The current (August 2007) issue of Laptop Magazine, perhaps the best mainstream technology publication for lawyers interested in mobile computing, has an article on the 50 best Web 2.0 sites. Of particular interest is the list of productivity sites ranging from office suites to email to calendaring. Not mentioned, but beginning to have an impact, are on-line payroll processing sites and even the beginning of time/billing/practice management sites.
What is Web 2.0? In simplest terms, it describes sites that allow you to run applications from within your web browser instead of on your computer. This has many advantages. You don't have the burden of installing and updating the application. That is handled by the web site owner. And if you are running any standard browser, your operating system is irrelevant. You could be on a Windows PC, Mac, Palm Treo, Windows Mobile smart phone, Linux computer, etc. And you are not tied to any particular computer. You can typically log into your account from any computer in the world that has Internet access.
There are also disadvantages. You must be connected to the Internet to use Web 2.0 applications (although some will have off-line components). Because speed is often dependent on how fast you are able to connect (and other factors), browser-based applications often run more slowly than locally installed applications. But new technology, such as Ajax, is beginning to change that.
And you don't have actual physical possession of your data. Your files are not necessarily stored on your local hard drive or server (although many Web 2.0 sites allow you to keep local copies of data). Of course, it is also likely that data stored by a Web 2.0 provider is more secure and better backed-up than data on most solo and small law firm computers and servers.
Over the next few years, as high-speed Internet access becomes available nearly everywhere, we may see the future of law office computing shift from PC and server-based applications to Web 2.0 sites that offer services similar to or perhaps better than today's traditional office suites, email clients, time/billing/accounting programs, practice management software, payroll processing, etc. Of course, in the legal realm, client and firm confidentiality will be a key consideration. But that can and will be addressed by on-line services.
Web 2.0 services will give lawyers much greater flexibility in selecting hardware to meet their needs. If the primary need is for an Internet connection and a browser, almost any device or operating system will do. This could spell the end of Microsoft's domination of the law office desktop with its Windows operating system. Comparatively "thin" and inexpensive devices such as the Linux-based $200 Asus Eee could become the notebook PC of choice for mobile lawyers.
The next several years will be interesting times in the world of law office technology and law practice management. Can you say "paradigm shift"?
