In an effort to get my computer systems ready for starting an Minneapolis, MN law firm, I just spend the entire day (and I am not kidding) trying to create a network between my old desktop computer and my new laptop computer. It didn’t work.
I get so frustrated by Microsoft. They are great at a great many things, but they keep rolling out product that is incompatible with their old products. Why? My theory is that they are too busy paying their R&D and software development people to create new products and new maintenance for that product, that they forget to support their old systems.
I run Windows XP Professional on my old Dell desktop. It’s basically a dinosaur, but it works. The new laptop came with the Windows 7 operating system. I have to tell you, I really like Windows 7. It is so much smoother and user friendly. However, it doesn’t like to connect with Windows XP via a network connection. This really shouldn’t be so hard. Especially, when I have other things to concentrate on when starting my new firm.
If I am going to run a law practice, I am going to need a network so that I can share different computers on the same business network. I am going to use multiple computers and I hope to have staff one day who can be on the network. Is that to much to ask? It shouldn’t be, but Windows 7 isn’t really compatible with other operating systems. I did manage to create a remote desktop connection, but I don’t like it as much. It is too clunky.
The remote desktop is great (but not as great as a network connection) because it enables me to share all of my office information with another computer. I also have printer, fax, and scanner access through the remote desktop. I am also protected by a user name and password, so I don’t need to worry about law firm client files being hacked into. Finally, with a network or a remote desktop, I can work from anywhere I want and bill my firm’s clients. Great!
The point of this post is that there is so much more to running a law practice than practicing law. It is tough to realize how many little things I will have to do, and how much will go wrong. But, all that being said, I am still very excited about starting my own Minneapolis, MN family law firm.