Hello and Project, time, task management questions for PC/Web and Iphone

M

MJ2000

0
Hello,
I recently learned about GTD, I'm still not 100% clear but I get the idea now. While searching for a Iphone app for task and time management software I became familiar with the term.

I use a PC so I need something web based ot a PC app that can sync with my Iphone, like many others I will most likely use the phone mostly but need the web app to enter data easier.

From what I have been able to determine a good combination is Toodledo and ToDo from Appigo. I really do not want to pay a monthly fee for something web based though although I might be willing to pay for the $15 a year account if the web app is good.

My main uses range from personal everyday things, work related tasks, to running my new business. Probably the business is the primary focus.

For example I would like to be able to setup recurring tasks like check sales, update inventory etc. and I would like to be able to manage projects and all the tasks that go along with it like "research and develop website" or "create better inventory system" or "find better manufacturers" for example.

Also does this system allow you to store notes and link related to the tasks or do you have to manage that on your PC by creating a folder structure to keep files and web links?

Does it sound like I am on the right track with the above app combo or does anyone have a better suggestion that would fit my needs better?

OmniFocus sounds like a good app but from what I have read they have no PC or web support, nothing like excluding 80%-90% of the market.
 
I recently learned about GTD, I'm still not 100% clear but I get the idea now. While searching for a iPhone app for task and time management software I became familiar with the term.
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Hello MJ2000-

Do yourself a huge favor and learn what GTD is, before choosing a tool. I see so many people thinking GTD is just about picking an app, missing the whole point of what David Allen has created. There is gold to be mined in learning what GTD is really all about, to make the best educated decision on what tools will work for you.

Choosing the tool first is like stepping behind the wheel trying to drive a car, never having a lesson on how to drive. GTD is more than just picking a list manager. It's a rich set of workflow practices that crosses your personal and professional life.

What is GTD®?
The Getting Things Done book, of course, is THE manual for GTD
And this FAQ will give you some great tips for getting started

Good luck!
 
kelstarrising;79119 said:
Hello MJ2000-

Do yourself a huge favor and learn what GTD is, before choosing a tool. I see so many people thinking GTD is just about picking an app, missing the whole point of what David Allen has created. There is gold to be mined in learning what GTD is really all about, to make the best educated decision on what tools will work for you.

Choosing the tool first is like stepping behind the wheel trying to drive a car, never having a lesson on how to drive. GTD is more than just picking a list manager. It's a rich set of workflow practices that crosses your personal and professional life.

What is GTD®?
The Getting Things Done book, of course, is THE manual for GTD
And this FAQ will give you some great tips for getting started

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm planning on picking up the book too. In general though do you have any advice to my original question about the app?

Thanks,
 
GTD Web App for IPhone

I looked at Toodledo and it looked ok. Never used it on my IPhone. I was going to try Nozbe first, and if that didn't work out, then I would try Toodledo. I have tried Nozbe and have been real happy with it. I guess there is a 2.0 version of the Nozbe App coming out within a few weeks. So, that is even better.

Nozbe is very simple. In fact, I don't think you can make it any simpler. Nozbe follow GTD implementation very closely. Why didn't I try Toodledo? Because Nozbe works. Why look for anything else? Nozbe is simple and it works. I don't believe in spending inordinate amounts of time looking for the perfect app. Just look for good enough or very good. Nothing is perfect. I just use an Olympus voice recorder for ubiquitous capture device. Works for me.

When I show people that I work with my Nozbe App on my IPhone and the web, they are positively floored.

Your mileage may vary,

John
 
It's like choosing a scientific calculator...

MJ2000;79120 said:
Thanks, I'm planning on picking up the book too. In general though do you have any advice to my original question about the app?
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I think, Kelly is right. You need to learn the GTD methodology first and then try to choose the software application.

It's like choosing a scientific calculator before learning mathematical concepts - your decision is based on external design and display font instead of the required functionality.

You can try Nozbe web/iPhone GTD application. The site provides some learning videos too.
 
I'm another exponent of learning GTD first, otherwise you just end up with chaos that runs that little bit faster.

I used to use Toodledoo for my lists and it's fine as long as you avoid the MS Outlook sync. They do their own app for the iPhone, which worked great for me. BTW, I tried the paid version of the Toodledo service and found it offered no benefits to me over the free one.

I would recommend that you don't use all the bells and whistles available on this platform, but you'll have to read GTD to suss out why ..... ;)
 
I also use Toodledo in the cloud and Appigo Todo on my iPhone. Here's how I got to where I am now:

I had been using Outlook and Pocket Outlook on the Pocket PC platform for some years and was never truly satisfied with the Tasks module and the way I was using it. I'd heard of GTD but had never looked into it.

I switched to the iPhone last year and because it doesn't have a native Tasks app, went looking for one and finally decided on Appigo Todo. Appigo Todo syncs with Toodledo so I checked the site out and liked what I saw so decided to use the free version. I quickly saw the benefits of subscribing to get additional features so paid the $15.

The Toodledo forums are very helpful and they have a GTD section. After reading many of the posts in that forum, I became interested in GTD and purchased David Allen's book. Now I've fully embraced GTD.

Thankfully, Toodledo is flexible enough that it didn't take much for me to change the way I'd initially set the system up to then support GTD methodology. And the changes synced back to Appigo Todo perfectly so it was quite quick and easy to make the changes and was a good learning process.

So while I agree that you should buy David Allen's book, I would not worry too much about the path you are on. Small expenditure on an iPhone app and an inexpensive online service like Toodledo won't seriously derail your progress (or waste much of your money), and if you read up the information available here and in other forums such as those at Toodledo, you will learn from some experienced people who have already been around the block a few times with all of this.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the advice. I ordered the book today. One reason I am looking for an app now is a small project this week that I am doing it would help to have something like this to keep things organized. The book will take 5-10 days to arrive plus a few days reading it.

Nozbe looked good to me too but the cheapest plan they have is $7.50 a month for a year subscription and I don't want to pay that much right now.
 
MJ2000;79151 said:
Nozbe looked good to me too but the cheapest plan they have is $7.50 a month for a year subscription and I don't want to pay that much right now.
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Echoing the others, dont bother paying until you know what you really want. I went through several ways of organising myself until I found one that worked for me, and as it happens the one I stuck with doesnt have a subscription fee of any type.

What I would say though is that I didnt read the book, completely get it, then come up with a system. I read the book, played with a system, read it again, played around again, read his other books, played around again, and eventually came up with something that really suited me. That process took the better part of a year. So even though I got some great tips from day 1 and could implement some of the stuff immediately, it took a while to get it all.
 
bishblaize;79153 said:
Echoing the others, dont bother paying until you know what you really want. I went through several ways of organising myself until I found one that worked for me, and as it happens the one I stuck with doesnt have a subscription fee of any type.

What I would say though is that I didnt read the book, completely get it, then come up with a system. I read the book, played with a system, read it again, played around again, read his other books, played around again, and eventually came up with something that really suited me. That process took the better part of a year. So even though I got some great tips from day 1 and could implement some of the stuff immediately, it took a while to get it all.
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I know what you mean, I'm sure it will take a while to really find a good way of doing things that fits my taste and personality.
 
Why is the book taking so long to arrive?

Read the book first. Use a paper-based implementation for a while, until you understand the concepts well.

Regarding OS market penetration, about half of new college students are using Macs. Don't assume current reality will be the future reality.

rdgeorge
 
rdgeorge;79166 said:
Why is the book taking so long to arrive?

Read the book first. Use a paper-based implementation for a while, until you understand the concepts well.

Regarding OS market penetration, about half of new college students are using Macs. Don't assume current reality will be the future reality.

rdgeorge
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I just ordered it today and I opted for the free shipping.

The work force and home users is where the majority of the market resides and is primarily Windows based, this may suck but that's the way it is for now and I don't see it changing anytime soon. I would love to see a solid competitor to Windows that I could use and run 100% of my current applications but so far nothing I have tried will run everything like I need it to.
 
1) Windows applications are more stable running at home on my MacPro, in a VM Fusion 3 window, than they were on a HP Workstation. There are small businesses that use Mac Pro's for the stability, with the necessary Windows applications running in a virtual window.

2) If you are married to Windows you would be better off with a Blackberry than with an iPhone.

3) For starting your own business, it seems like you are balking at some pretty small expenditures.

4) If you insist on buying software before carefully reading the first GTD book, there may not be much that forum members can do you assist you.

rdgeorge
 
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