By Sara Skiff | Friday, May 2, 2008
Coming May 9, 2008 to Fat Friday:
Verizon XV6700/6800/6900 Review; ActiveWords Review; A Modest CLE Proposal; Biglaw Salaries; Office 2007 Correction
By Debra Bruce, Christel Burris, Michael Caldwell, Wesley Y.S. Chang, & Stephen Seldin
In this issue of Fat Friday, Debra Bruce reviews the Verizon XV6700 Pocket PC (and we comment on its successors), Wesley Y.S. Chang reviews ActiveWords and explains how he uses it in his practice, Stephen Seldin discusses how the Internet has affected CLE and how a different pricing structure could help, Christel Burris discusses the method behind the madness of Microsoft's various Office 2007 suites, and Michael Caldwell responds to the continuing discussion about biglaw associate salaries.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, April 25, 2008
Coming May 2, 2008 to Fat Friday:
Carbonite and WinZip Review; Hiring Small Firms; Open WP Documents in Word; Wrike Review; Treo 680 and Agendus Review
By David Giuffrida, Ido Ilan, David Long, Thomas Parker, & Hugh Roberts
In this issue of Fat Friday, David Giuffrida reviews Carbonite in conjunction with WinZip Pro for comprehensive online backup, Thomas Parker discusses where small firms fit in a general counsel's outside counsel strategy, David Long suggests a more accurate way to open WordPerfect documents in Word, Hugh Roberts reviews Wrike for email-related task management, and Ido Ilan reviews his Treo 680 and Agendus.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, April 25, 2008
Coming May 1, 2008 to Answers to Questions:
Westlaw Versus LexisNexis; Google Calendar Review; Access Database Tip; IOGEAR External Video Card; God and Reveal Codes
By Thomas Collon, Tim Hughes, John Kaurloto, Ryan Opria, & Steven Schwaber
In this issue of Answers to Questions, Tim Hughes reviews Westlaw and LexisNexis for legal research plus adds his two cents on adhesion contracts, Thomas Collon reviews Google calendar and Mozilla Thunderbird for shared calendars, John Kaurloto explains how to use subforms to automatically link to documents in Microsoft Access, Ryan Opria reviews IOGEAR's USB 2.0 External Video Card for using multiple monitors with a laptop, and Steven Schwaber responds to a previous Post that criticized WordPerfect.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers dictation software for your BlackBerry and an accompanying online dictation service, an online service for retrieving medical records, and new electronic discovery software designed for in-house counsel in the early stages of a case or investigation (see article below). Don't miss the next issue.
Put the Cushy Back Into Corporate Counsel
By Neil J. Squillante
Being a corporate counsel used to be a cushy job. When litigation arose, you could have your outside counsel swing by to collect documents. Those days have ended. It's one thing to let your outside counsel rummage through file cabinets, but it's not advisable to have them rummage through your computers. Increasingly, that task belongs to you.
DigIT Technologies' DigIT Enterprise 2.5 enables your legal department to access to all electronically stored information throughout the enterprise, enabling you to quickly search for, find, and preserve data that may prove relevant to an investigation or litigation.
DigIT Technologies customizes every installation of DigIT Enterprise based on your specific needs. Once configured, it performs three core functions — Early Case Assessment, Custodian Mapping, and Full Custodian Capture.
Regarding Early Case Assessment, digIT Enterprise enables you to make decisions before you spend any money processing data. By running a few quick searches, you will know how much evidentiary data exists so that you can establish a case budget and strategy. digIT Enterprise also provides the requisite information necessary for the Meet & Confer requirement of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure such as the number of custodians, how much data each custodian has, and where that data resides.
While some software uses a single method for identifying custodians, digIT Enterprise employs a variety of methods for Custodian Mapping, including address, machine name, and integration with Microsoft Active Directory. You can also map email using particular fields such as the sender and the name of the mailbox.
Full Custodian Capture facilitates the preservation of all potential evidence belonging to one custodian in a single search. digIT Enterprise places all available information for each custodian into a "repository." You then apply search terms against each custodian's collection, and then export potentially relevant files to your review platform of choice for further analysis, tagging, and categorization. This approach ensures that no file is altered or deleted during discovery by any key custodians.
Learn more about digIT Enterprise 2.5.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that briefly discusses and provides links to three hot new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, April 18, 2008
Coming April 21, 2008 to Answers to Questions:
Freedom Chair and Pocket Desk Reviewed; SharePoint 2007 Review; PracticeMaster Review; Trial Tip; So Happy Together
By David Bernier, Hope McNeil, Dixon Robertson, Kurt Schoettler, and Ernest Svenson
In this issue of Answers to Questions, Ernest (Ernie the Attorney) Svenson reviews the Freedom Chair and Pocket Desk from Design Within Reach plus he issues a warning about desks with a CPU compartment, Dixon Robertson reviews Microsoft SharePoint for law office collaboration and knowledge management, David Bernier reviews PracticeMaster for case management, Hope McNeil shares her experience with both Word and WordPerfect, and Kurt Schoettler explains how to easily switch display options on a laptop.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, April 18, 2008
Coming April 25, 2008 to Fat Friday:
Treo 755p Review; Relevant CLE; Tiddlywiki Review; MozyPro Review; Airtouch Desk
By Elaine Dowling, Richard Hackerd, Meredith Hamilton, Brian Sherwood Jones, & John Starkweather
In this issue of Fat Friday, Richard Hackerd reviews his Treo 755p and its syncing abilities with Amicus Attorney, Elaine Dowling shares her thoughts on finding relevant CLE courses, Brian Sherwood Jones reviews Tiddlywiki for personal task and information management, Meredith Hamilton reviews EMC's online backup solution MozyPro, and John Starkweather points to an innovative computer desk option from Steelcase.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, April 11, 2008
Coming April 17, 2008 to Answers to Questions:
Dual Monitors With a Laptop; Fax Security; Duplicates and Near Duplicates; Amicus Accounting Versus QuickBooks; AirSet Review
By W. David Case, Aaron Craft, David Hudgens, Francis Jackson, & Leslie Shear
In this issue of Answers to Questions, David Hudgens explains how to use dual monitors with a laptop and discusses whether a bigger monitor trumps dual monitors, Leslie Shear discusses fax-to-email security, Francis Jackson shares his thoughts on de-duplication technology (or the lack thereof) and a promising vendor entering this arena, Aaron Craft reviews Amicus Attorney Small Firm Edition, Amicus Accounting, and QuickBooks, and W. David Case reviews AirSet for online calendaring.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published Thursdays, Answers to Questions is a weekly newsletter in which TechnoLawyer members answer legal technology and practice management questions submitted by their peers (including you if you join TechnoLawyer). Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, April 11, 2008
Coming April 18, 2008 to Fat Friday:
Are Word Processors Too Complex?; Laplink's PCmover Review; Remote Access Speeds; Treo 700p Review; Mobile Internet Tip; Much More
By James Atkins, David Estes, Barron Henley, Kerry Hubick, & Roger Jones
In this issue of Fat Friday, Barron Henley clarifies some misconceptions about lawyers and word processors, Kerry Hubick reviews Laplink's PCmover for migrating files from an old computer to a new one, James Atkins shares how he improved his remote access speeds when working at home, Roger Jones discusses the many benefits of left-hand mousing, and David Estes reviews the Treo 700p.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, April 4, 2008
Coming April 8, 2008 to TechnoFeature:
How to Successfully Integrate an iPod Into Your Litigation Practice
By David W. Mykel
Apple's iPod has infiltrated so many aspects of our lives (music, videos, movies, television), so it comes as no surprise that it has recently crept into litigation practices nationwide. In this article, litigation consultant David Mykel walks you through the various ways in which you can turn an iPod into an effective ally in your litigation practice. He'll teach you how you can view exhibits, watch video deposition testimony, record voice notes, and even transfer files. If you've always wondered how you could write off an iPod as a business expense, this TechnoFeature article has the answer.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Tuesdays, TechnoFeature
is a weekly newsletter containing in-depth articles written by leading legal technology and practice management experts. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, March 28, 2008
Coming April 4, 2008 to Fat Friday:
Email Is Great? You Gotta Be Kidding; Treo 680 Review; Office 2007; Yellow Pages Advertising; Switch Mouser
By Brent Blanchard, Carol Bratt, Harold Burstyn, Jim Calloway, & David Sergi
In this issue of Fat Friday, Jim Calloway takes Publisher Neil Squillante to task for his recent essay Why Email Kicks More Butt Than Ever (and Neil responds), Brent Blanchard reviews Palm Treo 680, Carol Bratt corrects a few misconceptions about Microsoft Office 2007 and reviews this new version, David Sergi explains why his law firm still advertises in the Yellow Pages, and Harold Burstyn responds to a Post about ambidextrous mousing and shares what works for him.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Mazyar Hedayat | Friday, March 21, 2008
Presenters: Carolyn Elefant and David Masters
Friday, March 14 at 8:30 am
A small firm or solo attorney could hardly ask for more. Before me, on the second day of what was already shaping up to be the most interesting TechShow in years, sat a pair of legends in solo practice — Carolyn Elefant and David Masters.
They needed no introduction to the standing-room-only crowd that had packed the Hilton meeting room that morning. Nor do they need an introduction to any of us who believe in the Internet as the great leveler. They were here to discuss how to make smart technology decisions as a small firm and solo practice lawyer. They wasted no time setting out the factors to consider:
• Cost
• Mobility
• Ease of Use
• Available Support
• Compatibility
• Security
With these in mind, technology decisions can be narrowed down to:
• Mac v. PC
• Laptops v. Desktops
• Multiple Monitors
• Multifunction Machines
• Handheld Computers
• Software
• Collaboration
• Adobe Acrobat
• Backup Strategies
• Communications Tools
• Email Tools
Mac v. PC
Proponents of the Mac will tell you they are more stable, virtually virus-proof, easy to use, intuitive, and have more third party applications being built for them all the time. PC people on the other hand point out that PC's have a lower overall operating cost, are slightly less expensive to acquire, have far more third party applications available, and simply represent the flagship of business computing. Since neither side has been proven 100% right or wrong yet, the speakers suggested an integration strategy. Since PCs and Macs can coexist on the same network, bi-curious practitioners should mix and match to determine which system works better for them.
[They can also co-exist in the same computer with virtualization software like Parallels and Fusion.]
Laptop v. Desktop
David was quite clear about his preference for a laptop, citing its inherent mobility, fewer moving parts to damage, synchronization with your home office, and the drop in price in recent years. Desktops on the other hand remain the champs when it comes to power, applications, and configuration options. In the end, all that extra RAM and ROM will secure the position of the desktop as ruler of the law office until laptops establish an insurmountable advantage or can't-do-without-it set of features (MacBook Air anyone?).
[While tablet PC's were not discussed, I'd bet money they will be on next year's agenda].
Note: When selecting a laptop, look for
• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
• At least 1 GB of RAM
• At least 80 GB Hard Drive
• CD/RW-DVD capability
• At least a 14" screen
Multiple Monitors
Dual monitors were generally acknowledged to increase productivity and therefore ROI. In that regard the UltraMon utility was recommended by David. The point is to situate programs on the various screens (one or two per monitor) and reduce the number of clicks it takes to complete a task or switch between tasks. There was really no dispute from those present.
[Incidentally, the University of Utah just released a study finding that a 24 inch monitor is ideal for maximizing productivity. It did not study dual monitor use. See Ben Worthen, Bigger Computer Monitors = More Productivity, Wall Street Journal.]
Multifunction Machines
The topic of multifunction machines that print, scan, copy, and fax went without much fanfare. Who could object? In fact the very idea of a single-use machine seems archaic nowadays — although David expressed his wistfulness for some fine machines from his past. Added features to keep in mind include 2-sided printing and scanning, as well as faxing both in "hard copy" form and electronically (though electronic faxing is generally done from the desktop via software such as eFax and WinFax).
Handheld Computers
There was much to discuss here, with the debate centering on whether a PDA needs to be bundled with a phone and whether its true purpose is to unify communications, enhance mobility, un-tether users from the office, or act as a low-resolution laptop replacement. At this point an audience member asked whether anything inhabited the space in-between handhelds and laptops. Enter the sub-notebook. Another audience member had one to show. In the end the speakers ticked off a list of suitable units including:
• iPhone
• Palm Treo
• BlackBerry
• Sony
• Motorola Q
Software
Nowadays software is everywhere and nowhere. Lawyers can't work without good software, but often try to make their software do what it can't. Stick to the basics:
Word-Processing
The usual suspects here include Microsoft Word (2003, 2007, etc.) and of course Corel's sentimental favorite WordPerfect product. Less traditional but more interesting alternatives include OpenOffice (now NeoOffice) and Google Docs. There is an abundance of choice in this department.
Digital Dictation
Again, the standards were trotted out here including Dragon NaturallySpeaking and (surprise!) outsourcing in India or even near-sourcing in the U.S. by using a digital dictation and transcription service.
[Last year at TechShow, a company called QuickSek had a booth. This company transcribes overnight or even the same day — you can dictate by phone. No booth this year.]
Practice Management
Amicus Attorney, Time Matters, PracticeMaster, and ProLaw were mentioned by the speakers; and although Outlook 2007 appears to be creeping into the space traditionally occupied by such products, it was specifically not recommended as a practice management solution. The speakers were clear on that.
Time and Billing
In this category Timeslips, Tabs3, and PCLaw were the favorites.
[Again, Outlook was not mentioned although the Journal feature includes a timer. Also missing was new market entrant Bill4Time, a Web application.]
Collaboration
The speakers mixed things up a bit here, beginning with the more traditional concept of the Extranet and proceeding to the more exotic offerings from BaseCamp, Zoho, Google Apps, and the wonderful world of Wikis. It's no coincidence that the ABA just published an entire book on this subject. For the audience at this event however, there was no need to go into any great detail. Any of the suggested solutions was adequate for the needs of a small firm or sole-practitioner.
Adobe Acrobat
David Masters wrote the book on Adobe Acrobat for lawyers. No, really; he wrote The Lawyer's Guide to Adobe Acrobat, now in its second edition. So it was no surprise that David considers Acrobat to be the most efficient document format in the market, as well as the standard for e-filing and scanning. He recommended using a sheet-fed, flatbed scanner for best results.
Backup Strategies
Already the source of much confusion and fear, backing up is essential. With that in mind both Carolyn and David suggested:
• Daily backup is essential — develop the discipline.
• Make sure you're catching relevant files in each backup.
• Make sure you can restore reliably using this system.
• Backup off-site as well as on-site.
Communications Tools
Sure, voice over IP (VoIP) is less expensive than using traditional telephone lines and cell towers, but is it time for a small-firm or sole-practitioner to take the plunge? According to these speakers yes — the time has come. In addition, users now have an unprecedented choice of Internet-based calling, messaging, and communication options including:
• Free Conference Call
• Grand Central
Email Tools
As the price of email technology and storage has plummeted the small-firm and solo attorney has been deluged with the same range of choices as a big-firm practitioner: desk-based, Web-based, POP3, IMAP, Exchange, etc. The point is to use the safest alternative and always get a good spam filtering system.
Conclusion
At the end of presentation the audience gave the speakers a well-deserved ovation. Also, I'm guessing they left better off than they arrived. I know I did. Unfortunately however, I had to be in court by mid-day so this was the end of day two of TechShow for me. Still, if I had to pick only one session to attend this was it.
Read more firsthand reports from ABA TechShow 2008.
About TechnoLawyer Trade Show Reports
Even in today's wired world, trade shows continue to play an important role. But not everyone can attend trade shows. Hence, our trade show reports, which bring trade shows to you. You can find our trade show reports here in TechnoLawyer Blog, and also in TechnoGuide, a free newsletter that also contains exclusive content. Learn more about TechnoGuide.
By Mazyar Hedayat | Monday, March 17, 2008
Presenters: Brett Burney and Dominic Jaar
Saturday, March 15 at 8:30 am
It turns out I already knew one of the speakers at this seminar. Dominic Jaar works at Bell Canada and has been a correspondent of mine on FaceBook for a while.
Brett Burney started us off with a joke and led seamlessly into Dominic's first demonstration: sending a presentation to the projector wirelessly via his BlackBerry. That was met with a well-earned round of applause, and was a great way to demonstrate what this session was all about — remote control, mobile style.
With that, the panel launched into the meat of the presentation: an assessment of what was out there for the road warrior. The discussion focused on the most popular and powerful hand-held multi-task devices:
• BlackBerry
• Treo (and Palm)
• iPhone
BlackBerry
According to Dominic Jaar the Blackberry is the "default phone" for mobile lawyers. Device manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) provides a number of ways in which users can make BlackBerry their own and enhance productivity including:
1. Customizing the look and feel.
2. Customizing the ring tones.
3. Full suite of built-in options.
4. Gaggle of 3rd party applications.
BlackBerry presentation tools such as the one demonstrated by Dominic include:
• BBScreenStream (real-time stream and record)
• Jl_Cmder (wiping out sensitive information)
Joining a user community can also enhance and extend the BlackBerry experience. Some of Dominic's favorites include:
• PinStack
• CrackBerry
• BlackBerry Cool
• Berry Review
If you're going mobile then you've got to use digital dictation. Regardless of the system you choose the idea is to record and send wirelessly. Dominic uses a combination of RDM Plus, VR+, and Dragon NaturallySpeaking to dictate and send documents directly to his desktop for later editing or right to his secretary/assistant for real-time productivity.
Speaking of documents, BlackBerry does not use the Microsoft Office suite. Instead RIM has prompted a number of third party vendors like e-Office whose products allow you to create and even edit documents on the fly. You can send the output wirelessly to a Bluetooth enabled printer or fax machine.
In fact honest-to-goodness mobile lawyering requires Bluetooth in abundance: from phones and ear pieces to printers and computers. This means that you can skip the bulk by using peripherals wherever you are as long as you have plenty of onboard storage (such as a 2 GB memory stick) or are "tethering" — that is, constantly connected to a virtual private network (VPN) at the office. But the real advantage to tethering is when you start with an unlimited data plan then use your BlackBerry as a modem to interact with the VPN and its members. For now tethering is a large-firm technique but as costs come down its use will continue to grow.
When it comes to saving money and making the BlackBerry (or any mobile solution) affordable, it's hard to beat solutions that use voice over IP (VOIP) to replace toll-calls with calls via fixed-fee data plans (often at a fraction of regular cell service). Such applications include:
• Iskoot (best — as it uses Skype)
• Jajah
• Eqo
• Raketu
BlackBerry's email capabilities are legendary, but dealing with voluminous mail is another story. To cleanly and painlessly review reams of email (or just check your messages from a week ago), Dominic recommended:
• SmartView
• Empower
Google is Here and BlackBerry May Never Be the Same
While its suite of lightweight applications is ideal for the BlackBerry, Google was long rumored to be coming out with its own mobile "phone." That is, until it turned out that rumors of the gPhone had been greatly exaggerated and the real deal turned out to be "Android," Google's mobile platform designed to allow innovative small companies to create applications (much like RIM has done with BlackBerry itself).
Compare Apple's proprietary iPhone and its recent release of its software development kit (SDK) to developers to Google's commitment to open standards. Despite the cachet of the iPhone, Google and RIM may take the day — consider Google's current mobile platform — maps, mail, documents, calendar, RSS reader, the so-called Google Mobile Updater (really an all-in-one update), mobile search, and more.
Palm
Palm has been around the longest and is responsible for the beloved Treo line of smartphones such as:
• Treo 680
• Palm Centro [highly recommended]
One interesting note about Palm-enabled devices is that they can connect to the Internet without having to rely on WiFi by using applications such as those offered by June Networks. Both of these give you a choice of Sprint/Verizon or AT&T and, like all devices running the Palm operating system (OS), integrate with Palm Desktop as well as Outlook.
Of course Palm Desktop has become a bit of a dinosaur. It was the company's attempt to create a proprietary personal information manager (PIM) but was virtually abandoned in the shadow of Outlook. Just as well though, since it turns out that the ability to send and receive email is what really drives the popularity of mobile handsets and operating systems (hence BlackBerry's reign). In short, PIM RIP.
As for documents on Palm, users appear to be more interested in viewing them than composing them. The speaker's choice in this department was "Documents to Go" from DataViz, which opens all Microsoft Office documents including Office 2007 documents, as well as PDFs.
When it comes to email, for large firms, the name of the game is not pull but push. That is, lawyers whose home offices need to send them information want to have the right documents and messages pushed out to them (such as by means of a Microsoft Exchange client). Small-firm and solo attorneys however, generally pull messages, documents, and other information from a server using a POP3 or IMAP format. In any case, applications of note in this department include
• SnapperMail
• ChatterEmail ["pull" clients — check server]
• VersaMail by GoodLink ["push" clients — constant sync]
iPhone
Short on time, the speakers blew through this part of the presentation and had precious little to say about the iPhone as a business tool in any event, pointing out that use of Apple in the business context remained an open question. They did list the following pros and cons:
Negatives
• Cannot add memory.
• Cannot replace battery easily.
• Lack of business applications.
• Lack of third party partners.
• Must use iTunes.
• Must use AT&T.
• ATT's Internet access ("Edge") sucks.
• No copy/paste.
• No to-do list.
Positives
This section intentionally left blank ... well okay, it's really cool.
The consensus was that having an iPhone was a blast, but using it for business was a chore. Maybe the next-generation iPhone will get it right.
Download Dominic's presentation (ppt).
Read more firsthand reports from ABA TechShow 2008.
About TechnoLawyer Trade Show Reports
Even in today's wired world, trade shows continue to play an important role. But not everyone can attend trade shows. Hence, our trade show reports, which bring trade shows to you. You can find our trade show reports here in TechnoLawyer Blog, and also in TechnoGuide, a free newsletter that also contains exclusive content. Learn more about TechnoGuide.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, February 22, 2008
Coming February 29, 2008 to Fat Friday:
Biglaw Salary Reality Check; Leet Speak; Train in Vain; Dragon Review; iPhone Gets Pushy?
By Harold Burstyn, Grant Griffiths, John Rigby, Kurt Schoettler, & Harry Steinmetz
In this issue of Fat Friday, Harry Steinmetz attempts to bring a reality check to the thread on biglaw associate salaries, Kurt Schoettler discusses using "leet speak" when creating strong passwords, Harold Burstyn tells us how he really feels about Microsoft Word (and a past CM's Note), John Rigby reviews Dragon NaturallySpeaking, and Grant Griffiths reviews the iPhone (which might soon get pushy if you catch our drift).
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, February 22, 2008
Coming February 26, 2008 to TechnoFeature:
Review: ClearSync 2 for Syncing and Sharing Calendars and Contacts
By Christel Burris
In today's fast-paced legal environment, electronic calendars and contacts are a must. However, providing others access to that information can seem challenging particularly if your calendar is a living, breathing, rapidly-changing organism. In this article, legal technology consultant Christel Burris reviews the latest edition of ClearSync, an application for accessing and sharing calendars and contacts at the office and on the go. In this comprehensive review, Christel covers everything from installation to tech support plus an overall TechnoScore.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Tuesdays, TechnoFeature
is a weekly newsletter containing in-depth articles written by leading legal technology and practice management experts. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, February 15, 2008
Coming February 22, 2008 to Fat Friday:
BlackBerry 8800 Versus Treo 680; How to Improve CLE; Greg Krehel; Fake Reviews; How to Open WPD in Word
By Dean Birch, Laurence Eastham, David Long, Peter McInroy, & Carol Seelig
In this issue of Fat Friday, David Long contributes a comparative review of the BlackBerry 8800 and Treo 680, Carol Seelig provides a few more suggestions for improving the current state of CLE, Peter McInroy reminisces about CaseSoft co-founder Greg Krehel, Laurence Eastham discusses the long history of fake product reviews, and Dean Birch explains how to open WordPerfect files in Microsoft Word 2002 and 2003.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Neil Squillante | Tuesday, February 5, 2008
By Sara Skiff | Friday, February 1, 2008
Coming February 8, 2008 to Fat Friday:
Windows on Mac; Archival Data Storage; iPhone Review; Dell and Small Firms; Graffiti Anywhere
By Mary Hallman, Doug Jacobs, Stephen Lambeth, Neal Rogers, & Harry Steinmetz
In this issue of Fat Friday, Stephen Lambeth discusses four reasons why a lawyer would want to run Windows on a Mac, Mary Hallman provides several helpful tips for long-term storage of images and other files on CD and DVD, Harry Steinmetz reviews his experience using an iPhone, Neal Rogers responds to an ongoing thread about Dell's customer service (or lack thereof), and Doug Jacobs reviews Graffiti Anywhere for the Treo 650.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, January 25, 2008
Coming February 1, 2008 to Fat Friday:
Biglaw's Key Advantage; Reviews of Latitude D630, Word 2007, PCmover, Mozy, Voyager 510, Quikscribe; Word Tip
By Marty Barrack, Rodrick Enns, Barron Henley, Pam Rolph, & Russell Swartz
In this issue of Fat Friday, former biglaw attorney Rodrick Enns explores an additional reason general counsel tend to hire large firms, Marty Barrack reviews his new Dell Latitude D630 laptop as well as Office 2007, PCmover, and Mozy, Barron Henley reviews the Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset and compares it to the other seven he has tried, Pam Rolph explains how to open a WordPerfect document in Microsoft Word, and Russell Swartz reviews Quikscribe for digital dictation.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, January 18, 2008
Coming January 25, 2008 to Fat Friday:
Treo 680 Review; Host Your Own Trade Show; Anatomy of a Backup; Perils of Software Downgrades; Avvo Review
By Jay Brice, Michael Caldwell, Daniel Fennick, William Lloyd, & Douglas Thomas
In this issue of Fat Friday, Michael Caldwell compares his old Treo 650 to his new Treo 680, Douglas Thomas explains how to host your own legal technology trade show in your hometown, WIlliam Lloyd shares the details of his office's backup system and a new online system he's testing, Jay Brice discusses his experience trying to downgrade Amicus Attorney, and Daniel Fennick reviews the attorney ratings site Avvo.
How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers the world's thinnest laptop, a new convertible tablet PC, and telephone/answering machine for the digital era (see article below). Don't miss the next issue.
The Answering Machine Reborn
By Neil J. Squillante
Nowadays, we have more options for calling people than people to call. The latest method comes from ooma's ooma Hub, which looks like the love-child of an answering machine and telephone. Funny since that's essentially what ooma Hub is, albeit for the digital age.
ooma Hub plugs into your home or office network, and also into any analog telephone. Once activated, you can make unlimited domestic calls free of charge and without any monthly fees (low cost overseas packages are available if needed). ooma makes its money from the hardware.
If you keep your existing landline, ooma will work with that phone number (which you would use only if your Internet connection is down or if you need to call 911). If you eliminate your landline, you'll need to contact ooma for a new telephone number.
ooma features a "Broadband Answering Machine," which enables you to screen calls, pick up in the middle of a message, or send calls to voicemail. Also built-in, call waiting enables you to answer an incoming call, make a call, and convert two calls to a conference call. A "Do Not Disturb" button sends all calls to voicemail without ringing. Also included are Caller ID and Caller ID Blocking.
If you want a second line at the same number, you can add an ooma Scout, a companion device that plugs into a standard phone jack. ooma Scout also extends the above features to other rooms in your house or other areas at your office.
Naturally, ooma has an online component. In the ooma Lounge, you can customize features, listen to voicemail, and more. ooma Hub sells for $399. ooma Scout sells for $39.95. Learn more about ooma Hub.
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By Sara Skiff | Friday, January 11, 2008
Coming January 18, 2008 to Fat Friday:
IMAP Schmimap; Amicus & BlackBerry Review; Word 2007; NAS; Remote Access Tip
By David Caracappa, Steven Schwaber, Paul Stanley, Charles Stokes, & Edward Zohn
In this issue of Fat Friday, Edward Zohn compares Microsoft Exchange to plain old IMAP for email, Paul Stanley reviews switching to a BlackBerry and using BlackBerry Enterprise Server with Amicus Attorney, Charles Stokes explains why Word 2007 resembles WordPerfect, David Caracappa shares his experiences with network-attached storage systems over the years, and Steven Schwaber provides a workaround for slow remote access speed.
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By Sara Skiff | Friday, December 14, 2007
Coming December 21, 2007 to Fat Friday:
BlackBerry 8830 Review; Upselling Legal Services; Online Versus Yellow Pages; Ergonomic Tip; I'm a Mac and a PC
By Robert Bass, Ted Boxer, Tom Rowe, Michael Schwartz, & Suzanne Turner
In this issue of Fat Friday, Robert Bass reviews the BlackBerry 8830, Tom Rowe discusses the importance of upselling legal services, Michael Schwartz shares his thoughts on the future of lawyer advertising in the Yellow Pages, Suzanne Turner explains how she beat wrist pain without paying a cent on new equipment, and Ted Boxer shares why he switched to an iMac even though he prefers Windows plus his experience installing Parallels.
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Published on Fridays, Fat Friday is a weekly newsletter that features a grab bag full of genuinely useful product reviews and tips on a wide variety of topics. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. You can subscribe here.
By Sara Skiff | Friday, November 23, 2007
Coming November 29, 2007 to Answers to Questions:
Digital Dictation Options; PDF Converter & PaperPort Review; Billing Buyer's Guide; Laptop Touchpad and Monitor Tips
By Andrea Cannavina, Douglas Folk, Lewis Kinard, Jeff Scott Olson, & Caren Schwartz
In this issue of Answers to Questions, Andrea Cannavina discusses the three primary options for digital dictation, Jeff Scott Olson reviews PaperPort used in conjunction with ScanSoft PDF Converter Professional, Caren Schwartz discusses the ins and outs of choosing the right accounting/time-billing software, Douglas Folk offers some sound advice to anyone having trouble with a faulty laptop touchpad, and Lewis Kinard provides a tip for using a laptop and an external monitor with Windows XP (plus a strange predicament you may experience with multiple monitors).
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