Adding the iPad to your bag of tricks

The iPad is out. I have seen a few now and am interested in its true usefulness in the field. Does it qualify as a gadget or a necessity? They are not exactly cheap (the entry model is 499.00) and have some limitations compared to their notebook cousins.

I understand that the iPad is not meant to be a replacement to the laptop but for the money I would like to see it run business applications. Outside of that it would be a great competitor to the netbooks that we have all seen littering airport terminals. The build quality is typical Apple-esqu in that it bridges solidity and attractiveness which is not an easy feat. The screen resolution is also what we would expect from Apple in that the color and clarity are outstanding. Be warned that due to the glass overlay that you will experience reflections especially if used outdoors.

They have done a nice job with the interface and it is largely reminiscent of the iPhone. Icons are easy to find and the touchpad is very nice. So what does it do anyway? I mean, isn't that why we are here?

The iPad will surf the Web (with the use of the Safari browser of course), play movie files (you can stream in Netflix or YouTube), read ebooks (Amazon has a Kindle app available), play games and listen to music. The real question is how productive is this thing? Well, it has an email application and a full keyboard which is good enough for smaller projects. I would not want to type for more than a few minutes on this thing but mileage may vary.

Microsoft will not be releasing an Office suite for the iPad but Apple does have a productivity package called iWork which contains a spreadsheet, word processor and slideshow at 10 bucks each from their app store.

In a nutshell, I don't know that I would want to replace my notebook with this guy as I cant install practice management software for testing or demo. The price is just too high considering it is, forgive me Mac followers, a glorified iPhone. If I could get one for 200.00 then I would consider it but as more of a travel convenience than a computing device.

Just my .02

A little known TM Messenger issue

TM Messenger will not open or messenger crashes when trying open. If you have Nero Express 7 Essentials software installed this may be causing an issue with the TM Messenger and preventing the application from opening.

Resolution: *Stop the Nero Express 7 Essentials services that are interfering with the TM Messenger services, executables and processes.

1. Stop the current Nero processes within Windows:

a. Right click on your windows toolbar and select Task Manager.

b. In the task manager click on the tab labeled Processes, Click on the column labeled       Image Name.

c. Search for NMIndexStore.exe, NMIndexStoresvr.exe, NMBgMonitor.exe in the task manager. Right click on each service and choose end process.

d. Close the task manager.

2. Disable the Nero Express 7 Essentials services from starting automatically:

a. Click on the Windows Start button and click Run.

b. Type in services.msc and click OK.

c. Find the service NMIndexingService, right click your mouse and choose properties. Click on the stop button (1). Just above the STOP button you will see Start up type, click the drop down and chose disabled (2) and click OK. Exit the services window.

3. Stop the Nero Express 7 essentials executables from starting with Windows:

a. Click on the Windows Start button and click Run.

b. Type in msconfig and click OK.

c. Click on the startup tab.

d. Uncheck the box for NMBgMonitor and NeroCheck, click OK.

e. You will be prompted to restart your computer, you may choose to restart now or wait until a more appropriate time (these changes will not take effect until the computer has been restarted). Once the PC is restarted you will see the System Configuration Utility screen. Check the box on the bottom left of the window to not show this message again and then click OK.

*These services may cause the Nero Express 7 Essentials application from operating as expected. For questions as to the operation of the Nero Burning ROM please contact the vendor here.

Will your Bar allow SaaS?

The North Carolina State Bar has released an opinion regarding the use of SaaS and cloud based computing for law firms. The Bar had received a question recently which reads:

"...Given the duty to safeguard confidential client information, including protecting that information from unauthorized disclosure; the duty to protect client property from destruction, degradation or loss (whether from system failure, natural disaster, or dissolution of a vendor's business); and the continuing need to retrieve client data in a form that is usable outside of the vendor's product; may a law firm use SaaS?"

Opinion 1 states:

"Yes, provided steps are taken effectively to minimize the risk of inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure of confidential client information and to protect client property, including file information, from risk of loss..."

This is, to my understanding, the first such reaction from a State Bar on the topic. This certainly sets a positive precedent in regards to such Web based application use. Arizona recently stated in an ethics opinion that a firm may use an online storage and retrieval system that allows clients to access their files over the internet provided the firm takes reasonable precautions to protect the security and confidentiality of client documents and information. This is another boon to online providers such as Clio, HoudiniESQ and Advologix.

As SaaS and cloud computing take their place as the new hot buzzwords (reminds me of the .com frenzy of the late 90s) we will probably see a shift into these technologies especially where small law is concerned. This makes perfect sense in that the reduction of in house hardware and support becomes unnecessary which drives operational savings.

I will spare you the "Should firms migrate to the cloud" diatribe as there have been a plethora of articles written on the topic of late. You guys read the same newsletters and blogs that we do so a rehash is not required. I will say that, speaking for myself, there will probably be a paradigm shift away from in house metal box solutions especially when the firms that have jumped begin to report that they are happy with their new digital diggs.

With such heavy hitters as Google and Microsoft dumping seemingly inexhaustible resources into online services such as these (Microsoft has their CRM solution and Google has a plethora of SaaS based services) it is indicative of something big.