Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an office suite (see article below), a group buying service for lawyers, a time entry system, an iPhone task manager, and a network attached storage appliance. Don't miss the next issue.
Old Word Processor Learns New Tricks
Imagine a reality-based TV show in which a lawyer has to choose from several dozen software products. In the end, he would likely hook up with the word processor — though the sexy email program would finish a close second. The only wrinkle — most word processors are creeping up in age and bloated with features no one uses. But there's hope thanks to the latest version of one of the oldest word processors, which seems to have improved with age.
WordPerfect Office X5 … in One Sentence
Corel's WordPerfect Office X5 Professional Edition is a software suite that includes programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, email, databases, and more.
The Killer Feature
Regardless of which word processor your law firm uses, you must have the ability to work with Microsoft Word files. The new version of WordPerfect is compatible with Microsoft Word 2007's .docx format. You can save documents in that format and also open any documents you receive. The same is true of other formats such as .xlsx and .pptx.
To help manage documents you create and receive, WordPerfect Office X5 integrates with Microsoft SharePoint. Using WordPerfect's document comparison feature, you can compare different versions of documents in SharePoint against each other.
Other Notable Features
Corel hasn't just integrated Microsoft technologies. For example, with WordPerfect iFilter, you can search WordPerfect documents in SharePoint using Google Desktop Search. You can also embed live charts in documents that update automatically over the Internet (e.g., stock prices).
WordPerfect has offered basic PDF creation for several years. The new version adds an annotation tool for marketing up documents. Also new are tools to help you get up and running quickly — improved migration technology that preserves templates, and customized menus and toolbars, and a new Reference Center with tips, tutorials, and documentation.
In addition to its own programs such as WordPerfect, Quattro Pro and Presentations, WordPerfect Office X5 also includes third-party programs such as PaperPort 12 SE and Mozilla Thunderbird.
What Else Should You Know?
WordPerfect Office X5 requires Windows XP or later. It costs $249.99 (upgrades cost $159.99). Learn more about WordPerfect Office X5.
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So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
