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Ross Ipsa Loquitur

Legal technology and law practice management issues including product reviews, CLE materials, corporate legal department technology, mobile lawyering and smartphones, Paper LESS Office(tm) developments, case/practice management system comments/tips/ideas, document management, legal billing, and interesting utilities. Also covers Factum, an online legal tech and practice management CLE.
By Ross Kodner et al.

Post Frequency: 0.4/day

Last Entry: August 21, 2009 at 12:07:28

Abomination

Posted on August 21, 2009
The title says it all. No, it’s not about legal technology. It’s about sports. And about decency, or lack thereof. My family have been Packers fans and season ticket holders since the dawn of recorded time. And like every member of the tribe, and like other Packers shareholders (yes, we have our single share of [...

Monday Deal Alert! 25? LCD/HDMI Display for $189

Posted on August 17, 2009
What a perfect day to start your digital week! Tigerdirect has an i-Inc 25″ LCD flat panel display for $189. To be sure, that’s a great price but what makes it a really exceptional deal is: 1920 x 1080 resolution Super-fast 2 ms screen response time fast enough even for mid-afternoon Flight Simulator spins (admit it, you [...

$50 Discount Code for 8/20 WebCLE: ?Minimize Risk with Legal Case, Matter and Practice Management Systems?

Posted on August 14, 2009
For my online CLE with Andy Adkins next week on August 20th at noon CDT (12-130PM CDT), I’ve just been told there is a $50 discount code available – the CLE info is here including online registration. The discount code to use when checking out is Z7745121...

Don?t Shoot Yourself in the Foot

Posted on August 14, 2009
I can always count on my pal Jim Calloway to cut to the core of issues that no one else seems to address. Jim’s got a great post at his Law Practice Tips blog ( the post is here) called “Online Reputation Management: First Rule is to Avoid Self-Inflicted Wounds...

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Digital Edge Podcast Featuring . . . Me!

Posted on August 14, 2009
I had the great pleasure of participating in the Digital Edge podcast with co-authors, techno.pals and friends Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway. The subje ct was the new book the three of us will debut exactly one week from today called “How Good Lawyers Survive Bad Times,” published by the ABA’s Law Practice Management Section...

My Latest SmallLaw Column ? ?Top Five BigSolo Mistakes: How to Destroy Your Fledgling Law Firm?

Posted on August 13, 2009
My latest Technolawyer SmallLaw column is now online here. It’s called “Top Five BigSolo Mistakes: How to Destroy Your Fledgling Law Firm.” The column is a tongue-in-cheek perspective on the ways new solos, small firms or BigSolos (see my previous column for a discussion of the economy-driven BigSolo trend of BigLaw attorneys hanging out shingles [...

R.I.P. Les Paul

Posted on August 13, 2009
Could Les Paul be the most influential Wisconsinite of all time? Rock and roll owes Les mightly. One of the few “legends” who deserved the title. Once again, we’re experiencing “The Day the Music Died.” And as a fellow native Wisconsinite, we’re all terribly proud of our musical native son...

Best Tech for ?Kids? Could be the Ultimate Stress Antidote for Lawyers

Posted on August 13, 2009
I’m really not sure what BusinessWeek knows about toys – the publication does seem like the very antithesis to the concept of “fun.” However, a new article professes to list the “Best Tech for Kids” and it’s actually not a bad list...

Outlook for Mac Coming with Office 2010 ? Legal Software Development Floodgates to Open?

Posted on August 13, 2009
Microsoft’s Business Unit has confirmed that the next Mac version of Office, due later in 2010, will include Outlook, replacing the much maligned (and deservedly so) Entourage that has been part of Mac Microsoft Office for some time. Word is that this version of Outlook will match the Windows Outlook’s functionality, especially in terms of [...

The NYT on Home Wireless Tech

Posted on August 13, 2009
A tip of the hat to Dave Rakowski for the link to a great NYT Personal Tech section article today on the state of wireless networking for our homes. Yardena Arar’s article covers the latest in WiFi tech and the rationale for upgrading older 802...

Debunking Netbook Myths and Misconceptions ? The Straight NetScoop

Posted on August 12, 2009
We’ve discussed netbooks on the ABA Solosez listserve recently and I thought some of that discussion would be helpful for Ross Ipsa Loquitur readers. Here’s the most recent netbook-chat: Netbooks grew out of the One Laptop Per Child movement (OLPC), started by Nicholas Negroponte from MIT...

CLE Update: Chicago and on the Web Next Week!

Posted on August 12, 2009
Just thought some of you might be interested in two upcoming CLE programs – one live in the Chicago area on Wednesday, August 19th and the other online and available everywhere. on Thursday, August 20th.� Here’s the scoop on the two programs: “Social Media for Lawyer (and Other Tech Tools to Help Good Lawyers Survive Bad [...

Microsoft ?Permanently? Barred from Selling Word in the U.S.?

Posted on August 12, 2009
OK, I’ll admit that I just about drowned as a mouthful of Starbucks Pike Place Roast went down the wrong hatch as I read this: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/12/AR2009081201409.html and also: http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/176223...

Hijacked! Ross Ipsa Now Fixed and Back in Business

Posted on August 05, 2009
First, I want to thank so many of you for writing and expressing concern because I haven’t posted since late June. We’ve just been completely swamped here at MicroLaw for the last six weeks – an atypically busy summer helping a number of new small firms – all BigSolos – get started out and various [...

Sending Kids to College: What Tech to Take?

Posted on June 23, 2009
Many fellow parents are all debating the same question this summer – what tech to buy for their college-bound kids. I faced this question with Kodner1.html who will matriculate at the University of Pennsylvania this September as a freshperson.� It’s a difficult question with a dizzying array of choices (including the question of whether to [...

Boston Musings

Posted on June 23, 2009
Just heading home from a quick trip with Kodner1.html and Kodner2.html. I had the pleasure of speaking at the Rhode Island Bar’s 2009 Annual Meeting in Providence last Friday so I brought them along. We had a whirlwind four state tour of Rhode Island (Providence and Newport), Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine (ok not ALL [...

Green Home Sweet Home Office

Posted on June 15, 2009
(Original version published by “Law Technology News“, June 2009 here) My Milwaukee-based business, MicroLaw Inc., has a traditional office suite in a building my partner and I co-own with another technology company. The upside of going to the office is the collegiality experienced with my co-workers and the lack of a 42″ plasma HDTV and Tivo to [...

June LTN Issue: Green Home Office, Kindle 2, Ticked Off Judges & Digital Dictation

Posted on June 05, 2009
Several particularly useful articles just showed up in the Law Technology News June issue - about how to have a really green home office - hope you find it useful! Here’s my own article link to the online version - it will also be in the June print issue: In the same issue, Nerino Petro has [...

Bruce Olson - ONLAW Trial Technologies Debuts

Posted on June 02, 2009
A message from my techno.pal, Bruce Olson. Bruce has spent many years as a litigator with various firms including Hinshaw, his own firm for awhile (when I worked with him - he was my client in the mid-90’s) and most recently at Davis & Kuelthau in their Green Bay, Wisconsin office...

GM

Posted on June 02, 2009
GM = God (what a) Mess GM = Government Motors GM = Grand Mal (automaker seizure) GM = Gimme Money! The question is what we will do to ensure it doesn’t happen AGAIN post-bankruptcy, post-bailout?

The Big Underscore - Why Mac Lawyers Need to Learn About Security Issues

Posted on May 27, 2009
I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how important it was for Mac Lawyers, current or prospective, to become open-minded and responsible about security issues that affect them/us (”us” as in I’m a Mac user as well - I seem to have to keep reminding some of my audience members of this)...

Tightwad Tech: Found Another Netbook Deal!

Posted on May 22, 2009
Again from Compusa/Tigerdirect, Acer Aspire One factory refurbished netbooks - these are the earlier 9″ screen models with XP Home, 1 Gb RAM, 120 Gb hard drive. So previous generation. But they’re $199 which is PERFECT to having sitting around in your kitchen, as a second machine for Facebooking/Twittering/Skyping, etc...

Minimum Daily Tech Requirements - Part Three Now Available

Posted on May 22, 2009
The third and final segment of my Technolawyer SmallLaw series called “Minimum Daily Technology Requirements for Small Firms” is now online at the Technolawyer SmallLaw blog site. If you’re a Technolawyer SmallLaw subscriber, you already received it on May 11th...

Check out Harold Goldner’s HumanRaceHorses Employment Law Blog

Posted on May 10, 2009
Techno.pal Harold Goldner who has a long-time employment law practice in the Greater Philly area has been blogging since the beginning of the year at Human Racehorses - here’s the link to his blog. I’ve known Harold for many years - we originally met virtually on the ABA’s Lawtech listserve and have been friends ever [...

Help! Ideas to Fix Sticky IBM Trackpoint II Keys

Posted on May 10, 2009
Folks, Just received a 1998 vintage IBM Trackpoint II keyboard from an eBay purchase. A bunch of the keys are sticking. Before I complain to the seller (whose ad said it was in perfect working order), I’d like to see if I can fix these keys...

Favorite Things?

Posted on May 10, 2009
Did you ever thing about some of your favorite things, in a mental checklist kind of way? Not sure why, but I was thinking about this tonight. Here are some of my favorite things . . . how about yours? Movie: Tie - Casablanca, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Adventures of [...

Here?s to Our Moms!

Posted on May 10, 2009
Tomorrow’s the big day for Moms everywhere. A tip of the hat and a toast to all Mom’s everywhere. All the best for your big day tomorrow. Breakfast in bed for the Mom in my house (shhhh! it’s a surprise . . . and I know she doesn’t read my blog so I’m safe)! To my [...

Favorite Things?Knew I?d Forget Something!

Posted on May 10, 2009
Favorite Frozen Indulgence: Kopp’s Custard (Milwaukee) preferably with lots of chunky bits (like cookie dough, german streusel, butterfingery pieces, etc.) Favorite State Fair Food: Grilled sweet corn from the Wisconsin State Fair Favorite Friends Inadvertently Left Off the First List: Ellen, Susan, Nancy, Dale(s), JoAnna, Sabrina, Shell, Monica, Rick and Judy, Bill, Jim, David Favorite Bands: Tie and [...

From Renee: Mavis Beacon - Where are you when we need you??

Posted on May 08, 2009
Mavis Beacon - please, please come back! It’s true: I am firmly entrenched in middle age, but I can still out-cycle my 13 year old daughter and I can still type 80 words a minute with just one error ? that?s about 40 wpm faster than some high school seniors I recently tested...

Told ?Ya So . . . Sadly, the Expected Mac Response

Posted on May 08, 2009
Did I not call this one in my post yesterday about my concerns about Ben Steven’s recent Mac-related Technofeature? Told ‘ya this is what would happen. Kudos to my long-ago mentor David Hirsch for a high-road, interesting as ever (even if I completely disagree with it) response, but it was Randy Singer, Chief Self-Appointed Mac [...

BigSolos - The Document Management Transition

Posted on May 07, 2009
Thanks to Monica Bay and Law Technology News for running my article on how BigSolo lawyers are making the document management transition when they move from larger firms to new small practices. Here’s the link to the article (and if you’re not an LTN subscriber, it’s free for goodness sakes - SUBSCRIBE, it’s the bible! [...

I Must Be a Fricking Masochist for Writing About Mac Issues Again But?

Posted on May 07, 2009
. . . let me remind the legal Mac faithful that I am one of you. If need be, I’ll send you all the receipts for the 2008 vintage 13″ Aluminum Macbook and 2005 vintage PowerBook G4 I own and regularly use . . . and even pictures showing me using them...

Legal Technology CLEs Live from Philly in June (And Steaks Wit Wiz for me!)

Posted on May 07, 2009
Ah, nothing like the smell of proper cheesesteaks (wit Wiz!) wafting on the Spring breezes of a Philly evening (I’m a Pat’s man myself, although I’m partial to Jim’s too) Anyway, I’ll be in Philly June 2nd to present a live webcast CLE on behalf of ALI-ABA...

And now, I invent: the Twimerick

Posted on April 28, 2009
I guess twitterers like to twaiku, But I think it’s too easy to do. It takes much more time When your lines have to rhyme And fit a strict meter form too!

Vista Twaiku (net poetry in 140 characters or less)

Posted on April 27, 2009
Vista Twaiku: You want to UAC me to death. I reject your false assurances. You waste hours of my life. I defy you. I replace you with XP.

Netbook Twaiku (net poetry in 140 characters)

Posted on April 24, 2009
Netbook Twaiku: My netbook, a friend it is. Small but strong. Light but useful. Cheap but valuable. Take my netbook and you I will fight.

Connie Crosby LiveBlogged Leg@lIT Paper LESS Office Session!

Posted on April 23, 2009
Thanks Connie! Here’s the link to her live-blogged rundown of my session with Sam Coppola at�http://www.legalit.ca 3.0 this week: http://conniecrosby.blogspot.com/2009/04/legalit-30-achieving-paper-less-tm.html �

Making PDFs Searchable - Everyone Needs to Know How!

Posted on April 23, 2009
OK, one of my favorite subjects . . . making PDFs searchable is a necessary skill, especially if your firm or business has a “PDF First” policy for electronic document exchange (which essentially might say: “If there is no legitimate reason for the recipient of an electronic document we send to edit the file, we [...

Thanks Milwaukee Journal for the Twittering Mention

Posted on April 23, 2009
I was pleasantly surprised this morning when a local colleague, Joe Skotarzak, President of River Run Computers, emailed and congratulated me for being on a list of the “20 most interesting Milwaukee Twitterers,” in an article by Kathy Flanigan, an online blogger for the venerable Milwaukee newspaper (who along with her colleague Stan Miller II [...

Blogged About While Twittering and Blogging

Posted on April 21, 2009
There is no doubt in my mind that if I’m being blogged about WHILE I’m blogging and TWITTERING, there is provable mathematical formula that will show we are in imminent danger of causing an irreparable tear in the very fabric that holds the universe together...

Leg@lIT 3.0 - C?est une conf�rence qui est riche et informatif!

Posted on April 21, 2009
Thoroughly enjoying my experience as a speaker and attendee of Leg@lIT 3.0 yesterday and today in Montr�al. With a strong collection of programs spanning subjects from Microsoft Office to e-Discovery to being virtual/mobile and the Paper LESS Office, the academic side of the conference is stellar...

How Getting IT Wrong Costs a Bundle

Posted on April 17, 2009
It’s worth a few minutes to review the online slideshow from this week’s eWeek Editor’s Pick. It’s called “Dirty Dozen: 12 IT Disasters.” As they describe it, it’s about what went wrong and what happened next...

More on the Cost of Using Outdated Technology

Posted on April 17, 2009
Reader and colleague Lewis Kinard, author of the “Practical Compliance” blawg, posted on this topic recently - just read it - incredibly valuable information about the cost of letting your technology outstay its welcome. A MUST read here.

Laptops for College Students - A Smart Guide for Parents

Posted on April 17, 2009
This question came up on the ABA’s Solosez list in the last couple of days. Given that I’m facing this question with Kodner1.html heading to Penn in the Fall, I thought I’d offer my ideas. I think the most important characteristics of a laptop to buy a college kid are: Campus Support - What do the campus [...

Send Positive Thoughts to Debbie Foster?s Mom

Posted on April 12, 2009
Got an email yesterday from colleague Debbie Foster - she said her Mom was in intensive care at a local hospital and very ill. Couldn’t hurt to send positive thoughts her way (aim towards Tampa).

Sunday Morning Musings?Macs and BMWs

Posted on April 12, 2009
I’m sitting in a cafe working on the slideshow for Kodner2.html’s Bat Mitzvah next weekend (and BTW, the four finalist songs for the father/daughter dance are, in no particular order: Frank’s “The Way You Look Tonight“ Paul Simon’s “Father and Daughter” Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” Israel Kamakawiwo?ole’ “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Anyway, I’m sitting here and having this [...

The Rites of Spring - Baseball, Buds on the Trees and a Positive Attitude

Posted on April 09, 2009
A large birch tree rubs its upper branches against my windows. This morning I looked outside and saw the first new buds. While Spring might have already sprung in regions farther south, here in Wisconsin it’s just starting. I love this time of year...

Methinks Thou Dost Tweetith Too Stupidly

Posted on March 29, 2009
A tip of the hat to techno.pal Sharon Nelson from Sensei and ABA books fame� (and of course for the terrific, must-subscribe, e-discover blawg, “Ride the Lightning“) for this one: “How to Lose a Job in One Tweet” - see it here...

Great Little Utility - Thanks Scott Barer!

Posted on March 29, 2009
Culled from the daily treasure trove of knowledge otherwise known as the ABA’s Solosez listserve comes this great utility tip from Atty. Scott Barer, a list regular from Woodland Hills, California. I’ve been looking for one of these for, literally, years...

There IS Another 30 Year Old Legal Tech Company

Posted on March 29, 2009
Thanks to Phil Homburger from Synaptec Software, 30 year publishers of the LawBase practice/matter management system, writing in response to yesterday’s post about STI (Tabs 3 / PracticeMaster) reaching their 30th year with consistent ownership...

Mac Practice Management: A Short/Quick Answer

Posted on March 27, 2009
The question of what to look for in Mac practice management systems came up on the ABA Solosez listserve the other day. Several have asked me for my short response, so here it it. Let me first say that while some will suggest general purpose PIMs like Daylite, I’m a strong believer that the best [...

Congratulations STI (Tabs 3 / PracticeMaster) on 30 Solid Years!

Posted on March 27, 2009
Can anyone name ANY other legal technology-focused company that has either: Been around for 30 years? Has had consistent ownership for 30 years? I’m reasonably certain that other than STI, better known as the publishers of long-time stalwart market leaders Tabs 3 Billing and the potent PracticeMaster practice management system, there are none who can make this claim...

Le Printemps et Tech en Montr�al: Leg@lIT 3.0 20/21 Avril 2009

Posted on March 25, 2009
Yes, it’s my seven years of French bursting forth! (French minor in college - I remember just enough to embarrass myself in Paris but be appreciated by the Quebecois!). Mark your legal tech calendars for a conference with the exotic twist (for Americans) of being in one of North America’s hippest cities, Montreal! It’s the third [...

Legal Technology Loses an Icon: R.I.P. John Lederer

Posted on March 25, 2009
In Wisconsin, John Lederer was a legend in the world of legal technology - and an unsung hero outside of the state. Among many accomplishments in his life, John was the driving force behind the Uniform Citation movement in the 80’s and early’s 90’s...

The Original, Often Imitated, Genuine Article: Ross? Paper LESS Office

Posted on March 25, 2009
“A Paper LESS Life: A Common Sense Guide to (Green) Home and Business Sanity”. That’s the working title of the book I’m furiously working on - the logical next step after 15 years of the Paper LESS Office(tm). If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then I’m feeling quite flattered over the last few [...

Twog: My TwitLog Experiment

Posted on March 24, 2009
The results of my experimenting with Life via Twitter as @rkodner.Here are all my posts since I started Twittering ?way? back in October 2008. This includes my reTweets and replies as well as my own Tweets. So should this kind of Twitter Log have it?s own name? It would be GREAT if there were software that [...

The Weekend Geek: Multiple Monitor Mania

Posted on March 21, 2009
Perhaps the single biggest productivity boost to any computer setup, whether a PC or Mac, is to move to a multiple monitor setup. What can you do with multiple displays? In a word, MORE! With a system desktop that spans two, three or even four of more displays, you can have your regularly-used apps always [...

The Weekend Geek: Get a USB eSATA Dock!

Posted on March 21, 2009
This is one of those products that is so patently obvious, that fact is the only likely explanation for the fact they just recently appeared. USB eSATA dock let you take a barebones SATA hard drive, plug it into the docking device and turn it into an external USB hard drive...

Internet Explorer 8 ? (yawn)

Posted on March 21, 2009
This seems to be my week for frustrating rants. With the latest Internet Explorer 8 being my next victim. Truly, am I missing something here? I downloaded the new IE8 earlier this week. My impressions so far are: (intentionally blank) (intentionally blank) (intentionally blank) Seriously, what was the point of this update...

Should Have Used a Different Word in my Dell Adamo Post Title

Posted on March 19, 2009
Folks, just a general apology for a poorly chosen word in the title of my Dell Adamo-related post. I should not have used the word “retards.” It was insensitive. Better, and more descriptive words or phrases might have been: Morons Brain-Dead Microencephalic Idiots Cretins Imbeciles Terminally Clueless Fricking Insane You get the idea...

Hosted Exchange Server Follow-up: It Needs to Be Well-Considered

Posted on March 19, 2009
Thanks to those who commented on my earlier post about Hosted Exchange services.� There were a couple of points made that I thought it might be useful to follow up on. First, there’s the question as to what advantage Exchange Server has over other email services like those provided by Google...

First Reaction to the Dell Adamo - Are These Guys Total Retards???

Posted on March 18, 2009
I haven’t touched a Dell Adamo yet but I’m blown away by the seemingly obvious stupidity of this new product release. One look at their emailed promo today and it’s apparent. It looks like a Versace or Chanel ad. Models doing their lashes...

Renee on Worldox: ?Electronic File Manila Folders? Rock!

Posted on March 18, 2009
Many of you know that I spend a lot of time working with MicroLaw clients and their document, email and practice management systems - it’s what I do. I’d like to talk about an aspect of the popular Worldox document management system that makes it easier for the unitiated to understand...

More on ?Exchange Server Without the Server?

Posted on March 18, 2009
Home, home on the Exchange. Where the mail and the attachments roam. — Ross after a little too much caffeine — ROSS HERE: Thanks for all the great comments about Abe’s post from yesterday. Here are my own thoughts and responses to some of the commenters: Why not use Google Apps or Gmail? Because Outlook specifically and tight [...

Exchange Server without the server

Posted on March 17, 2009
Microsoft Exchange Server is the Microsoft software that works behind the scenes to manage your firm’s email flow, and stores all your email in server mailboxes.� This is what makes the goal of near-universal access to your email a practical possibility...

Copy/Paste from One PC to Another - Thanks Ellen!

Posted on March 16, 2009
Courtesy of Techno.pal Ellen Freedman, legendary Practice Management Advisor (and unbelievably nice person) for the Pennsylvania Bar, take a look at Hey!PasteIt. As Ellen points out “most computer users have encountered the situation where they want to copy some text� from one computer to another...

Damn the Torpedos, 1080p 10? Diagonal Video Ahead!

Posted on March 16, 2009
Thanks to Lifehacker.com for this one. Wouldn’t we all want our offices or living rooms to be like this? Come on, admit it. Add in a bank of 6 x 30″ panel LCD displays driven by one of the multimonitor controllers from Digitaltigers.coand and you’re set...

Dare I Criticize Twittering? I Love It - THAT?s the Problem?

Posted on March 16, 2009
I’ve given Twitter a pretty fair shot, following all sorts of feeds, Twittering some days a dozen or more times. First, let me be clear, Twittering is both really fun and really addictive. If, like me, you were born without any sense of impulse control, are a way out there Type A mega-multitasker, you can [...

A Green Step for HP Laptop Batteries

Posted on March 16, 2009
According to cnet News today, HP is now selling the “Enviro” series of laptop batteries which will fit 18 models of HP laptops. The products of startup Boston Power, HP indicates the batteries will last longer (up to approximately 1000 charges) and thus saving on landfill situations...

Monica?s Recipe for Economic Survival

Posted on March 16, 2009
I love techno.pal Monica Bay’s recent post on The Common Scold about how to tighten the belt in this whackjob economy. See her list of Manhattan-oriented survival tips here. I particularly liked the one about recycling ancient white-out as toenail polish...

Paper LESS: Now More Than Ever

Posted on March 16, 2009
I’m always pleased to see my now 16 year old Paper LESS Office process continue to gain acceptance. A little radical back in 1993 when the idea sprouted, now it’s common sense and in the mainstream. The acknowledgement that ridding one’s life and practice of paper may be a pipe dream, paves the way to [...

Looking forward to Leg@lIT 3.0 in Montreal

Posted on March 16, 2009
Looking forward to visiting one of my favorite cities and getting a chance to put my mostly dormant undergraduate French minor to work next month. I’ve had the great privilege of being invited to take part in the Leg@lIT 3.0 conference in Montreal on 20/21 Avril 2009 at the Centre Mont-Royal...

Like Minds . . . the Cone of Silence/Stupidity

Posted on March 16, 2009
As the old saying goes. While I was posting recently about overhearing a Foley partner loudly talking on an Amtrak commuter train to Chicago on his cell about health insurance for some newly rescued Heller and Thelen lawyers, techno.pal Jim Calloway was reporting on almost exactly the same thing...

WordPerfect 5.1 - Just Right for a ?Less is More? World?

Posted on March 15, 2009
WordPerfect 5.1 hasn’t existed as a product since the late 1980’s. But this venerable and venerated word processor is remarkably tenacious. I am continually surprised by the number of people I know who run it, clandestinely, on modern PC systems...

Memories of a More Fashionable/Athletic Me . . . Rewind to 1973

Posted on March 13, 2009
In 1973 I was in 7th grade. Part of being “cool” was all wrapped up in one’s choice of sneakers. In my neck of the woods, the prestige shoes were Adidas and not just any Adidas models. Not the red-striped Viennas. Not cool enough. The then-pinnacle of tweener footware for guys at Lakeshore Middle School [...

He?s Baaack . . . The Return of Bob (Butler) That Is

Posted on March 13, 2009
Many of us have missed our colleague and friend, Bob Butler, of TimeMatters co-founding fame. After departing LexisNexis (hey, how long could a visionary like Bob have lasted in a corporate hierarchy - longer than I had predicted actually), Bob seemed to disappear...

An Apple NetTouch? A Netbook from Apple After the Third Quarter?

Posted on March 13, 2009
OK, I’m the first to admit there’s some speculation going on here because of course, Apple won’t confirm, deny or comment on the question of its netbook plans. A Reuters article from March 11th quoted a “source” as saying that Apple will take “delivery of newly developed 10-inch touchscreens from Taiwan ...

At First it Seems Like a Good Idea, But Then ?

Posted on March 12, 2009
My good friend Nerino Petro, Jr. of Compujurist fame recently wrote a product view for the ABA LPM’s LawPractice.org - he reviewed the KeyScan keyboard scanners. Nerino gave the combination PC keyboard/built-in single-page-fed scanner a positive review...

So Where do Out of Work BigLawyers Go? Heard Live, Right Now!

Posted on March 03, 2009

Best LCD Picture Frame Offer I?ve Ever Seen

Posted on March 02, 2009

ABA TECHSHOW Early Bird Deadline Extended to March 6th

Posted on March 02, 2009

Can a Netbook REPLACE Your Workhorse Laptop?

Posted on February 06, 2009
You’ve all seen me write about my netbook experiences, from my very first Asus EEE PC 701 to its successor 1000H to my current Lenovo Ideapad S10. In my October Technolawyer SmallLaw column, I talked about how my 2.5 decade long uest for the “perfect laptop” was finally realized - carrying TWO laptops - my [...

All a Twitter About OutTwit

Posted on February 06, 2009
While I’m personally still baffled about why Twittering is a rational way to spend otherwise valuable time, especially if your ADD like me - it’s the ultimate passtime for the Short Attention Span Generation - there’s a tool all Outlook users need...

Coolest Demand Letter Ever

Posted on February 06, 2009
Just ask El Paso lawyer David Ferrell who demonstrated it at the 2nd Annual Texas Bar Law Practice Management & Technology Conference today. He showed a PDF demand letter done in Acrobat 9 Pro Extended, which allows you to create and embed Flash video in documents that can open and play via a click or [...

No Longer a SkyFi Virgin! Now a Member of the 7 Mile High Club!

Posted on February 06, 2009
Yes, on the way back from Houston to Milwaukee on Delta (whose customer service is so bad it makes my regular carrier, Northwest look like a luxury concierge service in comparison), I’m blogging for the very first time using the GoGo SkyFi service - wifi at 38,000 feet...

12 of 14 . . . No, it?s Not a New Star Trek Character

Posted on February 06, 2009
No, it’s not a new Star Trek character. It’s my on the road v. at home ratio for the last two weeks. So sorry for the two week hiatus - I’ve been on the road literally 12 of the last 14 days. First a client implementation of a new Paper LESS Office�network system for the [...

The Inauguration Live!

Posted on January 20, 2009
See it unfold live at www.hulu.com! Wow! May God Bless America and all the people of Earth.

Cue Rod Serling

Posted on January 18, 2009
Otherworldly is the word that comes to mind about a comment I received about a recent post where I once again maligned, SO deservedly so, all things Vista. Here’s the comment: “Ross, I am not sure whether you are being serious or not with some of your blogs...

Windows 7 Watch: Gizmodo?s Links to Tips/Issues/News

Posted on January 17, 2009
One of my favorite gadgetblogs, Gizmodo, has a great compilation of initial Windows 7 thoughts, tips, observations, critiques, problem-spotting. So far, for those wondering, it’s a mix of encouraging and discouraging news - more the former fortunately than the latter...

Watch for My Next Two SmallLaw Columns

Posted on January 17, 2009
I’ve been overwhelmed by all the positive comments about my new Technolawyer column called “SmallLaw.” All my columns are posted on the Technolawyer blog after their initial community distributions. I just finished my next two columns, both appearing soon...

Netbook Flaw - This Seems so Obvious . . .

Posted on January 16, 2009
As many of you know, I’ve become something of a Netbook Nut. Starting with the first Asus EEE 7″ Linux 701 model, to the Asus 1000H and now my current Lenovo IdeaPad S10 . . . in fact, I’m writing this post on the S10. While I love the 10...

Speaking Gigs in 2009 - Where in the World is Ross?

Posted on January 16, 2009
A couple friends asked where I’ll be around North America so far throughout 2009. Here’s a partial quick list: Chicago Bar (Chicago . .� duh) on January 23rd for the all-day Law Practice Management / Technology Seminar New York for LegalTech on February 2nd Texas Bar Annual Law Practice Management Conference, Houston February 5-6th Boston for a NABE (National [...

New CLE Materials Include Latest ?Sweet Spots? for New PCs

Posted on January 12, 2009
Per some recent discussions on the ABA Solosez listserve about what specs to target for new desktops systems, laptops, netbooks, etc., it motivated for me to get my latest CLE materials online and ready for anyone to download. They’re at this link, as always: Of course, they’re free as always - always happy to get feedback, [...

Ultimate Lawyer?s Netbook? From SONY??

Posted on January 10, 2009
You’ve GOT to check out the new Sony VAIO P. I think it’s the most fascinating product announced at CES 2009 after the blockbusting Palm Pre. Check out info at the Sony site here. It’s a 1.4 pound (not a misprint - that’s ONE.four pounds) full-blown Netbook in a newm, wider form factor - the [...

Asus Pre-Announces a New EEE Series Tablet

Posted on January 08, 2009
At the CES this week, Asus, pre-announced (paraphrasing George Carlin’s routine on “pre-owned” cars, how can you pre-announce - does that means announce before you announce - sheer semantic non-sense that is a serious pet peeve of mine) the appearance in 3 to 6 months...

Can Apple Survive Without Steve Job?

Posted on January 08, 2009
Infoworld has a very interesting article today about whether Apple can survive without Steve Jobs. If you’ve seen recent pics of Jobs, you can’t help but see how gaunt and thin he looks. Speculation about his health was addressed when he made a recent statement that it was a result of a hormone imbalance issue [...

Technolawyer Wins the ABA Blawg 100 Technology Category!

Posted on January 07, 2009
This one bears some real investigation - just what happened with the voting for the ABA’s top Blawg’s is currently a bit of a mystery. Ross Ipsa Loquitur dropped from 4th place to 6th place, losing about 250 votes . . . beats me . . . we were just thrilled to make the list [...

Tightwad Technology Alert: MyOpenBar.com Helps Find Free/Cheap Drinks

Posted on January 05, 2009
What better way to save a few sheckels than to root out free drinks. MyOpenBar.com helps you find watering holes and other venues where free or cheap drinks are being served. Cities tracked currently include NYC, San Francisco, Honolulu, Chicago, LA and Miami...

Thatcher Proffitt Will Not See its 161st Year

Posted on January 05, 2009
Maybe I was a little conservative when I predicted the failure of at least 10% of the AmLaw 100 on January 1st in my “Ringing in 2009 with 30+ Predictions” post.� On 12/22/08, the firm announced it would “wind down” after 12/31/08 (i...

My Favorite Free PDF Tool? NONE of Them!

Posted on January 05, 2009
My favorite free PDF converter is NONE of them. Actual Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro can be had surprisingly inexpensively. As we’ve written about before, you can go to eBay and buy a full copy of Acrobat 6 very inexpensively (anywhere from $30-$70) - that will entitle you to upgrade to 9 Pro from the Acrobat [...

Told ?Ya So - When Will People Listen About Backup?

Posted on January 03, 2009
Techcrunch reporting on the overnight demise of JournalSpace.com, a blogging provider (read it at http://tinyurl.com/6ulyqs). Apparently the company IT guy was relying solely on the RAID capabilities of their servers for backup. The company has been totally wiped out and is selling its assets...