TechnoLawyer: Post

Regarding my Post Maximize Your Google Searches, TechnoLawyer member Vusumzi Msi writes: "The post on Google was absolutely bloody marvellous! I'm already using both the maps and news service." Regarding my Post on Hurricane Katrina, TechnoLawyer member Carroll Straus writes: "Your general statement [about the long-standing ability to hold back massive amounts of water] is true ... but how much do you really know about the reasons humans make the decisions about risk that they do? We let thousands of children die of lack of prenatal care or hunger every day ... that too, is preventable. But preventing it is not "sexy" and gets no rants, no press, no attention, no money. It's not good politics. Better to ask why we don't understand OURSELVES well enough to make wise choices. And BTW — does the term hubris seem at all applicable here, to you? Cuz it does to me." On a more mundane note, TechnoLawyer member Jason Howie writes: "There is only one way I can avoid a major catastrophe like Katrina. I have my system and my 2 legal assistants' systems backed up by an Internet based recovery system weekly. It is inexpensive, off-site (a few hundred miles away), and done automatically in the middle of the night. When I look at the victims of Katrina, I think, But for the grace of God go I."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Given the recent discussion of courts banning cell phones in Fat Friday, TechnoLawyer member Felicia Kooienga writes: "I don't want a camera on my cell phone. I don't want to connect to the Web with my cell phone. I don't need a memo pad, calculator, world clock, or stop watch on my cell phone. I just want to send and receive calls. I want a cell phone with a built-in address book that maintains a digital signal no matter where I travel, with a loooong-lasting battery. Does such a phone exist? If not, ATTENTION PHONE MANUFACTURERS: Please bring back the basics."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

In Answers to Questions, several TechnoLawyer members recently discussed alternative legal research services. TechnoLawyer member Dana Kjellgren writes: "Our office is a small governmental law office, and we have used LOISLaw for several years because the costs were significantly lower than with WestLaw and Lexis. I believe they have the bankruptcy materials you require. You may want to check their Web site for more information."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Why is the mainstream media not covering court bans of cell phones? Fortunately, our coverage continues. TechnoLawyer member Bryan Sims writes: "I find it hard to believe that cell phones are going off in courtrooms on a regular basis. I am in court quite a bit. In my experience, I would say that a cell phone rings in a courtroom less often than once a month. Maybe it is different elsewhere in the country, but in the Chicago area, frequent cell phone ringing has not been my experience. However, I do wish that more phone manufacturers made phones without cameras. Most courthouses around here prohibit phones with cameras. Although I have never encountered a problem with a camera phone at either the Daley Center (state court) or the Dirksen Building (federal court) in Chicago, both of which seem enlightened in their security rules. They take reasonable precautions, screen and x-ray items, but do not waste time trying to keep out modern conveniences, such as cell phones."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Regarding the ongoing discussion of Word versus WordPerfect in our Fat Friday newsletter, TechnoLawyer member Robert Mercer writes: "Primary focus for usability of Wordperfect over Word has been the reveal codes feature. I certainly don't disagree. What is probably more important and commentary which I have not read is "backward compatibility." Wordperfect is and Word is not! Without reveal codes, this issue alone would be significant. Word is unacceptably deficient on this issue alone." Since the tongue-lashing it received upon the release of Office 97,  Microsoft has actually done a good job regarding backwards compatibility of its Office file formats. The next version of Office will feature an XML-based format compatible with earlier versions of Office provided you download a free plug-in.

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

Continuing with our coverage of cell phone bans in courts, TechnoLawyer member Sandor Boxer writes: "At least in the Central District of California there is no issue with cell phones per se; rather the problem is with cell phones which have a built in camera. There is certainly a local rule which precludes taking pictures in Federal Courts. As a result our local cell phone companies are well aware that trial lawyers need cell phones without picture taking capability (a requirement that eliminates the majority of cell phones being pushed by the cell phone providers). In addition, a few years ago I had a client stopped who had a cell phone which had apparently had the feature where with the push of one button it functioned like a walkie-talkie with another similarly equipped user (Nextel?). Other than that, no cell phone problems (as long as you remember to turn them completely off before the hearing starts)."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

This year in Answers to Questions, we have provided comprehensive coverage of input devices for lawyers with hand tremors. TechnoLawyer member Sheldon Weinhaus writes in with this quick tip: "I have some slight hand tremor, and use the LogiTech trackballs, at the office and at home. I find them much easier to work with than the mouse."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

In a recent issue of Fat Friday, I wrote: "I know from my discussion with vendors that their biggest obstacle remains ignorance, not a competitor's product." TechnoLawyer member Brad Jensen of LaserVault responds as follows: "Speaking as a long-time technology marketer (document management, scanning, and COLD), this is something I continually say to my salespeople. People have a limited amount of attention, and they tend to do today the same thing they did yesterday, because it is proven. That's why companies are still using paper (invented 1500 BC) and microfiche (invented 1955) to store their business records. The good news is for those organizations who adopt new, faster and more convenient technology, they quickly gain a competitive advantage over the majority of firms."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

The debate over Dell has continued to rage in our Answers to Questions newsletter. Here's a taste from TechnoLawyer member Andrew Paterson: "Count me with Howard Raab. I have had excellent service from Dell techs in India at god knows what hour of the night. They were knowledgeable, patient and easy to work with. And when they suspected a hard drive (you can't have it both ways: no problems and the cheapest drives) a delivery box arrived on Thursday, the laptop was sent out Friday and back at noon Monday. Count me a happy camper with Dell and its service."

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.

In a recent issue of Fat Friday, David Umbaugh discussed how legal technology has maximized his law firm's efficiency. TechnoLawyer member John Gordon responds: "I agree wholeheartedly with David. I am dumfounded, however, that David and I use all of the same programs save one. I assume David selected his programs in much the same way that I have, i.e. trial and error and price tag. We are a 3 lawyer litigation firm with 6 paralegals. The power and flexibility that technology provides us enables us to compete with much larger firms both in quality of service, pricing and efficiency. Something unheard of when I started 38 years ago. (I have never spoken to David.)"

About Quips
A Quip is a brief member contribution for which we don't have room in our Answers to Questions or Fat Friday newsletters. Instead, Quips appear first in TechnoGuide, and later here in TechnoLawyer Blog. TechnoGuide, which is free, also contains exclusive content. You can subscribe here.