June 2, 2006
A New Microsoft Windows Is Coming and Its Impact on Law Firm Hardware Plans
By Guest Author: Barry Lancaster, Juris, Inc. Senior Director of Client Services
Microsoft® is set to release a new desktop operating system Windows Vista™, due in January of 2007. Based on the latest comments from Microsoft, I would expect them to delay the release until later in 2007. The Vista version of Windows has some exciting features to enhance your PC experience. However upgrading to Vista may require hardware upgrades. Now is a good time to create a plan for moving to the latest version of Windows.
Listed below are the hardware recommendations from Microsoft for Vista:
Processor: 800 Mhz
Memory: 512 MB
Graphics: SVGA (800 x 600)
Hard Drive: 20 GB
Hard Drive Free Space: 15 GB
Optical-Drive: CD-Rom Drive
Microsoft’s recommendations are below the standard of computers sold today. So if you are thinking about technology purchases, do not let Microsoft Vista requirements delay your purchase. Juris, Inc regularly publishes a recommended minimum configuration for law firms considering new workstation purchases. That recommendation takes into consideration equipment prices and the state of software technology at the time. Juris last updated its “Best Value” recommendation on January 2006; however that recommendation shown below is still valid at the present time, June 2006:
Processor: 2.8 Ghz
Memory: 1 GB
Graphics: SVGA with 17 inch monitor
Vista offers many new features for PC users which are detailed on their Vista homepage: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista. We are running a beta version of Vista on a test machine. Some the features that I expect to have the largest impact for law firms include:
- User Experience – As with each upgrade to its PC operating system, Microsoft has enhanced the look and feel of Windows. While the new user interface is expected to increase attorney and staff productivity, in the long run, as with most changes, individually productivity will take a hit until users become comfortable with Vista through use.
- Security – Microsoft continues to focus on the security of its products. Vista has more security controls over Windows XP to protect against unauthorized access and viruses. Some of the security may require more management from the IT staff. Firms will have to find the balance between security and management that is right for them.
- Search and Organization – Microsoft made many enhancements into search features. The new features are helpful in a law firm environment that may have thousands of documents on their network.
- Internet Explorer 7.0 – a new panel feature allows for multiple explorer sessions through a single window. This means your desktop has less clutter when you are running more than one instance of Internet Explorer.
- Windows Backup – This feature is currently in Windows XP but has been enhanced. Today, most offices are networked with a plan to backup data off the network server. Most people still store some data such as confidential personnel memos on their hard drive so the network administrator cannot access the file which is rarely backed up. So law firms should have a strategy to backup hard drives.
- Windows Update – This feature is currently in Windows XP. All Windows users should take advantage of this feature to manage receiving critical Windows updates that can affect the security of your PC in an automated fashion. Activating this feature for all the PCs in your law firm increases your protection against the latest viruses and other security threats.
The release date for Vista is not firm and while law firms may not move to Vista immediately upon release, they will need to do so within a reasonable period or fall behind their peers in technology and resulting productivity.
Perhaps the most important message is that law firms should not postpone equipment replacement or invest plans in anticipation of Vista. Vista’s requirements are well within the specifications of typical “best value” equipment purchases being made today. Law firms should maintain a level of technology appropriate to service their clients without losing competitive advantage to more productive competitors. In today’s environment, that means staying current with software releases and maintaining adequate hardware to do so.
About the Author: Barry Lancaster, a graduate of Vanderbilt University, joined Juris, Inc. after a 15-year career with Accenture, one of the world’s leading global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing companies. His experience includes leadership of technology and development teams, business analysts, consultants, and implementation of business process quality initiatives.
Morepartnerincome.com is sponsored by Juris, Inc. For information about Juris® products and services for increasing law firm performance and partner income, go to www.Juris.com.
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Filed under Technology by Tom Collins