TechnoLawyer

Coming March 3, 2006 to Fat Friday: Brian Garves explains how to reduce your Stamps.com costs, Jerry Sullenberger reviews three iPod accessories, Bruce Hanson discusses alternatives to Symantec AntiVirus, Anita Evans joins the debate over technology training for lawyers, and Maggie Fisher argues for more transparency among legal vendors. 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 March 2, 2006 to Answers to Questions:

Nonrefundable Retainer Fees; Review of Time Matters; Acrobat
By Roy Allen, Scott Bassett, William Burt, Steve Kaplan, & Richard Shaffer
In this issue of Answers to Questions, Steve Kaplan responds to the brouhaha sparked by his question about New Jersery accounting practices, Scott Bassett discusses the unique accounting needs for nonrefundable retainer fees, Roy Allen explains the difference between advanced fee deposits and retainers, Richard Shaffer discusses the pros and cons of Time Matters, and William Burt provides some guidance on which version of Acrobat your office should purchase.

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.

No, I'm not opening for Green Day. On April 20-21, 2006, MarketingSherpa will hold its Email Marketing Summit 2006 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago.

I'll be among the speakers at the conference. The title of my seminar is: Serial Storytelling and the Complex B2B Sale. Learn more and register.

It just so happens that the Email Marketing Summit overlaps with the ABA's TechShow at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers. Therefore, if I don't see you at the Email Marketing Summit, perhaps I'll see you at TechShow. Learn more and register.

Also, on the eve of TechShow, I plan to attend LexThink Lounge, a casual gathering of legal technology experts at a chic bowling alley that serves gourmet food and cocktails. Learn more and register.

Please let me know if you'd like to meet. If I hear from enough of you, perhaps I'll set up a happy hour on Friday night for TechnoLawyer members.

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, tech expert Jill Bauerle covers a customizable, integrated case management program, an online project management system, and a universal word count utility. Don't miss the next issue.

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

Case Management Software that Caters to Your Every Whim
By Jill Bauerle
Imagine a world created just for you in which everything worked as you envisioned. Well, that'll probably never happen. But with Abacus Data Systems' new AbacusLaw v2006, you can at least create a practice management system to your exact specifications. With AbacusLaw v2006, not only can you customize the interface and toolbars, but you can even remove menu items and other elements that you don't use. What else is new in this major upgrade? AbacusLaw v2006 features BlackBerry synchronization, private notes and calendar events, complete drag and drop, your choice of Google, MapQuest, or Yahoo for integrated maps, zip code lookup, a mini-calendar that can display 1-12 months, an enhanced Notes editor, and the ability to email events to anyone. Abacus Data Systems also focused on improving the integrated accounting component. The "intuitive check writer" looks just like a paper check, and the "enhanced check register" enables you to quickly search for checks using any parameter. AbacusLaw now saves every bill in PDF format and links it to the corresponding matter. When working at your desk, you can easily toggle among multiple timers as you move through your to-do list — plus you can now post time entries from anywhere in AbacusLaw. With AbacusLaw's new reports, you can always get a handle on your firm's activities. For example, the Matter Synopsis Report gives you a birds-eye view of all current activities, and the Malpractice Report lists all matters without any notes or future calendar events. AbacusLaw v2006 runs on Windows XP/NT/2000. Learn more about AbacusLaw v2006.

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.

You don't have time to track 100 business and technology magazines and blogs. We do. Below you'll find our latest discoveries.

Google Gets the Gong

Grading Google

Understanding Flavors of PDF

Use of an E-Mail Trail Helps a Jury Acquit an Energy Trading Executive

Blogs to Riches: The Haves and Have Nots of the Blogging Boom

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.

A few months ago, Samsung released a new line of LCD monitors, including its top-of-the-line Syncmaster 244T, a 24 inch widescreen monitor (1920x1600) with one DVI input, one VGA input, one composite input (for a DVD player or video iPod), and a USB 2.0 hub. You can toggle among the three inputs with a button on the front.

The monitor can also swivel, providing both landscape and portrait mode (which lawyers seem to like). It comes in silver or black. TigerDirect seems to have the best deal among reputable resellers — $1,399.

I'm writing this review on the Syncmaster 244T in silver. I just took it out of the box today. Unfortunately, I'm sending it back. Why? It's too high. The monitor enables you to adjust its height, but at its lowest height, the bottom of the monitor measures 6 inches from the desk and the top measures 21 inches. My sweet spot is 3"/18". Given that most monitors accommodate my sweet spot, it didn't occur to me to check. Plus, none of the existing reviews discuss the height.

If you're tall (or enjoy craning your neck), I highly recommend this monitor — it has the best picture quality I've ever seen. Having to return it breaks my heart, but I feel like I'm bird watching.

The Syncmaster 244T I received has no dead pixels. Setup is a breeze, but Samsung does not include a manual — you must download it from the Web site. I found the monitor too bright at its default setting. In a nice touch, Samsung provides a number of settings for various applications. These settings not only change the brightness, but other parameters as well. I found the "Text" setting the most suitable for my purposes, and suspect most lawyers would feel the same.

All in all, the Samsung Syncmaster 244T is an incredible LCD monitor marred by poor ergonomics for a large portion of society. A shame.

PS: Kudos to TigerDirect for its fast, friendly service, and for not charging me a restocking fee.

Read ZDNet's Review

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.

Coming February 24, 2006 to Fat Friday: Carlos Gonzalez reviews Pathagoras for document assembly, Bryan Sims discusses his experience with Dell's tech support and repair service, Raymond Gintner explains how his firm saved a bundle by writing a word processing business plan, Karen Marvel reviews her use of Amicus Attorney over the past nine years, and Mark Castle adds his two cents to the ongoing technology and training debate. 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 February 23, 2006 to Answers to Questions: Gary Young responds to the ongoing debate surrounding a New Jersey lawyer's accounting practices for retainers, Eric Lay discusses the ethics of legal outsourcing, Pat Cunningham explains how to make retainers show up as revenue on a P&L report, Stephen Hayes shares tips for those interested in Dragon NaturallySpeaking, and Richard Haeussler reviews his Brother MFC-6800. In addition, this issue features links to 18 additional Posts in the TechnoLawyer Archive. 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 February 21, 2006 to TechnoFeature: Lawyers who bill by the hour can find it difficult to justify investments in labor-saving technology. Why spend money to get work done faster when you charge for your time? In this article, attorney and technology consultant Marc Lauritsen describes twelve ways lawyers can profit from greater speed and efficiency. Learn how to work smarter — and better serve both your clients and yourself.

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.

In today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, tech expert Jill Bauerle covers an online postage service, a spell-checking program that corrects as you write in any program, and free antivirus software for your PC. Don't miss the next issue.

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

Online Postage for Image-Conscious Firms
By Jill Bauerle
Why wait a hundred years? Put your face on a postage stamp today in a few simple steps with the help of Endicia, an online postage service for both Mac and Windows users. Endicia saves you the headache of bulky, temperamental mail meters by enabling you to print easy-to-read, bar-coded  postage onto an envelope or address label. With Endicia, you can design your own postage using a combination of logos, photos, and text. You can also design envelopes, postcards, and other mail items with the postage affixed. Endicia also features electronic delivery confirmation, package services (e.g., parcel post), express mail, international mail, insurance, and more. Endicia enables you to track postage by client/matter for cost recovery, and integrates with the address book in ACT! and Outlook. The accompanying Endicia software comes in five versions: Basic Service, Premium, Mac, Professional and Platinum Shipper. The Premium, Professional, and Platinum versions have professional shipping features such as "stealth postage" that hides the postage price. They also integrate with auction management programs like DEK and Galaxy and carrier systems like FedEx and UPS. The Mac version integrates with iPhoto, and features built-in support for electronic postal scales. Endicia supports Windows 2000 and higher and Mac OS X. Endicia sells a starter kit that includes one year of Endicia Standard, a label printer, and a 10 pound scale for $239.95 (add $10 for a 25 pound scale). Thereafter, you'll pay just $9.95 per month or 99.95 per year. The Premium plan costs $15.95 per month or $174.95 per year. Learn more about Endicia.

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.