GTD for Mac's iCal and an iPAQ?

[LenEdgerly]

I'm trying to port my Outlook GTD system to my new MacBook Pro, where I'd like to use the Mac programs iCal, Mail, and Adress Book instead of Entourage. And I'd like to keep my Pocket PC iPAQ instead of switching to Palm. Is anyone out there doing this? I'm using MarkSpace's synchro program for the iPAQ and ran into problems but they have great tech support, and a guy named Ed is walking me through the problems.

One missing link in my dream configuration is how to handle my GTD checklists and other lists that I've been keeping in Outlook's Notes. The Mac programs don't have a Notes-like program that I can synchronize with my iPAQ. Maybe I should just make lists in Word and synchronize that?

I also haven't figured out how to recreate my empty-inbox system in Outlook for e-mail, using lots of folders to store messages in. The Mac's Mail program has folders and smart folders. Is anyone using Mail who could guide me toward setting up the folders?

I switched to Mac because my entire family is on them, and I want to be able to provide tech support and do videoconferencing to see my new grandson. Plus, I love the podcasting capabilities of GarageBand. But, boy I miss the simplicity of my Outlook system with the GTD add-in. I feel as if I have wandered into GTD no-man's land. And I'd like to get organized before I attend David's Boston workshop on April 19th.

Any help from fellow Mac-GTDers would be appreciated.

Len Edgerly, Denver

 

[alsa]

Well, I am afraid I can't help you much even though I am a fellow GTDer who uses Macs exclusively. I just don't do GTD on my Mac (but, instead, on my Palm using Datebk6 and Bonsai).

There is a program from Apple called Apple Boot Camp which came out yesterday. It lets you use your Windows XP on your Intel-based Mac. Check it out. (You can boot into either XP or Mac OS X using this program).

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/21237

 

[emory]

I'm trying to port my Outlook GTD system to my new MacBook Pro, where I'd like to use the Mac programs iCal, Mail, and Adress Book instead of Entourage. And I'd like to keep my Pocket PC iPAQ instead of switching to Palm. Is anyone out there doing this? I'm using MarkSpace's synchro program for the iPAQ and ran into problems but they have great tech support, and a guy named Ed is walking me through the problems.

If Mark/Space's product doesn't work out for you, you could always try PocketMac's: http://pocketmac.com/

If you want to do some seriously crazy GTD-jedi work on the Mac, your best bet is Kinkless GTD: http://kinkless.com/

I do GTD and use Macs, but cannot rely on having a computer around. So I do something a bit different, but there are plenty of Mac users doing GTD.

 

[ian]

As far as the Mail side of things goes, I use Smart folders for doing GTD-type things. I also use a program called "Mailtags" (just Google for it). Mailtags lets me tag messages with additional information and I use this to assign a "destination" (such as @read review or @waiting for).

So, I set up a smart folder for each of my contexts (for example @read review and @waiting for). The smart folders will find any message with the appropriate destination (as set with mailtags) and make the message appear in that folder.

So, when I check by inbox, I go through each message doing the standard things (replying if < 2mins, deleting if not needed). If it's more complicated than a reply or a delete, the first thing I do is tag the message with the appropriate destination (@read review for example). Now, wherever that message goes, it will appear in my @read review smart folder. I then file the message in the appropriate mail folder (this will vary, but for a friend, it might just be a folder with that friend's name or for a project, it might be a folder with the project name - arranged in a way which makes sense to me - with hierarchies of folders, archived projects, standing projects, etc).

When I've emptied my inbox, all my messages will have been filed in the appropriate place, but will also appear in the smart folder which is relevant for their destination.

When I then go on to my "actioning" stage, I will go through the destination folders and do whatever is necessary there. This will usually involve removing the mailtag once it has been successfully actioned (e.g. completed or moved into my general GTD system) or maybe changing it (for example changing the mailtag so that it changes from @read review to @waiting for).

Hope this makes some sort of sense.