Futurelawyer

Gates emphasizes PC-phone connectivity in Windows 7

Link: Gates emphasizes PC-phone connectivity in Windows 7 | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com. Ah, the promise of vaporware. Wndows 7, scheduled for 2010, cannot arrive too fast for those of us who passed on Vista. The vapors promise that the new Windows OS will have lower power requirements, take less memory, be more efficient, and have lots more connectivity with cell phones and smart phones. This from the lips of none other than Bill Gates himself. Ah, 'tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. However, methinks there is something already rotten in Denmark, and uneasy lies the head that wears the Microsoft crown.

Darkside of SaaS?

Link: Web-Tones: Darkside of SaaS?. Carlos Leyva is a deep thinker. He thinks big thoughts, and his blog is full of insight about practicing law in the Internet cloud. I am a shallow thinker. I think about where the next meal is coming from, and how I can use the coolest new gadget to watch baseball. However, we both agree that installing and using law firm essential applications in the Internet cloud (Software As A Service or SaaS ) is a risky proposition. I have a running dialogue going with Larry Port at RocketMatter, which provides an SaaS solution to time and billing for lawyers. I agree wholeheartedly that we are headed to a world where desktop OSes are irrelevant, and all or most applications are Internet based. I think we all need to take a deep breath, and consider the risks before we jump off that cliff, however. I will not take that leap, for mission critical applications, until I am certain that a local desktop fall-back solution is available if the unthinkable happens. I love Web 2.0, and use Internet enabled applications and tools all the time. However, I don't trust my essential stuff to them.

Is Norton System Works "Deranged"

Link: LAWTECH GURU BLOG by Jeff Beard: Norton SystemWorks "Deranges" Your Hard Drive?. Jeff Beard recommends Norton System Works for computer security. The error in this ad ("derangement" instead of "defragment") creates a question, however. I have had problems with Norton products in the past; particularly because they install themselves into the taskbar without asking permission, and because the monitoring tools REALLY make computer performance sluggish. They gum up the works, and for what? I love Norton Ghost, and use it to back up my drives. However, I only load it when I need it. There are a lot of free antispyware and antivirus tools out there, and I use them. Perhaps it is the persons who buy and use Norton System Works who are deranged? (Just kidding, Jeff)

Are You A Success?

Link: Execupundit.com: Who Feels Successful?. Michael Wade is a smart man. In the eyes of the rest of us, he is a success. His blog, Execupundit, is a treasure trove of daily wisdom useful to those of us in the professional and business world. This post of his, that begins with a denial that he is a success, is instructive. As lawyers, we tend to measure success with case or matter success, financial success, or the fancy office or partnership, or the fancy car, or whatever material or professional measure you choose to use. Those of us interested in technology and gadgets are proud of our gadgets, and our innovative ways to use them to chase the other measures of success. In our heart of hearts, though, I suspect that we all ascribe to Michael's reference to the U.S. Army's motto: Be, Know, Do. We all need to concentrate more on being and knowing. It is nice to Do; but, it is not the only essential element of happiness.

New Sprint Palm Centro Ad

I have a Sprint Palm Centro, and love it. It now comes in colors suitable for the whole family, has a removable battery, is small and fits in one hand, has a tactile QWERTY keyboard, and is easy to use. What's not to like? Best of all, with a two year contract, it only costs $99.99. I don't get paid for loving this smartphone. Here is a new ad that shows off the advantages and relative size.

Has Your Law Firm Thrown Vista In The Trash?

Link: Closing the Door to Microsoft Vista. Almost two years after its arrival, Vista is being bypassed by some of the largest corporations on the planet. The requirement for new and more powerful computers, on a massive scale, has given these companies pause. What about law firms? Notoriously slow in adopting new technology, I suspect that many law firms are also complacent about adopting Vista. If it comes on a new computer, fine. But, until somebody makes them adopt it, if ever, Vista will not likely see the insides of a majority of law firm computers. The most telling quote in this story is the one from Fred Killeen, CTO of GM: "We're considering bypassing Vista and going straight to Windows 7". It would take several years and many millions of dollars to convert now anyway. By that time, Windows 7 will arrive, and hopefully save the day. Of course, it is just as possible that many companies will have gone to Ubuntu Linux and totally web based computing by then. Is the OS dead?

Pope As The Great Communicator?

The rumors are not true that the Vatican has acquired Palm and intends to lead the mobile movement to Jesus. However, it is true that the Pope will be texting a message of hope and the future to thousands of Sydney teens on World Youth Day in July. This photo is a mere presumption that he will use Palm Treos to do so.

First look at OpenOffice.org 3.0 beta | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com

Link: First look at OpenOffice.org 3.0 beta | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com. How much is your law firm paying per seat for Microsoft Office licenses? If the number is large, you need to take a look at OpenOffice. The new version 3 beta is getting rave reviews, and open source is the new cool thing. You don't need to pay a lot of money to get great software, and OpenOffice is a great example. I still have the old version of Microsoft Office that came with my Dell; however, I won't be paying Microsoft any money to upgrade it, just as I am not paying for Vista.

8525? IPhone? Centro? Pick Your Poison

Link: 8525 iPhone centro | Kansas Business Attorney. All computing gadget choices have trade offs. All gadgets have advantages and disadvantages. I like the Centro by Palm for my walking around computing needs. Dan Covington is a Windows Mobile guy, whose current favorite is the Tilt (formerly the 8525). He likes it because it has built-in WiFi, a large beautiful tilt screen for browsing and video, and the fast 3G network. Of course, if you want to carry a big, honking Windows Mobile machine he is right. However, I like my tiny, pocketable Centro with the much easier and faster Palm interface. No clicking through several menus to do the job. Of course, neither one of us has any love lost for the IPhone, with its brain dead slow Internet connection, lack of a removable battery, and proprietary closed system. This post by Dan is a mostly even-handed review of all three systems. By the way, Dan, with our beautiful 3G fast Internet everywhere, why do you need built-in WiFi? Why Wi Fi?

Search Wikipedia With Natural Language

Link: Wikipedia: Powerset Searches the Wikipedia with Natural Language. Lawyers are familiar with natural language search engines, and have used them for years with legal research products; now, Wikipedia, the everything everywhere online encyclopedia can be searched with the Powerset web site. Just type a question, and any Wikipedia articles containing the terms, arranged for semantic emphasis, will pop up in links. Of course, you can do this in Google as well; however, limiting searches to the Wikipedia database gives an encyclopedic scope to the process. Whatever you think about Wikipedia's accuracy or editorial independence, all encyclopedias for all time have been created by editors. Know your source. Trust, but verify.