Get It Done Review?

[Jano]

I'm am new to GTD and seeking to organize using my mac and my iphone. I've been searching for compatible tools and just ran across http://getitdoneapp.com

Has anyone used this? Reviews. It looks useful and like it follows GTD to me - I'd like your opinions before I dive into this...would like to set this up once and get productive!!

BTW - I have searched the forum and not found anything. I hope this isn't a redundant thread.

Jan

 

[mcogilvie]

I'm am new to GTD and seeking to organize using my mac and my iphone. I've been searching for compatible tools and just ran across http://getitdoneapp.com

Has anyone used this? Reviews. It looks useful and like it follows GTD to me - I'd like your opinions before I dive into this...would like to set this up once and get productive!!

BTW - I have searched the forum and not found anything. I hope this isn't a redundant thread.

Jan

Not redundant. I think I must have missed this one. Reviews on the app store are mixed, seems a bit pricey for what you get. I would try Toodledo first: it's cheaper, better known, well-regarded, very flexible. $3 bucks or so for the iPhone version, free web account. Start with contexts and due dates, and go from there.

 

[Oogiem]

Not redundant but I'd also take a look at Omnifocus.

Do you really only want a mobile or web version of your lists? Unless I missed it there is no desktop version so it depends on net access to run on the main computer.

Will you ever have items in your lists that are private or need to be stored securely?

Do you always have access to the internet where you are?

I would second looking at Toodledo if you are comfortable with on-line and cloud based task managers.

 

[Jano]

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll check them out.

To further drill down - I definitely want a mobile app - my iphone is with me constantly - I'd like to move away from my paper to-do because I don't always have that with me. Then, I would like it to sync to a desktop/web application so I can work from that when at desk. I don't know enough about cloud based scenario's to know whether I should be concerned about that or not.

Thanks for you help,
Jan

 

[chris101]

Hi Jan,

If you're using a Mac and looking for tight desktop/iPhone integration then Omnifocus and Things are the frontrunners. They're structured quite different in that Omnifocus uses hierarchies of folders/projects/tasks/subtasks whereas Things is 'flatter' but allows for flexibility in its use of tags. Both are excellent, they just lend themselves to different work styles. They also both have really nice iPhone and iPad apps.

Web-based applications like Toodledo, Nozbe, Remember the Milk, Nirvana, etc. are a great choice if you're looking to access your tasks from different computers but lose out a little in terms of smoothness of use and the fact that you need an internet connection.

My advice would be to turn the selection of an electronic GTD system into a project. Download trial versions of what you want to try out, fill them with your own tasks, and take it from there. While recommendations and reviews are always useful to supplement your decision, much depends on your work style and what features you require and those you're prepared to compromise on.

One last suggestion, before settling on a system do try to take into account the type of support the developer offer. Part of the reason i use Omnifocus is that their discussion boards/support staff are excellent.

hope that helps,
chris.

 

[Suelin23]

I use Pocket Informant. I also bought Omnifocus, but don't use it, I like having calendar and lists integrated in PI. Plus the list setup is better, you can have actions that aren't next actions, and every action can be put on both a context list and a project list.

 

[pevensen]

Did the creator read Getting Things Done?

I, too, am looking for an inexpensive GTD software solution for iPad. I have been looking at Get It Done and a few other.

First, a general comment: it seems like many, if not most, of the creators of "GTD" software have never read the book! They are missing elements of the GTD methodology or major disconnects.

This brings me to Get It Done:

I was initially confused by the Areas tag. At first I thought it was what GID calls contexts, but then I was confused when a project was assigned to an Area and you if you signed a task to an area, you could only assign it to projects that were assigned to that area. As I read more I discovered that Area is a general category of tasks and projects, such as "Work" and "Personal." I can see that potentially being a useful division, but is it really? I don't remember GTD encouraging use to separate tasks into Work vs Personal, etc., just into context, which Areas does not work for.

In Get It Done Setup the creator suggests that Projects are the equivalent of contexts. What?!? That makes no sense! He advices that one sets up a Phone project and put all phone-related tasks under that. Where, then, does one setup the projects--the open loop--one must store? Using Projects as contexts loses the vertical integration of tasks in a project.

One way I came up with to implement contexts is to set up the contexts as tags and create Smart Groups with those tags so I to pull up all the Phone-related tasks, for example. I'm not sure I'm happy with this method. I would prefer it if contexts were supported more directly and less obtrusively.

In addition to these GTD-method disconnects, $39/year seems a bit much.

I haven't tried Toodledo and related mobile apps yet, but that appears to be my next stop.

Peter

 

[satindoll3]

I'm using "Get It Done"

@Peter, I have the same issues with the application that you have. I'm currently using the areas as contexts and I'm frustrated that I can't have more than one area for a project. For example if part of a project needs to be completed at home and another part needs to be completed in my art studio.

Are you still using the app or have you migrated to another application?

Jenny

 

[AJS]

@Peter, I have the same issues with the application that you have. I'm currently using the areas as contexts and I'm frustrated that I can't have more than one area for a project. For example if part of a project needs to be completed at home and another part needs to be completed in my art studio.

Are you still using the app or have you migrated to another application?

Jenny

I tend to use the All Areas view as I quite often want to assign tasks to my Work Area when I'm at home. As for the author suggesting using Projects as contexts, I think that was just one suggestion from one of his customers. I use the Projects area for projects and tags for contexts.

I must admit I initially gave up on this software as there are some idiosyncrasies which take getting used to. But it is quite feature rich and looks great and functions more or less how I like my task managers to work. With a few tweaks it could be a killer app. It has a native android app but it still has one or two bugs which are a nuisance, but ultimately it's usable. $39 isn't bad for what you get IMO. It's far cheaper than Nozbe and while Nozbe is a bit more solid it looks cheap compared to GID. I have tried most of the web apps out there and this is the one I have settled on for the next 12 months.

 

[mattjans]

Vitalist...maybe

I found this site b/c Ijust found "Get It Done" online. I've been using Vitalist for a couple of months after SpringPad crashed on me...rather the idiot developers decided to change it one day without warning users. Totally differenent look, feel and functionality. Some people lost data. Anyway, I'm gun shy now and Vitalist, while alright interface wise, doesn't seem to have very proactive support. I may check out Toodledo now.

Thanks!

I, too, am looking for an inexpensive GTD software solution for iPad. I have been looking at Get It Done and a few other.

First, a general comment: it seems like many, if not most, of the creators of "GTD" software have never read the book! They are missing elements of the GTD methodology or major disconnects.

This brings me to Get It Done:

I was initially confused by the Areas tag. At first I thought it was what GID calls contexts, but then I was confused when a project was assigned to an Area and you if you signed a task to an area, you could only assign it to projects that were assigned to that area. As I read more I discovered that Area is a general category of tasks and projects, such as "Work" and "Personal." I can see that potentially being a useful division, but is it really? I don't remember GTD encouraging use to separate tasks into Work vs Personal, etc., just into context, which Areas does not work for.

In Get It Done Setup the creator suggests that Projects are the equivalent of contexts. What?!? That makes no sense! He advices that one sets up a Phone project and put all phone-related tasks under that. Where, then, does one setup the projects--the open loop--one must store? Using Projects as contexts loses the vertical integration of tasks in a project.

One way I came up with to implement contexts is to set up the contexts as tags and create Smart Groups with those tags so I to pull up all the Phone-related tasks, for example. I'm not sure I'm happy with this method. I would prefer it if contexts were supported more directly and less obtrusively.

In addition to these GTD-method disconnects, $39/year seems a bit much.

I haven't tried Toodledo and related mobile apps yet, but that appears to be my next stop.

Peter

 

[PeterW]

Another one worth checking out is Appigo Todo. They have a web version (Todo Online) along with versions for Mac, iPhone & iPad. I've been using the iPhone version for over two years and find it to be a great app that supports GTD methodology. I switched from Toodledo to Todo Online earlier this year and am much happier with it. Toodledo is flexible but also cumbersome, has a poor UI and is not good at handling projects.