Backup and File Sync

We spent a good deal of time discussing and demonstrating Dropbox, probably one of my favorite “cloud-based apps” (more on the cloud a bit later). It does a seamless job of backing up and synchronizing your files among multiple computers. I no longer stress out at the end of the day trying to remember files I need to email to myself to work on later. All my files are already where I need them: in my Dropbox. Rick Glassman also suggested Mozy, which is a really nice backup system that works behind the scenes, basically unnoticed. It’s cheap (from about $4.95 month) and extremely easy to implement, though it does take a long time at the beginning to do an entire backup of your files. I use it at home and actually forget that I have it, it’s that unobtrusive.

For other options, I often refer to a blog post from about a year ago, which reviews 10 backup and storage options, including Amazon S3, SugarSync, Drop.io, Syncplicity and Dropbox. I’d also throw Box.net in there as well, though it’s not mentioned in the review.

Wufoo

I have to admit, I like saying Wufoo and I like the reaction I get from attorneys when I say it. Wufoo is a powerful and flexible online form development application. I blogged about it earlier here and will soon provide a video overview of how it works and integrates into other services, such as Freshbooks. While I got all stoked about how Wufoo works, Rick Hendrickson brought me back down to earth when he asked, “So, how many solo attorneys are using this?” I had to answer none that I know, but that ended up evolving into a conversation about the bar supporting solo attorneys who want to set up systems that implement and use a lot of the services we talk about in Off the Clock. Great idea, and I’m thinking we may hear more about it later as we chew on the concept.

goo.gl

We talked about URL shortening services, though we really just concentrated on goo.gl, one of the newer services now available through Google. I blogged about that earlier here and I’d refer to that post for more information. Of all the URL shorteners out there (and there are a lot), goo.gl for me takes the cake–it’s simple and easy to use, a hallmark of most Google products.

join.me

I threw this in there as a neat little application that is still in beta and does not yet have its pricing set. But it’s a great and lightweight application that allows you to share your computer screen with others without a whole lot of hassle. Just sign in to join.me, establish your own URL and give people that URL whenever you need to share your screen. They then click on the link, “knock” to let you know that they are there, and you let them in. It’s really that simple, which is why it’s a great new app.Try knocking on my door here to see if I’m around.

Dual Monitors and Microsoft Word

I posted on this topic here in July, but this time we had the chance to demonstrate how to set up dual monitors. I’ll also follow up with a brief demonstration, either by video or screenshots. Discussion of dual monitors evolved into how to use split screens in Microsoft Word, which the MSBA’s Dick Ericson demonstrated. I’m thinking a few screen shots showing this would be helpful as well. Ultimately, though I’m a proponent of dual monitor work, some folks prefer a less hardware intensive workout.

Cloud-Based Apps

I started out quickly at the session assuming most people knew what I meant when I said “cloud-based.” My assumptions about what other folks already know is often wrong, which is an occupational hazard of computer geeks. Luckily, I didn’t regress further and say something like “it involves over-the-Internet provision of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources,” which is how Wikipedia describes what it is. Think of the cloud as computing power that exists “out there” and in the clouds, outside of your own computer. Mozy actually does a better job than most at explaining cloud computing in a simple infographic, available here.

LegalZoom

As seems inevitable with me these days, LegalZoom often comes up in my law-related conversations. It did again tonight. My point? LegalZoom is here to stay and, as attorneys, we need to figure out how best to deliver legal services that consumers can access and understand easily and quickly.I posted on this a bit earlier with my “Law-on-a-Stick” post, but we spent a decent amount of time discussing the impact of the DIY movement, non-lawyer services that compete with lawyers, and what the bar can do to help solo practitioners. It’s a fascinating topic, and we’ll be coming back to it often at Off the Clock and in posts on the Practice Blawg. So, stay tuned, we hear you.

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Post tags: Cloud-Based, Dual Monitors, LegalZoom, Mozy, WuFoo

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If you already received an invite, apologies for a second notice (that happens sometimes with our subscribers, who get first dibs at upcoming sessions). But if you haven’t registered or received an invite, click on the Register Now button below to grab a free seat. The event starts at 4:00 and typically ends around 6:00. We hope to see you there.

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Post tags: Dual Monitors, MailChimp, WuFoo

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Want to get a glimpse of what’s on my mind these days as I consider things for Off the Clock? Check out the recent “law on-a-stick” post that talks about enormous pressures being exerted on the profession and what may be needed for future attorneys. That post is here.

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Post tags: Dual Monitors, MailChimp, WuFoo

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• drafting a document on one monitor while completing online legal research on the other monitor (thus allowing me to cut and paste from applicable cases);
• comparing two documents to find inconsistencies or similarities. Without the need to toggle back and forth on a typical one monitor set up, I get a clear and quick picture of both documents and how they may be different;
• checking and composing web-based e-mail on one screen while surfing the web for research or reference on another browser on the other screen.

I’m considering how we can produce an upcoming session that demonstrates how to set up dual monitors (hint: it’s easy peasy) and how best to work with them. It’s not the easiest thing to demonstrate at an OTC session that we typically hold at a local pub or coffee shop. But it is under serious consideration. In the meantime, consider these resources to get you into the world of dual monitor efficiency:

• a Wikipedia entry that gives you general background on what it calls “multi-monitor” (yep, some people don’t stop at two monitors);
• a PC World video that demonstrates how to set up a dual screen environment, even what you may need in the form of a video card (though most decent computers today should come with two connections for monitors)
• though somewhat dated, a New York Times article on the virtues of a second screen;

Believe me, there are lots of resources out there on this issue and a simple Google search that contains the words “multiple monitor” and the name of your operating system (e.g,. Windows Vista) should get you plenty of advice on how to set something up. But, if we can figure out how best to haul our hardware out to a future session, we’ll be there to demonstrate how best to do it.

© Gregory Luce for Practice Blawg, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Dual Monitors, Efficiency

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