepreneurs, bookkeepers, accountants and business owners, you keep track of your books on your laptop.  If you have a laptop that has a screen smaller than 17 inches, you will notice something missing compared to a traditional keyboard: the number pad.

A sample of a keyboard laptop on a 15" notebook.

Usually it is easier to use a number pad to do accounting - if you are familiar with a 10-key calculator, it makes life quicker and easier.  So, instead of using the numbers along the top of the keyboard, you can get a USB powered number pad.

An example of a USB number pad.

You can find a USB number pad at any computer store, with prices ranging from about $20 and up.  If you need to lighten your load in your notebook bag, consider purchasing the USB calculator by Canon - it works just as a ten key calculator, with the benefit of being able to plug into your notebook as well.