New Toolbar

Here at ITP we try to keep on top of the latest technology and trends.   As a part of that we have joined the private beta of wibya a web 2.0 toolbar you see at the bottom of the page.  No it is not software but a simple php script with some truly powerful features.  Take the toolbar for a spin and let us know if you like it in the comments.

ITP Becomes the IT Provider for “The Credit Man”, Michael Mack

ITP is proud to announce our newly formed relationship with “The Credit Man”, Michael Mack.  Attorney Mack and his staff provide quality debt consolidation and bankruptcy services for their clients.  ITP will be providing Attorney Mack and his staff with comprehensive IT consulting including network support, legal-specific application support, and a range of Internet & website services.  You can find out more about Attorney Michael Mack and his practice here.

Please join me in welcoming Attorney Mack and his staff into our “ITP Family.”

It’s Official – Paul Hager Becomes ITP Partner!

ITP is proud to introduce Paul Hager who joined the firm officially as a partner on August 1st. Paul comes to ITP with the unique blend of networking experience and an expertise in website design, Internet development and Internet marketing. Currently, Paul manages our Madison office, but can be found in our Milwaukee office fairly frequently. Many of you have already had the opportunity to work with Paul, but in case you haven’t you can find out more about Paul here.

Microsoft Office 14…in a browser?

Microsoft’s upcoming iteration of Office, Office 14, looks like it will have some interesting features – most prominently, the ability to operate in a browser. Though this new option was likely pushed by Google’s product, Google Apps, it does pose some interesting options for attorneys. For example, one of the reasons many firms have moved to Word from WordPerfect is to make communication with clients and other firms easier. Now, with the ability to view Word documents in a browser, the Word vs. Word Perfect issue still in debate for many law firms would be even easier to make. Certainly, it doesn’t address some of the other reasons firms utilize WordPerfect, but it does put another chink in the WordPerfect armor. Possibly the more interesting issue, however, is how word processing in a browser will change the way attorneys communicate with clients and other attorneys. Rest assured I’ll be posting more thoughts about that as we find out more about Office 14’s capabilities.

Windows 7 First Look

Okay, whether you’re a fan of Vista or one of Vista’s many critics, a little news about Microsoft’s next operating system is interesting reading. The new operating system will be simply named “Windows 7″ and it appears Microsoft has listened to the complaints users have pounded them with about Vista.
In short, a quick look at Windows 7 shows some expected and some unexpected changes. Here’s a quick list of some of the features of the new operating system:
• The Windows sidebar is gone, but the gadgets can still be accessed
• The Windows security center is gone (thank God!!!) though some features have been incorporated into the maintenance section of the control panel
• A function that allows greater Bluetooth functionality
• A “Sticky Notes” feature that allows you to place a sticky note anywhere on the desktop.
• Greater performance analysis tools
• The use of ribbons which were introduced in Office 2007

It is also expected that Windows 7 will be faster to boot and be more compatible with software and peripherals at launch.

Ultimately, only time will tell, but if early indicators are any sign, it appears as though Microsoft is working to eliminate some of the issues associated with Vista.

Check out the full article from Cnet here complete with some screenshots.

Windows Home Server Marketing

A few months ago I posted an article on Windows Home Server’s initial rollout here.  Today I stumbled across a hilarious piece of marketing material by Microsoft entitled “Mommy, Why is There a Server in the House?”  It’s a parody of many recent children’s books.  Obviously it is part of a viral marketing campaign, and I supposed just by posting it here I’m helping their cause, but it’s very funny and worth checking out.

Below is a direct link to an online version of the “book.”

Mommy, Why is There a Server in the House?

Technology Failures of 2007

Okay, okay, so this isn’t directly related to legal technology, but it is interesting.  Tech Republic is a great source for all things “tech” and it’s no surprise that’s exactly where I found the article.  Take a look at it…just for fun if nothing else.

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/hiner/?p=571&tag=nl.e101

Windows Server 2008 Pricing Announced

Microsoft announced the pricing for their new server software line, Windows Server 2008.  The product is scheduled to be released in late February 2008.  Eight versions will be available, though the distinction between two sets of three versions focusses on whether the product includes the new Hyper-V virtualization technology.  This PC World article outlines the pricing for all versions of the product: PC World.

Although it is slated for release in the first quarter next year, as with most products, we stay away from implementing bleeding edge solutions.  It’s especially important to wait awhile to ensure stability in server software as the server is the heart of your network.  There were no announcements related to a Small Business version of the product, which generally trails behind the standard server releases by atl least 6-9 months.

One Laptop Per Child

I came across an interesting site a few days ago called “One Laptop Per Child (OLPC).”  It is a charity organization whose goal is “…to provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves.”  OLPC strives to do this by providing very basic laptops to children in countries who would normally not have access to one.  The program is set up so that an individual or company donates $200 and the OLPC organization then donates an “XO Laptop” to a child in one of the designated countries.

When I first stumbled upon the site my gut reaction was to think “Wouldn’t it be better to provide staples such as food, shelter and medicine?”  The organization’s founder, Nicholas Negroponte, convincingly addresses many of these types of questions here: XOGiving.

On November 12 the xogiving site will be offering an incentive for making a donation to purchase a laptop.  For a $400 donation they will send one laptop to a child in a developing country, and a second to you.  The laptop is actually a pretty interesting device.  It’s extremely portable and durable, has built-in long range wireless, 7.5” dual mode screen (one is ideal for reading in the sunlight) and comes pre-installed with an intuitive Linux interface (preloaded with a number of applications).  The laptop is about the size of a hardcover book, so could likely be used as a type of e-book reader. Anyway – I just thought I’d pass on the information. 

It’s an interesting idea, and seems like a very worthwhile charity.

Windows Home Server rollout

Microsoft’s long awaited “Windows Home Server” has finally been released – at least as an OEM software product.  It is now available for purchase from a number of online retailers.  This means that the full systems shouldn’t be far behind (Windows Home Server pre-installed on various systems, including the HP MediaSmart Home Server).

The product was announced back in January of 2007, but has been in development for a couple years.  The platform is Microsoft’s attempt to develop an easy-to-use media server and backup system for home networks.  The initial offerings from HP include two systems with the pre-installed software – one with 500 gigabytes of storage, the other with 1 terabyte.

At its core, Windows Home Server is a shared network device that may be accessed on a home network, as well as over the Internet.  This allows users to store video, pictures, music, etc. in a centralized location.  In addition, it provides centralized management for remote desktop access (similar in some ways to Small Business Server).  Microsoft has attempted to make the setup for sharing data over the Internet easy using its recently launched Windows Live service.

The other major selling point is the built-in backup.  Although the technical documentation is not available online yet, Microsoft indicates that that the backup will be automated (to run daily by default), and will allow quick restoration of individual files and even entire systems for connected computers.

Much more information is available on Microsoft’s website at the link referenced above.