TREO 680 REVIEW

The Neutral

The format of the phone is like the Treo 700 available for Verizon and Sprint.  There are some noticeable changes from the Treo 650.  The Green button is not a power button, but more like an execution button.  Move your cursor over a phone number and click on the green button and it will dial the number.  The Red button is the on/off button.  The menu button is at the bottom right hand corner of the phone.  All software that worked on the 650 should work on the 680.

The Bad

Instead of having 5 pages of favorites, you only have one, and there is only one column.  There is no reset button so you have to take the battery out if the phone locks up.  The battery life is pretty bad, even with the camera patch.  It is hard to make it through the day without having to charge the phone. 

The Good

There is no antenna and I have not noticed any change in reception.  Without the antenna, it is much easier to fit in your pocket.  It is now quicker to get to the call log.   The square keys make typing much easier.  The memory card is now on the side, and is closed in, so it can't accidentally pop out.  Documents To Go is free with the phone, which includes Word, Excel and a PDF viewer.  At AT&T the 680 only costs $200 (after $100 mail in rebate) with a 2 year contract. 

The Conclusion

I had to get the 680 because my 650 died after 2 years of wonderful service.  If my 650 still worked, I would not buy the 680.  If you have AT&T and need to stay with a Palm based operating system(Amicus Attorney Users), the Treo 680 is the only option for you.

FYI: If you call your phone provider's business division they usually offer a camera-less version of a smartphone.

TREO VERSIONS

Treo 755p: (Palm)       Sprint, Verizon and Alltel

Treo 750:   (Windows) AT&T and Unlocked GSM

Treo 700w: (Windows) Sprint, Verizon and Alltel

Treo 700p: (Palm)       Verizon and Alltel

Treo 680:   (Palm)       AT&T and Unlocked GSM

PCLaw Tip

Automatically Create Disbursements At Billing

PCLaw gives you the option of Automatically Creating a Disbursement at Billing.  This is most commonly used to create some sort of Administrative Fee to charge your clients either once or everytime you create an invoice.  You can set this up in System Settings for all new Matters or on an individual matter basis.  The charge will show up as a disbursement. 

Options --> System Settings --> Matter Billing

PCLaw gives you 3 options:

One Time Amount:  Some Firms want to charge clients a one time Administrative Fee, instead of charging for Faxes, Copies and Postage.  One Time Amount will charge your clients on their first invoice and never charge them again. 

Amount Every Invoice: This will charge your client the same amount every invoice.  You could bill your clients a $100 disbursement everytime an invoice is created.

Percent of Fees: Gives you the option of charging your client a percentage of their fees.  So if you have $100 in Fees for your client,and you have seleced 10%, they will get charged an additonal $10 as a disburesment.

If you set up Automatically Creating a Disbursement at Billing in system settings, it will only effect matters that are created from then on.  You can however go into Matter --> Global Change and make the selection for all of your matters.

Amicus Attorney Tip

Rounding Time Entries

Amicus users sometimes have issues with time entries rounding improperly.  If you set the time rounding to 0.25 and have a time entry for 0.30, it will round up to 0.50.  If the time entry is for 0.60, it will round up to 0.75.  If the time entry is 0.90 it will round up to 1.00.  This must be setup on each workstation that runs Amicus Attorney.  If you have to reinstall Amicus, these settings will be saved in the .ini file. 

File --> Preferences --> Time Sheets --> Time Entries Formatting 

Legal Software Specials

• Save up to 50% when you upgrade to HotDocs 2008. Expires 01/31/2008

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