I have not decided just how I want to use Dropbox yet, but I will tell you what: this is one slick program. Dropbox is a very simple, easy-to-use program you install on all your computers, and it automatically syncs your files with a set of files in the cloud whenever you make changes, on whatever computer you have Dropbox install on.

Watch the video. Dropbox is really cool. I do not think it is ready, yet, to use for sensitive client documents, but I can think of a lot of other documents I want to have with me no matter what computer I am using.

By now everyone knows what a wiki is, right? One of the best features of wikis is the ability to easily discover links between different bits of information. I have used various “wikipads” like Tomboy and ZuluPad, for example, which automatically highlight links to other notes.

This is especially valuable in complex cases, where you may be dealing with a variety of issues, strategies, causes of action, defenses, and so on. Give a page to each and watch the connections emerge, potentially leading to new strategies, etc.

TiddlyWiki is an interesting wiki option because it is only one file. You can host it on a website, your own computer, or your office file server.

Because it is only one file, you can easily use a separate TiddlyWiki wiki for every file, and everyone in the office can use it to build a useful database on the file. I would just stick it in my blank file folder template, and every member of the staff would know to automatically use the wiki for leaving notes on the file.

A few weeks ago, I started using Google Calendar to publish a free/busy version of my calendar on my website. I am so glad I did.

Scheduling—especially for busy attorneys—can be a royal pain. It often involves several phone calls or e-mails, at least, and it can be much worse when you are trying to schedule something with an attorney who sends scheduling information like “I am free at 2:00 on the 3rd” and nothing else. As if it is inconceivable that you would have anything on your calendar at that date and time. All that back-and-forth is a big waste of time.

Now, I just point opposing counsel, potential clients, and others to my public calendar and ask them to give me a couple of options when I am free.

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Rocket Matter is a fairly new online practice management solution. From the demo, it looks very smooth. If you are in the market for an alternative to the bloated, crashy practice management software offerings out there, Rocket Matter might be a good option.

A couple of caveats.

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For quite a while now, I have been using Plaxo to manage my contacts. The great advantage of Plaxo is that it syncs with a variety of software—I use it with Outlook (two different copies), Thunderbird (ditto), and Gmail. The mobile version of Plaxo is also fast enough that you can access it even from an older smartphone instead of your local contacts.

With Plaxo, you can also sync your Outlook calendar(s), tasks, and notes.

LinkedIn does much the same thing, along with the social networking aspect. Both LinkedIn and Plaxo will automatically update contact information for any of your contacts who are also members, which is a handy feature.

Enter a new player, Keepm, which focuses solely on contact management. It will import from Gmail, Yahoo!, LinkedIn, etc. For someone who just needs a central contacts repository and does not want to muck about with all the social networking that comes with Plaxo and LinkedIn, Keepm looks like a simple, lightweight, and central contact manager.

[via Lifehacker]

Zimbra is a bleeding-edge Web 2.0 project. It is similar to Google Apps, but built with the business and enterprise user in mind. It is also a competitor to Microsoft Exchange, but goes well beyond Exchange’s capabilities.

While there is an open source edition of Zimbra, it was not released under the GNU GPL, but instead the Yahoo Public License, which is more limited. Further, Microsoft does not have a very good track record on open source software, and there is no guarantee that Zimbra will stay open, even in its current, limited form, if Microsoft purchases Yahoo.

I was hoping to use Zimbra myself when I finally get around to setting up a server, so I am hoping the project survives somehow.

[via Groklaw]

Lifehacker just posted a great pro-and-con review of online RSS feed reader Google Reader versus desktop feed readers like NewsGator’s FeedDemon (PC) and NetNewsWire (Mac).

I have been using Google Reader for about a year now, and I love it. The convenient keyboard shortcuts (j, k, and s) make flying through a backlog of posts a breeze. Plus, I just like Google apps for anything that is not overly sensitive. I do not use Google apps for business, for example.

Still, the desktop readers from NewsGator sound like great options. And, of course, you can read feeds within Outlook and Thunderbird, already, if you just want to stay within software you are already using. Check out the review and decide if you should be using something different.

One of the biggest pains about managing a law practice is scheduling meeting, conferences, and other get-togethers with clients, opposing parties and attorneys, etc., all of whom have crowded calendars. TimeBridge goes a long way toward simplifying the process of setting meetings.

Here’s how it works: pick a few possible meeting times, and enter the e-mail addresses of the attendees (or their staff). They send it back with their availability, and TimeBridge either confirms the meeting time or asks for more possible times.

It also has a plug-in for Outlook and Google Calendar so you can use it without leaving the comfort of your PIM.

[via Lifehacker]

Like it says here:

I just came across an impressive–and free!–timekeeping and billing utility, FreshBooks. I gave FreshBooks a test run, and it is pretty smooth. It includes a timer for timing tasks, which is a wonderful feature. And it generates nice invoices that your clients can access online, another nice touch.

The only downside, as with all web apps, is that you must be connected to the internet to use FreshBooks. This is not a big deal for most, though, and a big advantage for many.

Check it out.

[via Codswallop]