TechnoLawyer

Via Technolawyer member, Oklahoma Bar Association executive, and legal technology blogger Jim Calloway comes news of a free eBook, First 100 Days: Transitioning a New Managing Partner.

Written by legal business consultant Patrick J. McKenna, the eBook features an essay chock full of advice and action lists followed by pearls of wisdom from managing partners at various law firms (McKenna's clients perhaps?).

The content is great, but unfortunately the eBook uses NXTBook, a user-unfriendly eBook viewer. In case you're wondering why McKenna didn't use PDF format, NXTBook sponsored the eBook. Nonetheless, it's worth the read, particularly since you can print a copy. Read First 100 Days.

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, lawyer and legal technology legend Dennis Kennedy covers a discount online store for inkjet cartridges and laser toner among other supplies, a utility that runs Windows on your Mac, and presentation software for your iPod. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Alternative Fuels for Your Inkjet and Laser Printers
By Dennis Kennedy
Ink and toner are as essential for the operation of today's law firms as gasoline is for running our cars. Unfortunately, the prices of inkjet cartridges and laser toner cartridges can give us the same sense of sticker shock as seeing $3/gallon gasoline at the pump.

Databazaar.com is one of the industry leaders in providing inkjet cartridges, laser toner cartridges, copier and fax supplies, paper, and projector bulbs at discount prices. You'll also find cables and printers at Databazaar.com.

Inc. magazine recently mentioned Databazaar.com in an article on "business bargains." Databazaar.com carries cartridges for almost every brand or make of printer, including HP, Brother, Canon, Epsom, Dell, Imation, Lexmark, Samsung, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, and Xerox/Tektronix.

Databazaar.com sells genuine new inkjet and toner cartridges as well as compatible cartridges in factory-fresh retail boxes — the same ones sold by manufacturers and big box retailers — at deeply discounted prices. Plus you get free shipping on all orders. All orders ship within 24 hours, except on weekends and holidays.

Databazaar.com offers a comprehensive, well-organized Web site. You can check and compare prices. Even better, the site offers RSS feeds for you to stay apprised of new products and special offers without visiting the site. Learn more about Databazaar.com.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Dixon Robertson, Review: Windows Remote Desktop with Windows 2000

TechnoLawyer member Benjamin Edwards asks:
"I am interested in accessing my computer when I am away from the office. I have tried various programs for that purpose, including LapLink, but none seems to work. Are there any suggestions?"

Howard Raab wrote:
"I understand there were some serious security problems with GoToMyPC in the not-to-distant past. I don't know if they have been "fixed." However, the Remote Desktop Access program built into Windows DP (both Professional and Home) have worked very well for me..."

Andrew Willinger responded:
"There are two significant problems with using Windows XP's built-in Remote Desktop Access over an Internet connection. The first is cost, and the second is security...."

Christopher Palestro wrote:
"My experience has been that Windows Remote Desktop ("RD") is far superior to GoToMyPC...."

Christopher J. Hayes responded:
"The cleanest, most secure, and most cost-effective way for most small offices to use Windows Remote Desktop is to have desktop PCs with Windows XP Professional, along with a server using Windows Small Business Server 2003...."

I enjoyed Christopher Hayes' May 25 post about Remote Desktop. He wrote that only WinXP computers can access RD. I access my Windows SBS 2003 server console and, when necessary, WinXP workstation (client) desktops, through RWW/RD, using an older ThinkPad running Windows 2000. I have to use Internet Explorer instead of Firefox because Firefox won't handle the ActiveX control RD requires. Otherwise, though, it works flawlessly on a Win2K box.

Dixon Robertson

[Publisher's Note: Learn more about Windows Remote Desktop. — Sara Skiff]

About Answers to Questions
Posts like the one above appear exclusively in Answers to Questions, 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.

Cindy Wolf, Tip: How to Reduce Neck Strain When Using Multiple Monitor Set Up

TechnoLawyer asked:
"Did you recently purchase a new desktop PC? If so, please post a review."

Phil Rhodes wrote:
"Our firm has purchased two Compaq PCs in the last six months.... One last question — how many of you use multiple monitors on your desktop? Is your setup worth the money? What size do you recommend?"

Bob Browning wrote:
"I recently went to two Samsung SyncMaster 213T monitors. I work at a built-in desk behind my "client desk" so I mounted both monitors on the wall, one straight ahead of me and the other at about a 15 degree angle on a heavy duty swing arm...."

I use two monitors and will never go back. I use my laptop screen (15") and an extra 17" above it. I found that I couldn't deal with a side by side arrangement because I can't move my keyboard and I would get neck aches looking at the other screen when it was on the side. The stacked view is great. I haven't gone paperless yet but this helps tremendously.

Cindy Wolf, PC
Denver, CO

About Fat Friday
Posts like the one above appear exclusively in Fat Friday, 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.

Coming August 18, 2006 to Fat Friday: Glenn Curran shares his thoughts on multiple monitors, Channing Strother reviews the Shure E2c earphones plus offers up some purchasing tips, and Douglas Thomas discusses age discrimination and the unique way lawyers can circumvent it. Don't miss this issue.

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. Please subscribe now.

Coming August 17, 2006 to Answers to Questions: David Heisler reviews ISYS desktop search, Norman Van Treeck reviews LogMeIn in comparison to other remote access tools, Mike Cash offers up an alternative way to record retainer fees in PCLaw, Roy Greenberg reviews his Amicus Attorney-Outlook integration, and John Starkweather explains how to use the latest version of Acrobat to archive old e-mails. Don't miss this issue.

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. Please subscribe now.

Coming August 15, 2006 to TechnoFeature: No Internet at the hotel? No problem! Although not nearly a vacation, traveling for business can feel just as stress-free if you plan ahead for such techno-disasters. In this article, legal technology trainer Adriana Linares shares the contents of her travel bag and how each item keeps her sane while away. Learn traveling tips and tricks from someone always on the go — and always connected.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Tuesdays, TechnoFeature is a weekly newsletter that contains in-depth articles written by leading legal technology and practice management experts. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

Coming August 14, 2006 to IP Memes:  Steve, Doug, and Matt cover the following memes: the missing link in India's modernized patent system, a Swedish group out to abolish patents, and a review of the USPTO's online makeover.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Mondays, IP Memes is a biweekly newsletter that explores emerging technology-related intellectual property issues — or "memes" as we call them. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.

10. You bought an Xbox 360 rather than a Ferrari 360 when you had a mid-life crisis.

9. You advise your client to litigate rather than settle so that you can use the new versions of CaseMap, FYI, TrialDirector, etc.

8. You ask the judge if you can "televise" the trial on YouTube.

7. You count e-mail newsletters instead of sheep to fall asleep.

6. Your den is full of autographed photos of Wells Anderson, Adriana Linares, Jeffrey Lisson, David Moon, Lynn Packer, Ed Poll, Seth Rowland, and other TechnoFeature authors.

5. Thanks to a restraining order, you're no longer allowed within 100 feet of Dennis Kennedy, but you still e-mail him suggestions for TechnoLawyer NewsWire.

4. You camped out overnight to attend the BlawgWorld launch party.

3. You're still hopeful that LawPro 2 will ship one of these days.

2. You have dual monitors in every room of your house, including your bathroom.

1. You return from a weekend in Vegas with the TechnoLawyer logo tatooed on your ....

About TechnoEditorials
A TechnoEditorial is the vehicle through which we opine and provide tips of interest to managing partners, law firm administrators, and others in the legal profession. TechnoEditorials appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, lawyer and legal technology legend Dennis Kennedy covers a mobile billing solution for solos and small firms, a Web-based tool for tracking vacations and other time off, and a new multifunction inkjet copier/fax/printer/scanner. Don't miss the next issue.

Below you'll find one of the three articles from today's edition:

Mobile Billing for Small Firms
By Dennis Kennedy
Time sheets are the bane of existence for most lawyers, especially for lawyers on the move during the day. Solos and small firm lawyers are among the most mobile in the legal profession because they usually spend more time in court and with clients. Often, these lawyers don't have a timesheet handy to record activities. During a hectic day, they may forget about activities that add up to a significant amount of time.

The all-too-common result is that lawyers "lose" billable time because they forget to record it or underestimate what time they spent on projects.

AIRTIME-Manager's AIRTIME-Professional helps lawyers contemporaneously capture time entries wherever they are by using their BlackBerrys, Treos, and Windows Mobile devices.

Originally available as AIRTIME-Enterprise for larger firms, AIRTIME-Professional is a new version designed for solos and small law firms.

AIRTIME-Professional enables you to record time entries immediately after you finish an e-mail or phone call by popping up a reminder entry screen on your mobile device so you can enter time for the activity. You can also enter time no matter where use a mobile device. Thus, on-the-go lawyers can capture time that is often forgotten or underestimated when they return to the office and get to a traditional timesheet.

AIRTIME-Professional also "remembers" and aggregates small amounts of time spent on e-mail and phone calls. When these small amounts reach a pre-determined threshold, say fifteen minutes, you will be notified and can make a decision about whether to bill that time rather than "lose" those small amounts.

AIRTIME-Professional has some nifty features designed specifically for solos and small firms. For example, it integrates with most time-billing software. Thus, lawyers can synchronize their client/matter numbers as well as their billing codes. And of course, they can export the time captured by AIRTIME-Professional into these programs for final processing.

AIRTIME-Professional has two components — the client software on your mobile device and a Web-based component for managing your time entries and synchronizing with your time-billing software.

AIRTIME-Professional costs $25/month for solos or $100/month for five lawyers. Other configurations also exist. No contract is required, but if you sign up for a year you receive two months for free.  Learn more about AIRTIME-Professional.

How to Receive this Newsletter
Published on Wednesdays, TechnoLawyer NewsWire is a weekly newsletter that enables you to learn about new technology products and services of interest to legal professionals. Like all of our newsletters, it's free. Please subscribe now.