Lexis v. Westlaw Forum

[mikeytwoshoes]

I prefer Westlaw and I use Lexis more often.

Why, you ask? Because those damn fools at Westlaw have insufficent server capacity, so it takes me like 3 min to log in, then every query takes like 90 seconds to come back. If I were in practice and billing by the hour, Westlaw would be costing my clients like $500 a day in lost time.

I think everyone at NYU uses Lexis because Westlaw is so darn slow (also, they seem to like the Lexis rep's method of training). It's a shame, because I think the searching is better on Westlaw.

Again, as soon as you have a good case, you can just click headnotes. The best part about West is that you don't have to search all the time. This is great for school and employers. Every "search" you run costs your employer a certain amount of money based the size of your database. IIRC, clicking through the key number system costs much less.

[Renzo]

I prefer Westlaw and I use Lexis more often.

Why, you ask? Because those damn fools at Westlaw have insufficent server capacity, so it takes me like 3 min to log in, then every query takes like 90 seconds to come back. If I were in practice and billing by the hour, Westlaw would be costing my clients like $500 a day in lost time.

I think everyone at NYU uses Lexis because Westlaw is so darn slow (also, they seem to like the Lexis rep's method of training). It's a shame, because I think the searching is better on Westlaw.

Again, as soon as you have a good case, you can just click headnotes. The best part about West is that you don't have to search all the time. This is great for school and employers. Every "search" you run costs your employer a certain amount of money based the size of your database. IIRC, clicking through the key number system costs much less.

No, you're not understanding the problem. There is a server capacity and/or bandwidth problem that makes every single mouse-click take like a minute and a half to produce a page. Searches take forever, but so does clicking on a keynote, or getting a keycite, or loading a case from a footnote, or anything else you try and do. It's almost unbearable.

[mikeytwoshoes]

I prefer Westlaw and I use Lexis more often.

Why, you ask? Because those damn fools at Westlaw have insufficent server capacity, so it takes me like 3 min to log in, then every query takes like 90 seconds to come back. If I were in practice and billing by the hour, Westlaw would be costing my clients like $500 a day in lost time.

I think everyone at NYU uses Lexis because Westlaw is so darn slow (also, they seem to like the Lexis rep's method of training). It's a shame, because I think the searching is better on Westlaw.

Again, as soon as you have a good case, you can just click headnotes. The best part about West is that you don't have to search all the time. This is great for school and employers. Every "search" you run costs your employer a certain amount of money based the size of your database. IIRC, clicking through the key number system costs much less.

No, you're not understanding the problem. There is a server capacity and/or bandwidth problem that makes every single mouse-click take like a minute and a half to produce a page. Searches take forever, but so does clicking on a keynote, or getting a keycite, or loading a case from a footnote, or anything else you try and do. It's almost unbearable.

I've never had this problem.

[Renzo]

No, you're not understanding the problem. There is a server capacity and/or bandwidth problem that makes every single mouse-click take like a minute and a half to produce a page. Searches take forever, but so does clicking on a keynote, or getting a keycite, or loading a case from a footnote, or anything else you try and do. It's almost unbearable.

I've never had this problem.

And I pray that you never do. But its so bad here that once upon a time I was in a Westlaw training and the Westlaw rep asked everyone not to sign in on their laptops so that he could get on the server. On another occasion my TAs were giving a research lecture and were unable to get on, so had to bag the live demonstration and explain from powerpoint.

[mac.empress]

I don't remember my Westlaw password. Hence, Lexis.

I don't remember my Lexis password. Hence, Westlaw.

[wiseowl]

Lexis because Lexis rewards are better then westlaw

This is almost 100% false. I have literally been doing the same exact thing on both and have about 7,000 westlaw points and 2,000 lexis points. Also, the best things on Westlaw cost 20,000 - on Lexis the same things cost like 80,000.

This is almost 100% false. Westlaw is incredibly stingy with points (limits to # of days a week for example) and Lexis just has tons of ways to get more points - trainings, webinars, etc.

Just get the cash cards or Sears gift cards, not the actual stuff itself which is way overpriced.

Lexis is getting me a PS3 in about 7 weeks. I donated my Westlaw points to Haiti.

[stinger35]

Lexis because Lexis rewards are better then westlaw

This is almost 100% false. I have literally been doing the same exact thing on both and have about 7,000 westlaw points and 2,000 lexis points. Also, the best things on Westlaw cost 20,000 - on Lexis the same things cost like 80,000.

This is almost 100% false. Westlaw is incredibly stingy with points (limits to # of days a week for example) and Lexis just has tons of ways to get more points - trainings, webinars, etc.

Just get the cash cards or Sears gift cards, not the actual stuff itself which is way overpriced.

Lexis is getting me a PS3 in about 7 weeks. I donated my Westlaw points to Haiti.

A 500 gift card costs 32,000 points!

[wiseowl]

Lexis because Lexis rewards are better then westlaw

This is almost 100% false. I have literally been doing the same exact thing on both and have about 7,000 westlaw points and 2,000 lexis points. Also, the best things on Westlaw cost 20,000 - on Lexis the same things cost like 80,000.

This is almost 100% false. Westlaw is incredibly stingy with points (limits to # of days a week for example) and Lexis just has tons of ways to get more points - trainings, webinars, etc.

Just get the cash cards or Sears gift cards, not the actual stuff itself which is way overpriced.

Lexis is getting me a PS3 in about 7 weeks. I donated my Westlaw points to Haiti.

A 500 gift card costs 32,000 points!

*shrugs* its still a significant discount. a $300 PS3 is also 32,000 points, so its a lot easier to get the same thing for 19,000.

i have almost 15,000 just in one year. just do the daily points, attend trainings, and do the tutorials and its pretty easy to accumulate.