Mike's Computer Notes (02.25.11)

THERE'S A LOT of software programs that can rip your CD collection to your hard disk, but the best I've encountered is dBpoweramp.  Why do I like it?  First, it works in conjunction with AccurateRip, a massive online database that stores the correct CRC value for zillions of CDs.  As soon as you rip a track, even using the super fast "burst" method, it generates the CRC and compares it to the data collected by AccurateRip from other people who ripped the same CD.  If the values match, you can be confident you have a bit-perfect rip!  At present only a handful of rippers support this fantastic feature.  But there's more.  dBpoweramp also does an outstanding job at automatically completing all the meta tags for your tracks (i.e. track name, artist, album etc.).  It actually usesfive online providers to check and compare information to arrive at "PerfectMeta" tags. The last awesome feature I like in dBpoweramp is how it automatically retrieves album artwork, inserts it in the file and creates folder.jpg copies in the album folder.  These three features save a huge amount of time and help insure you wind up with excellent digital library.  I typically rip discs to FLAC (a lossless format) and at a later date create smaller MP3 and WMA versions.  When you spend the time to rip your library, do it once and do it right!

LOOKING FOR A powerful, free screen capture utility?  Try the last freeware version of FastStone Capture.  The program is now shareware, but this portable free version from 2007 can still be distributed.  Click here to download a copy.  If your screen capture needs are extensive and you have the budget for it, I suggest SnagIt orFullShot.

APPLE ANNOUNCED A powerful new line of Intel based Macbook Pro laptops this week.  According to a Bloomberg wire article, "The laptops feature a new technology calledThunderbolt that was developed by Intel Corp. to transfer data, including data, including video at high speeds..."  How high of a speed?  Well, frankly it sounds too good to be true.  According to the article, it would be possible to transfer an entire Blu-Ray movie (typically 25-50 GB) in less than thirty seconds.  If true, that is about twice as fast as the recent USB 3.0 standard.  Thunderbolt transfers at about 10 GB a second whereas USB 3.0 transfers at five.  Mere mortals like myself who still use the ubiquitous USB 2.0 have to chug along at 480MB a second.  For a detailed speed comparison of the new technologies click here.  One of the new Macbook Pros with a 15" screen will set you back about $1800 at present: Apple MacBook Pro MC721LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop.

I HEARD ON the news this morning that the instability in Libya may affect the Internet in unexpected ways.  For instance, if the government shuts down the Internet there, the popular link shortening website bit.ly may no longer work.  The "ly" in the suffix stands for Libya!  I have used bit.ly extensively in conjunction with my Twitter accounts.  I hope corporation, which is based in New York has a plan for this contingency.  Mother Jones published a good article this month that clearly explains what is happening in Libya.

CHINA HAS BEGIN blocking the popular business networking site LinkedIn after Chinese members began to discuss the recent revolutions that overturned governments in the Middle East.  A least one member suggested that Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution should spread to the Asian country.  Linked in has about 90 million members worldwide.  1 million of them are Chinese.  This does not bode well for those who had hoped the Chinese government might reopen Twitter and Facebook soon.  And of course, this censorship decision is obviously at odds with China's goal of developing global trade and human rights. Read more at the San Francisco Chronicle.  

AFFORDABLE AND EASY to use software to manage a law office is harder to find than a needle in a haystack.  But that may be changing.  I recently learned about WinYou Law 2010.  WinYou Law is an all-in-one program to help you organize and manage clients, cases, projects, contacts and documents while also managing your time, billing and calendar.  The cost for a solo practitioner is only $199 with no annual subscription fee required.  That's less than I paid just for a copy of Quickbooks Pro.  The program is closely integrated with Microsoft Office and network versions are available for firms.  Check out the free, fully functional trial version here!

DO YOU FEEL lost when it comes to integrating social media in your practice?  If so, consider purchasing Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier, by (lawyers) Carolyn Elefant and Nicole Black and published by the ABA.  The authors attempt to show lawyers how to use a practical, goal-centric approach to social media.   They note toward the end of the book that "Technology is here to stay and ignoring it is no longer an option..... It's time for the legal profession to pull its collective head out of the sand when it comes to social media, emerging technologies, and the Internet."  The sole reviewer on Amazon gives it a big thumbs up and says the book is a "comprehensive guide to help lawyers and other legal professionals understand the impact social media has had on the way consumers and in-house counsel find and select lawyers to solve their legal problems. The book is informal, written in clear and easy-to-understand language, and is chock full of illustrations and details."  Did you update your blog and tweet today?

That's it for now.  Have a great weekend everyone!

-- Michael

Mike's Computer Notes (02.19.11)

NOT TOO LONG ago I purchased a HP desktop computer.  I was checking the HP support page for updates this morning and learned about an alarming Intel chipset design error that may affect certain recent desktop and notebook PCs manufactured by HP and other companies.  "On January 31, 2011 Intel announced that they “discovered a design issue in a recently released support chip, the Intel 6 Series, code-named Cougar Point, and have implemented a silicon fix. In some cases, the Serial-ATA (SATA) ports within the chipsets may degrade over time, potentially affecting the performance or functionality of SATA-linked devices such as hard disk drives and DVD-drives.”  The computers affected are based on 2nd generation Intel Core processors.  If your computer was purchased after January 09, 2011, you may be affected.  HP is offering an exchange or refund, but other manufacturers may or may not follow suit.  For more information about this issue from Intel, click here.

I'M GLAD TO see the prices of Blu-Ray burners finally fall to a more reasonable price.  Last week for the first time I saw an internal drive (by LG) advertised for well under $100 at Fry's.  Even external units, which are always more pricey are becoming affordable.  I'm tempted to finally take the plunge.  For me, the big attraction is increased data capacity for backup purposes. Media files especially photos and video are just too gigantic these days -- even for DVDs.  Sony has a slim 6x external drive that is calling me.  On-line reviews are generally very good except for people upset that it requires a power cord (not a problem for me).  Another possibility is an 12x LG drive that sells for about the same price ($200) but is bulkier and may not be fully compatible with Windows 7.  Of course these drives also burn CDs and DVDs as well.  If you are ready to bite, Newegg is offering a 15% discount on external models this holiday weekend.  I'd post the promo code, but I believe you have to obtain it through their e-mail newsletter.

DID YOU KNOW that Goodwill now runs an online auction site?  It looks like selected stores from across America are participating.  If you don't mind wading through lots of old obsolete junk and stuff that doesn't work, some tech bargains can be had.  Here's the link the computers and electronics listings.  I picked up nearly new spare DSL modem on there this week for about $10.  In my experience, these tend to burn out after about 3 years and I like to keep a replacement handy.  If you would rather donate to Goodwill, remember that you can deduct your charitable, non-cash donations.  Consider donating your old office equipment and furniture to Goodwill or the Salvation Army and be sure to get a written receipt.  If you get audited and you have no receipt, the deduction will be disallowed.

I MOVE GROUPS of similar files around on my computer systems all the time.  However, it can be very tedious to copy, cut, delete, or move multiple files by selecting them one at a time in Windows 7.  There's a better way.  If the files are together in continuous order, click on the first file you wish to select.  Then hold down the Shift key and keep it pressed.  Now select the last file you wish to select and release the Shift key.  Ta-da!  Windows will select the first and last files you picked and everything in-between.  This is especially handy when moving large batches of files by date (such as photos) or extension (such as all the .zip files in a given folder).  This tip also works in Windows XP and Vista. 

MASHABLE RECENTLY ASKED Is Reddit on the Rise?  If you are not paying attention to this relatively low profile site that features "user generated news links", maybe you should be.  With Reddit, you can link "to anything interesting: news article, blog entry, video, picture..."  The article points out that Digg is sinking like the Titanic while Reddit continues to at an astonishing pace. It now receives 1 billion page views per month a 300% year over year increase. That's good enough for Reddit to pull an Alexa ranking of #54 of all websites in the USA.  Attorneys should think about how they can incorporate Reddit in their practice.  

GET A FREE Demo of Abacus Law by filling out the short form on this page.  "Abacus Law is fully integrated practice management software, you will be able to work more efficiently, lower risk and improve client service."

EASY TIP TO improve your law practice ... make your client intake forms available on your website so that prospective clients can download them and fill them out before the consultation.  This also permits you to e-mail prospective clients a link, rather than using a file attachment which hogs space and can cause confusion on the receiver end.  If you use Gmail, you may wish to consider creating a public folder in Google Documents and putting PDF versions of your intake forms in there as well. Again, it's an easy way to link to them directly, especially if you stash the urls in a handy place like Evernote.   

IS ANYONE USING Microsoft One Note in their law office?  One Note comes with some versions of Microsoft Office or can be purchased separately for about $80.  I'm an (recent) Office 2010 user but I must admit, I have never tried it.  Now that I've seen how enthusiastic others are about it on the net, I am going to to take it for a spin soon.  Microsoft describes it as "a digital notebook that provides a single place where you can gather all of your notes and information, with the added benefits of powerful search capabilities to find what you are looking for quickly, plus easy-to-use shared notebooks so you can manage information overload and work together with others more effectively. Sounds idea for a lawyers (as well as small business owners, researchers, journalists and students).  One Note can make use of templates, and I notice on the Microsoft Office site, there were some for attorneys.  Here's one called "Legal Client Notebook" and another called Legal Practice Notebook.  OneNote can be purchased and downloaded immediately at the Microsoft Store: Microsoft OneNote 2010 Download

SPEAKING OF THE Microsoft Store, during the holiday weekend, they are having a good sale on PCs. Microsoft Store's President's Day Sale! Save $150 on a new PC for a limited time.  

That's it for now.  Have a great President's Day weekend!

-- Michael  

P.S. THIS POSTING IS in the style of "Tom's Computer Notes" which was a simple computer newsletter distributed in the late 80's and early 90's on BBS systems.  I have no idea who Tom was or what became of him, but I always enjoyed reading his bulletins.  Does anyone know if he is still around?