Written by techno.acquaintance Jared Goralnick of SET Consulting and the TechnoTheory blog, LifeHacker.com’s piece comparing Outlook v. Gmail is a fascinating read. Jared’s analysis is thorough and insightful. A very worthwhile read.

The key summary quote from Jared is:

“If one thing is clear, it’s that Gmail has become an increasingly mature product that can be used for business. With the Postini acquisition, Google is beginning to offer enterprise-level services (like compliance archiving, service level agreements, and more comprehensive spam policies). I foresee the addition of tasks and integration with the Google Search Appliance positioning Google squarely against Microsoft.

At the same time, Microsoft has long been making progress in the Software as a Service space, primarily with their hosted Exchange offering and now with hosted Microsoft CRM. Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that it would begin offering these services directly instead of just through partners, with starting prices well under $10/user per month (as of now with 5 user minimums). This positions them squarely against Google.”

Jared, GREAT in-depth analysis, and an easy read. Bottom line - the battle lines for the hearts and minds of enterprise-level emailing have been drawn. If I were Microsoft, I’d be seriously worried (and I say that from the perspective of being both a complete Outlook and a Gmail addict).

For anyone within any kind of reasonable travel distance from the Glades Spring Resort in Daniels, West Virginia!!
The 2nd Annual West Virginia Solo & Small Firm Conference starts this Friday morning! Last’s year debut event was a spectacular success and the schedule of events this year looks even more promising! I’m very much looking forward to joining fellow faculty members Sharon Nelson (yes, our own Sharon the Sezzer), John Simek (Mr. Sharon - he’ll hate that description ), Bretty Burney (top-notch litigation technologist from Cleveland), Britt Lorish Knuttgen (exceptional legal technologist from Roanoke, Virginia), Pete Peterson (legal management consultant extraordinaire from Colorado) and Catherine Sanders-Reach (the ABA’s Director of the Legal Technology Resource Center). Along with a distinguished panel of local presenters including legendary West Virginia speakers and professors - the programming agenda is really impressive.
Check it out at: http://wvcle.org/items/current-live-seminars/solo-small-firms-glade-springs-resort-live-seminar-r80-0908-detail.htm or you can download the conference brochure here in PDF form: http://wvcle.org/images/2008_Solo_and_Small_Firm_Conference_Brochure.pdf.

http://wvcle.org/images/2008_Solo_and_Small_Firm_Conference_Brochure.pdf.

The cost is only $259 for two full days of CLE plus all sorts of free food - a very good time was had by all last year - Glade Springs is a terrific facility. Hope to see some of you there this weekend!

From Extremetech.com, a techie site whose opinions I often agree with, an article that focuses on why the forthcoming Windows 7 will, as they put it, suck less than Vista. Not difficult one might argue, since most things on the planet (except perhaps genocide or epidemic diseases or abject poverty) suck less than Vista. But the article here is a worthwhile read.

With pics comparing my Thinkpad T61 to its mini-me Asus EEE 1000H sidekick here. Enjoy! My next column was just submitted - a pragmatically realistic look at whether it makes sense to switch your practice from Windows systems to Macs. Coming to a Technolawyer distribution soon!

I want to tell you about a new column I’m writing for Technolawyer called “SmallLaw.” Neil Squillante, the publisher of Technolawyer asked if I would be interested in writing a column focused on practical use of technology in smaller practices. Given that’s what I spend much of my time doing daily anyway, it was a no-brainer - I agreed. My columns will be distributed to Technolawyer subscribers every couple of weeks. They’ll also be archived on the Technolawyer blog.

Included with a free Technolawyer subscription, the columns are coming out twice a month. The first column appeared earlier this month - focusing on my quest for the “perfect laptop” (which, as the column pointed out, consists of TWO laptops, not one - my workhorse Thinkpad and its diminutive sidekick, my Acer EEE 1000H netbook). This will be appearing shortly on the Technolawyer blog along with some side-by-side comparative pics featuring my new “Perfect Laptop Duo.”

My next column will appear October 27th - the focus will be a pragmatic, realistic view on the subject of small firms deciding to use Macs in their practice, either with or without Windows involved. I recently sparked a discussion about this on the ABA’s very busy Solosez listserve. Based on the intensity of the comments, I know you’ll find this both insightful and maybe a bit controversial.

I’ve already thought about my future columns - subjects will include the real cost of do-it-yourself technology - what happens when lawyers represent themselves pro se on their technology. I’ll at the real costs involved as well as the inevitable results. Another subject will be one that I’ve passionately advocated on behalf of, endlessly, in a seemingly endless range of forums - the subject of competent and adequate data backup.

Let me know what other topics you’d like to read about - happy to take suggestions or feature your ideas. If you’re not already a Technolawyer subscriber, I’d ask, WHY NOT? It’s free and is still one of the most important online legal technology resources anywhere (along with Incisive’s Law Technology News - the online edition). Subscribe - you absolutely won’t regret it.

Everyone knows what a deal-hound I am. Two specific deals stand out this week. The first is a $169 price on an Acer 22″ wide-mode LCD display – these are the displays I currently have on my desk connected to my docked Thinkpad (driven by a Matrox DualHead2Go Digital edition video multiplier (http://www.matrox.com) – which, along with my Thinkpad’s 15.4″ widemode WSXGA+ display gives me a 4950 x 1050 Windows display area . . . it seriously rocks). The $166 price is terrific - $60 less than I paid for my displays this summer. CostCentral.com has this deal at http://tinyurl.com/5rd6bf. TigerDirect also has the 19\” model in the same series at $139 – also a steal at http://tinyurl.com/5dmxkh.

Thinkpads are my favorite workhorse laptops – I’ve had a series of them for the last decade. I acquired my most recent model, a Thinkpad T61, via a Lenovo employee discount / shareholder sale that techno.pal Bruce Dorner turned me onto – I saved 42% - unbelievable. Lenovo just ran another two day employee discount sale – unfortunately though, it expired yesterday. However, while here at the Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference (www.wssfc.org), I talked with an attendee who pointed out that Lenovo shareholders get the employee discount ALL THE TIME – all you’d have to do is buy just one Lenovo share (which are undoubtedly really cheap these days!). Then inquire about the shareholder discount code (it will save at least 35-45% - doesn\’t get much better than that).

Happy shopping!

The ABA GP|Solo Division’s 3rd Annual National Solo & Small Firm Conference, held the past few days in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was by all accounts, a rousing success! Thanks to the super-human efforts of Conference Chair Deb Matthews and Vice-Chair, Vicki Levy-Eskin, the 170ish attendees had not only the pleasure of each other’s company, but also a plethora of CLE programs featuring stellar national and local presenters. And then of course, there were the wonders of Santa Fe - with its adobe-colored mix of local art, superb dining and four hundred years of history.

Special highlights included the opening session on Blogging - moderated by “Solo by Choice” author Carolyn Elefant (of MyShingle.com fame). With panelists including Gini Nelson, Nerino Petro, Jr. and yours truly, it turned into a rollicking interactive program with the early-rising audience members . . . . who ask if we could continue for ANOTHER three hours.

Wonderful also seeing so many Solosezzers, both as fellow faculty members  as well as attendees. Dinner last night at Los Mayos with an intimate group of 30 included Andy Simpson, Deb Matthews, Gil Shuga, Sharon Campbell, Wendell Finner, Scott Baer, Vicki Levy-Eskin, Duke Drouillard, Mark Del Bianco and many more friends. In addition to a spectacular Southwestern meal, we were treated too an extraordinary flamenco guitar performance by the restaurant’s owner (oh yeah, and being overbilled by about 25 margaritas ).

Next year, the conference will be held October 15-17th in L.A. - put it on your calendars now!

Thanks to reader Rob Foos for his note on last week’s post about the ability to turn Outlook emails directly into calendar entries. Rob pointed out (how could I have forgotten this?) that you can drag an email(s) and drop them on the Calendar folder or the Calendar button in the leftmost Outlook window pane. You can also drag your Outlook email to the Tasks folder or button, and even Notes.

HOWEVER, what if your Calendar, Tasks or Notes folder are not visible on a possibly lengthy Outlook folder list? Or what if you’re not displaying the Tasks or Notes buttons as many don’t? Then you’d first need to scroll your folder list, and THEN drag and drop email. In which case, my original method of Actions | Move To | Copy to Folder might be easier.

But thanks Rob - appreciate the tip!

A number of you have seen my CLE program focused on Microsoft Outlook 2007 in the law practice. I’m constantly in search of handy tips and shortcuts for lawyers and legal pros to use in Outlook 2007. But a subtle little feature in Outlook 2007 shows itself as a real time-saver. It has to do with the ability to take an incoming email and turn it directly into a calendar entry or a task. What do I mean?

Let’s say you get an email that confirms a date and time for a conference call - but the sender sent it as an email, rather than a “Meeting Request” (which would have made more sense). Normally, you’d cut and paste the content of the email, go to your Outlook calendar, navigate to the date for the conference call, create a new calendar entry and then paste the email’s content into the message/comment area of the “new event” item. Sure, it works and many of us do it multiple times per day. But it’s clunky - too many steps, too many clicks.

Instead, when you have the senders’s email on screen, from the email’s ribbon, select the “Move To” function under the “Actions” section of the “Message” ribbon.  Pull down the additional choices from the little arrrow at the bottom-right. You’ll see the option at the bottom of the list that says “Copy to Folder.” When you select this, a list of all your Outlook folders will appear. Select “Calendar.” You’ll then see a new Event item appear with your email content in the message/comment area, the email subject as the Event title, ready to edit. It will have the current date/time, but you can simply change those to the event date/time, then click “Save & Close.” And voila! A brand new calendar entry from the email in FAR FEWER CLICKS!

Hint: the same thing works for “Copy to Folder,” then select “Tasks” to create a new task from an email. Very slick - give it a try - it’ll save time!

Yes, there’s still time to avoid that solo & small firm feeling of isolation . . . join your small firm and general practice colleagues at the 3rd Annual National Solo & Small Firm Conference, October 3-4, 2008 in magnificent Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sponsored by the

ABA’s GP|Solo Division, the spiritual home of solo, small firm and general practitioners everywhere, this year’s event promises to be an educational and networking blockbuster! And note to all unhappy and frustrated larger firm lawyers thinking of going solo or small . . . there’s no better place to learn and be prepared for your escape from “BigLaw” than this event!

With two solid days of cutting-edge, small-practice-oriented CLE programming, you’ll be able to hear top national and regional experts such as:

• Foonberg on Practice Success
• Masters on PDFing
• Simpson on PowerPoint
• Kodner on Paper LESS, Word 2007
• Elefant on Blogging
• Hamlin on Office Communication
• Petro on Client Service
• Peterson on Law Firm Economics

And much more! View the entire conference schedule of programming here. So register now. There are myriad cost-effective hotel and travel options available. I secured a $74/night suite at the very nice Santa Fe Suites, as an example and a sub-$300 airfare from the midwest. Registration information is available online here. So what’s the best way to cripple your SSF practice? To NOT attend!! So join hundreds of fellow SSF lawyers for this “Mother of All National Solo & Small Firm Conferences” and let’s experience it together in Santa Fe October 3-4th!

I’m not sure how many of you are Technolawyer subscribers so I thought I would repost this item that came through today. It’s on point for all the case/practice management discussions we regularly have here. It compares STI’s Tabs PracticeMaster system v. Thomson-Elite’s Prolaw. Note that the author is Ginger Rendon, President of Legal Toolware in San Diego. She’s a former PracticeMaster consultant who has been an independent Prolaw consultant for the last nine years.

It’s very interesting reading (and reasonably balanced, although inaccurate re: some of PracticeMaster’s  capabilities in several areas and perhaps overstating some of ProLaw’s capabilities in others). At the very end there’s a response from Scott Baird, STI’s VP of Sales which clarifies several points. Lots of general insight into two titans of the practice management marketplace. Read the rest of this entry »

I was walking the aisles of a local Circuit City this weekend and stumbled across a little gadget that really impressed me. It’s a Kensington USB Bluetooth adapter. Now that in and of itself is hardly novel or even interesting. But what caught my attention was the form factor - about the size of a penny! Check out the pic. Circuit City this week also has them on sale for $19.99 - half-price. Hard to go wrong if you need to add Bluetooth to your laptop or desktop (to sync your Smartphones, headsets, wirelessly print, sync to digital cameras, etc.). Here’s the Circuit City link and here’s the Kensington link for more info.

Thought some of you might be interested – the June issue of the ABA GP|Solo magazine’s theme is “Back to Basics” – with a strong tech and practice management orientation. Of particular interest to any fellow Wisconsinites, four of the articles are written by residents of our state: (way to go Wisconsin legal technologists!) – Nerino Petro, Jr., Jeff Krause and two by yours truly.

Topics include everything from tech project planning, to laptop/desktop buying tips, networking, going Paper LESS, comparing the latest crop of office suites and much more. Tons of good stuff.

And no, you don’t need to have an ABA login to read the articles. But if this kind of quality content doesn’t convince EVERYONE, whether small firm, large firm or in-between firm lawyers of the value of belonging to the ABA GP|Solo Division I don’t know what else would! And remember, just because the word “Solo” is in the title doesn’t mean your practice has to be small - aren’t the ultimate “General” practices all of the largest firms in the world? For info on joining up, click here.

I’m up to my eyeballs in various gadgets, new systems, etc. that are awaiting configuration and testing. I’ll be writing more about these projects, but I thought I’d give you a preview of what I’m working on. Here’s a rundown of what is currently laid out in our home’s dining room - which also probably explains why Mrs. Kodner is so cranky (hey, it’s not like we use the dining room table every day anyway!)

• New home desktop system - it’s from the HP Pavilion slimline series of desktops - the model S3320F with a higher-end AMD 64 X2 5200+CPU, 500 Gb drive, 256 Mb video upgrade, TV tuner, etc. to replace a long-in-the-tooth four 17″ HP 8000 series lugtop. It was only $500 - a steal I thought. This one’s role is that of a family workhorse - lots of homework done on this one ranging currently from 3rd to 7th grade assignments. It’s also a photo/music/video media center for us. It’s dual-booting Vista Home Premium right now, hopefully to be replaced with Windows XP Media Center if I can get ahold of a copy - with the other boot being the latest Ubuntu distro because Kodner1.html (the about-to-be-12th grader) is a Linux devotee and he insisted. Just for fun, I might add a third boot option for PC-DOS 6 to see if I can get the machine to retro-pretend to be a circa 1989 workstation, replete with WordPerfect Office and WordPerfect 5.1+ Read the rest of this entry »

Laura Calloway’s latest post on The Last Word led me to a terrific article from law practice management goddess Nancy Byerly-Jones in the current issue of Lawyers Weekly USA (Nancy writes a regularly-featured column for the publication). You’d have to have been living under a rock not to have heard of Nancy - perhaps the top law practice management consultant who ever existed (I’m serious!). Nancy founded the entire state bar Practice Management Advisor movement, among many other accomplishments. She’s also one of the very best speakers I’ve ever listened to - I learn both something substantive and also about presentation “best practices” every time I hear one of her sessions.

Anyway, Nancy’s latest column is online now here and is called “Common Traits of Successful Firms.” In her inimitable no-BS, common sense-driven style, Nancy offers advice that every lawyer (and every advisor of lawyers) will learn from. Two of my favorite excerpts are:

“Firm leaders understand the business of law and their decisions on behalf of the firm reflect this. They keep up with the latest resources and lead with an entrepreneurial spirit rather than one entrenched in traditions that no longer make sense in today’s law firm.”

“Client education and excellent service is seen as a top priority every minute of every day and not merely as a discussion topic at annual retreats.”

Read the rest of the article. In fact, read EVERYTHING Nancy writes - none better!

Yes, it’s the “B” word again . . . the perpetually challenging question of how to effectively and practically backup your practice’s systems, client and firm information so you can restore it when the digital chips are down.

A redux on my megapost - I continually refer people to the article/post I wrote last November (still very current since it’s mostly procedural and conceptual) called “Ross’ Great Truths About Data  Backup.” This article includes the 16 key steps to a successful backup process. I would IMPLORE EVERYONE to read this and be certain your practice is following most, if not all these guidelines. Your livelihood depends on it. Frankly, it may also be the best way to avoid a malpractice claim for “failing to adequately protect electronic client and case information necessary for competent representation.” Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to the Washington State Bar and conference manager John Redenbaugh on a terrific Solo & Small Firm Conference in Wenatchee, Washington (you can get the coursebook with all the materials here). I had the pleasure of speaking yesterday to an animated and thoroughly enjoyable audience. Had a number of great conversations with attendees and Wenatchee itself was a wonderful surprise. I’d never been east of the Cascades, so when driving east on WA-2 and emerging from Stevens Pass, it was like going through some weird space-time vortex-continuum thing - it looked like I appeared in Napa. The trees were gone, and I was in the middle of scruffy-looking apple, cherry and wine-country. Downtown Wenatchee is a charming collection of restored early 20th century buildings. Between my sessions yesterday, I stopped in at the Lemolo Cafe, grabbed a perfect vanilla latte and sat outside watching the world go by - in the shade with a light breeze. Sublimely perfect experience.

Special thanks also go out to the WSBA’s Rex Nolte who was my logistics contact - for making things so easy!

Thanks to PCMag.com for a great article this week on how to build a Windows XP SP3 Recovery disk. Chances are that you’ll need one some time and most systems don’t come with physical Windows media any longer. So please take my advice, even if this is just an insurance policy. If your Windows XP Pro system is update with SP3, follow these step-by-step instructions and build one of these disks, then keep it in a safe, accessible, “remember-able” place. The ability to either repair, or perform a full WinXP recovery make just save your day . . . one of these days.

Heard yesterday from techno.pal Jim Calloway (of Jim Calloway’s Law Practice Tips and Oklahama Bar fame) of an incident that can either be chalked up to bad digikarma or is an example of how Vista just oozes concentrated evil and vindictiveness. He was reading my recent post about Vista being the worst f&8king OS in existence and how it had a shocking tendency to reboot itself to perform an update installation with NO warning and NO chance to save your work and close your apps. Apparently, while my post was on-screen, Jim’s Vista machine did exactly that - an update-driven reboot with zero warning. Scary, huh? Time to call in a priest? A rabbi? A mullah?

Today I’m driving from Wenatchee, Washington where I was presenting at the Washington State Bar’s Solo & Small Firm Conference to visit my brother in Seattle. I may swing by the gates of the Microsoft campus in Redmond, stop and just think positive thoughts about XP’s continuing existence. Couldn’t hurt, right?

Not sure if this has happened to any other Vista victims (a/k/a MOPH - My Own Personal Hell), but I suspect it has. You’re right in the middle of working on the usual four or five things at once while using an MOPH-equipped machine. Suddenly, and without any warning whatsoever, your applications start closing, MOPH shuts down and starts installing updates.

With no warning messages.

With no chance to save your work.

Even causing hard crashes of other MS products like Outlook.

How could ANYONE ever design an operating system that would do something so utterly assinine and arrogant. It’s a message from MS that says “we couldn’t give a flying crap about your work - all we care about is our own damned operating system, so how dare you complain.”

This has happened to me three times in the last several months. I’m sure that if were to waste another hour or two digging around in Vista setup that I could find some obscurely, misleadingly labeled setting to adjust this . . . and I will . . . when I get over being so damned furious about not just losing work, but wasting at LEAST 15 minutes each time this happens, waiting for its self-timed update flagellation to finish and then Outlook to restart and have to interminably check my data files for corruption.

I really can’t begin to tell you how much I hate this software. With an unbridled seething passion.