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Often software is reviewed and forgotten. As time and technology wait for no one, software producers are locked in mortal combat to produce newer, faster, and fuller-featured versions of their successes. In keeping with the philosophy of this column, a review of old favorites recently improved is more appropriate than reviewing all software in a classification. In prior columns, I reviewed Quattro Pro 2.0 and Timeslips III. I recommended them because they had the most features which law offices might need, and could be used in ways which were similar to those which most small-and medium-sized firms work. Their progeny, Quattro Pro 4.0 and Timeslips 5.0, are significant upgrades which are not merely the old programs with a few bells and whistles but are quantum leaps toward the 21st century.
As many readers know, I use almost all of the products which I review. However, I do not review products because I use them. I have changed spreadsheets three times over the past five years and timebilling packages twice. I may change my timebilling and spreadsheet programs again but, at present, I see no reason to change and every reason to continue using Timeslips and Quattro Pro.
The products which I find useful for law offices are often integrated into my computer curriculum in the paralegal program in the Department of Legal Studies at Montclair State College where I am an assistant professor. Conse-quently, I have a unique opportunity to observe the learning curves of many programs. Quattro Pro and Timeslips are staples of my Advanced Computer Concepts class in which real life law office management and legal document production play an important role. Both Quattro Pro and Timeslips are consistently among the easiest to learn and the most highly regarded by my students.
TIMESLIPS REVISITED
In my prior Timeslips review, I noted that professionals sell their time, usually at a high rate, and that the manner in which time is tracked might make the difference between profit and loss. One of the primary advantages of Timeslips and programs like it, I observed, was decentralized tracking and consolidation of data. In a choice between centralized or decentralized, decentralized is the more efficient because timekeepers can time and record more specific transactions immediately upon execution....