How to Play the Computer Game When They Change the Rules
| Publication year | 1993 |
| Pages | 531 |
| Citation | Vol. 22 No. 3 Pg. 531 |
1993, March, Pg. 531. How to Play the Computer Game When They Change the Rules
Ten years ago, almost no one would have guessed that in 1993 IBM would be struggling, WANG would be all but gone, NBI would almost be forgotten and Compaq and Dell would be major players in the personal computer market. The major computer manufacturers of the 1970s are now facing massive reorganizations, reductions in size and the need to search for a proper "niche" in order to keep or reestablish their markets.
The lesson provided by these examples is that if anything is certain, it is uncertainty. This is significant for law firms because (1) the trends causing this paradigm shift apply to the practice of law and (2) changes in the computer industry mean new technology planning for law firms. This article deals with the latter situation.
Part of the computer industry shake-out problem is the "commoditization" of the personal computer. It is a trend which has an impact on all businesses, including the practice of law. No longer will Fortune 500 companies insist on IBM or other "major" vendors for their computing. If their internal components are the same, it becomes difficult to differentiate among personal computers.
IBM and Compaq have responded to this market shift by creating their own price-conscious lines, Value Point and Prolinea, respectively. Digital Equipment Corporation, the second-largest computer company and a dominant force in minicomputers, has now established one of the fastest growing mail order personal computer companies. These are clear signs that a personal computer is no longer a major capital asset, but rather a variation of the yellow pad---a disposable item required to deliver quality legal services.
Today, law firms must determine what these changes mean for them and how mistakes can be avoided in the computer decision process. The following section details eight major issues to help law firms and corporate law departments make their personal computing decisions. While these issues primarily concern IBM-compatibles, portions also apply to firms using Apple systems.
First, user support is no longer free. (Actually, it never was.) Firms must make their decisions based on the amount of support required and how that support will be received. If a firm is confident in its internal expertise and has access to a consultant or a systems integrator, there is less need to rely on a dealer for support. Without this in-house and consulting expertise, a vendor's support capability is critical.
It is important to remember that hardware support and...
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