Desktops | Laptops | Software | Peripheral Equipment

Updated December 2007. The following recommendations serve as a guide if you are purchasing or upgrading your office equipment. Computers with these specs will support most business applications and Internet uses. Tip: You can never have too much memory (RAM) - it is inexpensive and can improve your PC's performance.

• Intel Pentium D/Core 2 Duo processor (2.6 Ghz or higher) or AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (2.6 Ghz or higher)
• 2 GB RAM or higher
• 250 Gigabyte hard disk
• DVD +/- RW burner (they can read and write DVDs and CDs)
• Video Card with 256 MB video memory
• 19 inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor
• Multimedia capability: sound card, speakers (small, inexpensive speakers are adequate for most users)
• Ethernet card for network connection

Apple

• Intel Core 2 Duo (2.16 Ghz)
• 2 GB RAM or higher
• 250 Gigabyte hard disk
• DVD +/- RW burner (they can read and write DVDs and CDs
• 20 inch Flat Panel monitor
• Multimedia capability: speakers (sound capability is built in)

• Intel Core 2 Duo (1.66 Ghz or higher) or AMD Turino 64 X2 (1.6 Ghz or higher)
• 2 GB RAM or higher
• 80-100 GB Hard Drive
• DVD +/- RW burner (they can read and write DVDs and CDs)
• 14.1 inch WXGA+ LCD or larger
• Built in Wireless card (802.11 b/g)
• Built in Ethernet connection
• 4.5-6 Pounds

Low Cost/Best Value:

• Intel Core 2 Duo (1.66 Ghz or higher) or AMD Turino 64 X2 (1.6 Ghz or higher)
• 1 GB RAM or higher
• 60-80 GB hard disk
• DVD +/- RW burner (they can read and write DVDs and CDs)
• 14.1 inch Wide Screen XGA
• Video Card with 128 MB video memory
• Built in Wireless card (802.11 b/g)
• Built in Ethernet connection
• 6-8 pounds
  

• Operating system Microsoft Windows Vista is the latest version in the popular Windows family. Vista and XP Professional (Vista's predecessor) are recommended for law firms - especially those in a networked environment. Vista comes in many editions either the Business or Ultimate is best for the professional environment. Check the Microsoft Web site, www.microsoft.com, to make sure Vista will run okay on your equipment and to determine which edition best meets your needs.
• Office suite (Corel Office and Microsoft Office are the most popular and include word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, and file management tools). The latest versions are Corel Office X3 and Microsoft Office 2007. Both packages offer many enhancements designed for law firms and have proven to be very stable, popular editions with lawyers.
• Timekeeping and billing (SAGE US, Inc.'s Timeslips; Alumni Computer Group's PCLaw Jr; and Software Technology, Inc.'s TABS III are the major products in use in smaller law firms)
• Accounting and checkwriting software (Intuit's QuickBooks is the most popular program in use by law firms)
• Case management software (Data.txt Corp's TimeMatters, Gavel & Gown Software, Inc.'s Amicus Attorney, and Abacus Data Systems, Inc.'s AbacusLaw, Tabs3's PracticeMaster are the main products for smaller firms; each works well with Microsoft Word and WordPerfect as well as the HotDocs document assembly software)
• Internet software, typically a Web browser (Netscape Navigator 8 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or 7, Firefox 2.0) and an e-mail program (Microsoft Outlook/Outlook Express, Netscape Messenger, and Qualcomm Eudora are the most popular e-mail packages)
• Virus protection (leading products are Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus 2007 and Network Associates, Inc.'s McAfee VirusScan 8)

• Scanner (flat-bed scanner with optional document feeder for large documents; single-sheet-fed unit for limited occasional use)
• Printer (a fast laser printer is recommended; Hewlett-Packard is a top choice)
• Handheld computer (leading devices are made by Palm and Handspring)

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