http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use The community for people interested in home and office organizing. en-US Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:37:43 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://unclutterer.com/discuss/search.php http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/3#post-29787 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 05:55:45 +0000 lottielot 29787@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Bandicoot: right now I'm thinking a trip for him without the family would be good :) He is actually going to Portugal with some mates in November for a week long drinking session, so he will have used up all his holiday. I am thinking of buying him a wood fired pizza oven to go next to his new home office. He loves barbecuing, and this would be sufficiently flashy that he may like it. Plus it would appeal to his inner caveman: 'me light big fire' :) And we all love pizzas, we are salivating at the thought of all the yummy food we're going to be eating in Italy next week! I have some other ideas though, I will keep collecting them. I usually think of things and then have forgotten them by December, too much other Christmas stuff going on by then. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/3#post-29772 Sat, 16 Jul 2011 23:28:57 +0000 bandicoot 29772@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>lottielot, i think you need to buy him a trip somewhere! with the whole family! </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/3#post-29755 Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:39:05 +0000 lottielot 29755@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>A vote for Springpad here. I'm using it to record present ideas for dh's 40th in December (the world's hardest man to buy for), keeping track of packing lists, uni tasks, DIY stuff, errands to run, allotment to dos, annual events like MOT dates etc. I could use it more efficiently I think, but right now it's simplicity is appealing. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/3#post-28713 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:54:19 +0000 jkendrick 28713@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>My goal with a PIM on my laptop and my mobile devices is to remain connected and synched 24/7. I never want to be without my personal or client information and my GTD tasks. This set up keeps me all synched up and ready to address practically anything anytime. Further, these devices allow me to have a method to record (either typing or voice recording) tasks (immediate capture) close at hand all the time (phone and/or Ipad). As a result I have no need for paper and I only need a pen to sign the occasional check that I don’t send through electronic banking.</p> <p>The table below shows what software I use on which device. The footnotes below the table explain a bit more about the software and synching (forgive the lack of formatting):</p> <p> Laptop Vista o/s IPAD Iphone<br /> PIM<br /> Tasks Outlook Toodledo Toodledo (1)<br /> Notes Outlook Toodledo Toodledo (1)<br /> Calendar Outlook IPAD Week Calendar<br /> 3.1.1 (2)</p> <p> Contacts Outlook IPAD Iphone (2)</p> <p>Notes &amp; Files Evernote Evernote Evernote<br /> Handwritten Notes n/a Note TakerHD Note Taker (3)<br /> Online Storage Sugarsync Sugarsync Sugarsync (4)</p> <p>Password Management Roboform Roboform Roboform </p> <p>(1) I use Toodledo to synch tasks and notes between the laptop, Ipad and Iphone. I’ve used the Getting Things Done methodology for about 10 years now.<br /> (2) Calendar and contacts are synched between the laptop, Ipad and Iphone using the Apple tether/powercord using Itunes. Itunes does not synch tasks, so I must use Toodledo.<br /> (3) Note Taker HD on the Ipad allows me to annotate PDF documents, which comes very handy in my line of work.<br /> (4) I use Sugarsync because once I upload a file(or a directory with files in it) to Sugarsync, updates from any device are automatically saved to sugarsync and no further synching action is required on my part. </p> <p>The synching of Outlook to the mobile devices is not the handiest, although I’m sure someone will come up with a method to synch all of Outlook’s various functions in the cloud. The two step synching process aside, I have more trouble via Itunes synching than with Toodledo. But I never have to re-record anything from one device to another.</p> <p>I purchased annual subscriptions to Toodledo and Evernote. Sugarsync is free for now as I have 5 GB free storage. The annual subscriptions were purchased as I want to be able to fully synchronize all data, and don’t want to be constrained by the limited features of free software.</p> <p>Oh yes, I also use a Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner and its related software. A wonderful capture device, and much better than my HP 3 in 1 printer/scanner/fax machine.</p> <p>I have no selling or ownership interest in any of the hardware or software companies named above. My goal is to throw away paper, pens, and pencils. These devices and the related software finally get me virtually there. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/3#post-25380 Thu, 05 May 2011 04:48:03 +0000 evelina 25380@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I recently found new ,,Plan'' app. Finally someone created perfect planning app. It solves all my problems.It's time management and calendar in one. easy and quick to use. works with web google calendar. awesome thing !!! :)</p> <p><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plan/id428005487?mt=8&amp;ls=1#" rel="nofollow">http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plan/id428005487?mt=8&amp;ls=1#</a> </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/3#post-21927 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:02:10 +0000 FatStupidAmerican 21927@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I use my brain.</p> <p>Sometimes it doesn't function very well, particularly after boxing practice or not tapping out during a choke, but over all, its pretty awesome.</p> <p>Its 100% All natural, and biodegradable too. </p> <p>: ) </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/3#post-21919 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:33:51 +0000 ninakk 21919@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Resurrected once more. I finally looked through the Bento templates on my iPod touch and created a few new ones as well. AND IT ROCKS!!! Want to know why? I'm telling you anyway whether you like it or not, because I'm truly in organizational heaven. And a few other fellow Unclutterers might be too, since you're all about Apple. Here goes:</p> <p>- @Computer (GTD, made it myself)<br /> - @Home<br /> - @Telephone<br /> - @Out and about (also GTD, for errands)<br /> - Shopping list (general)<br /> - Shopping list for a specific store at home<br /> - Projects (GTD)<br /> - Projects at home (GTD; these got a list of their own since there are so many)<br /> - Top 50 Goals<br /> - Address Book (automatically imports from Contacts aka Address Book on mac)<br /> - Birthday and Christmas cards/gifts<br /> - Meal planner (tweaked the template so I don't have to do anything but change date and type new meal, LOVE)<br /> - Recipes for a Reason (recipe manager)<br /> - Half-yearly cleaning list (my own, LOVE; will help my life when at home again)<br /> - Insurance policies<br /> - Home inventory<br /> - For sale (I'm trying to prioritize these items too so that I actually start selling them)<br /> - Product comparisons (when investigating a new product)<br /> - Vehicle information (DH's car)<br /> - Fabric stash<br /> - Vegetable garden<br /> - Cosmetics and toiletries (made the template myself to keep track of when I've opened an item of some kind)<br /> - Health record<br /> - Immunizations<br /> - Ultimate itinerary<br /> - Packing list<br /> - Surgery case log<br /> - Files</p> <p>I'm still missing at least one for the kitty. Anytime I browse the <a href="http://www.filemaker.com/products/bento/" rel="nofollow">http://www.filemaker.com/products/bento/</a> template database containing templates from customers I also find new great ideas. And I think I mentioned it already, but it synchronizes perfectly with the desktop-computer version. I love the fact that many templates are so easy to use due to their "gliders", such as the Packing list "camera ON or OFF"; with one sweep you change the status.</p> <p>Edit:<br /> I just found a few very interesting ones!<br /> - I'll make my own version of the ones that collect info on all computer-related things such as hardware and software (including licenses).<br /> - Then there's a good one, Career Development Tracker, which allows you to copy-paste job descriptions, seminars attended etc. to a CV when necessary.</p> <p>For students out there, there are many good templates to choose from if you desire to become more organized regarding lectures, notes taken, exam dates and what not. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/3#post-17835 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:08:03 +0000 JayEff 17835@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I need to access my calendar, to do lists, and other documents/information from my work computer, a PC laptop at home, and a Mac laptop at home. My wife needs to be able to access this information as well.</p> <p>In order to avoid downloading any software and having to sync everything, we use Gmail calendar and Google Docs. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-17798 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:32:21 +0000 maco 17798@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I use Kontact (KMail+KOrganizer+KAddressBook), though really it's all just syncing with my GMail and my GCal and Google Contacts anyway. I like that though, since I can see the stuff from another computer if I need to, but I have a nice local store for if I'm umm...underground (the only place I usually can't get online is the subway...and I say "usually" because it works in some stations). </p> <p>Hmmm...would be nice if KOrganizer's "To Do" sync'd with GCal's Tasks though... </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-14843 Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:30:37 +0000 pkilmain 14843@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Oh, I'd not heard about Bento - looks lovely, and available for my iPad as well. I'll investigate it further when I have more time. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-14820 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:11:51 +0000 ninakk 14820@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Another resurrected post. I know that Erin has written about <a href="http://www.filemaker.com/products/bento/">Bento</a> on her blog, but I haven't found a discussion thread here in the forum. I found it through Apple's downloads yesterday while looking for nifty widgets for Dashboard, and I'm in organizational heaven!</p> <p>So far I've added all kinds of family-and-friends related templates (christmas gifts and cards as well as gifts at other times), home projects and management and finances, car and pets, and a little bit of this and that. Wow. Does someone have tips on using it for me? I'm using the 30-day trial right now, but haven't so far found a reason not to purchase a license. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-12696 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:08:59 +0000 susique 12696@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>pen and paper and a free download calendar from the internet good for keeping track of upcoming events-the calendar is stored next to pen and paper. at the start of the week write down all the things that need to be done or are bothering me-love to see all the marked off items-really makes me feel like i am getting things done. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-12585 Sun, 03 Oct 2010 13:06:06 +0000 Periwinkle 12585@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I'm in the sixth form. I use the Moleskine weekly notebook (events on the dates page, homework on the right) and my phone, which is an Android one, for other stuff. I only use a physical diary like the Moleskine in termtime, so my phone is what I use in the holidays, and I also use it for things that might need a reminder (eg. library due dates). I'd like to use my phone more but a lot of teachers think that phones = evil, even if you're using it for something constructive. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-12584 Sun, 03 Oct 2010 12:55:43 +0000 jbeany 12584@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>A 4"x6" 18 month pocket calendar and a pen. My internet access is too iffy to store things I need on e-mail, and the act of writing things down helps me remember them as much as the actual note. I'm still stubbornly low tech. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-12576 Sun, 03 Oct 2010 01:14:29 +0000 Lego 12576@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I use Thunderbird + Lighting(calender) add on from Mozilla. Syncs between my computer and smartphone (android) via Gmail/Calender. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-12564 Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:53:08 +0000 bandicoot 12564@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>evernote and gmail cover pretty much everything for me.<br /> i've also been playing with teuxdeux....it syncs between macbook and iphone; it is very simple, clean and fast.<br /> if things won't work with the iphone, i won't even consider them. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-12491 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:30:36 +0000 jasonlotito 12491@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>Just a suggestion from a programmer. </p> <p>Avoid using software. In particular, desktop software that you have to use, or software you have to install. Instead, try to use software that is universal, web-based, and based on open standards. Email is a good example. Email is standardized. You can backup and transfer email. For example, I can store my email on Gmail, and still have a copy at home.</p> <p>Web based calendars are also good. Text files synced over something like Dropbox. While you install Dropbox on your computer, you don't have to. And even the software exists behind the scene (and is also supports a large number of operating systems).</p> <p>The best software works with tools you are already using and is platform independent. I avoid tools that don't work equally well on my Mac (at home), Windows (my netbook), Linux (work), iPhone, or my iPad. I can't avoid it for certain things (like my IDE), but I can choose ones that are as platform independent as possible (my IDE works on all 3 OS's).</p> <p>Be selective. Don't let the software you use limit where you use it. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-12482 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:39:54 +0000 Karen 12482@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>I'm on the Mac and use DevonThink Pro Office with a ScanSnap S300M. The release of their companion iPhone/iPad touch app is imminent. With the built in OCR, imported documents are searchable and the program's AI will suggest how to group them. Might be overkill for some, but my hobby is genealogy and I was able to reduce two large copy boxes of paper to less than 1 GB on the computer. (Yes, I did keep the handful of original documents that I had, but they only filled one small binder).</p> <p>I've tried Evernote, lack of export turned me off. </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-7752 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:42:56 +0000 azetetic 7752@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>You should check out Strip. It's a Password Manager and Data Vault that can generate and store your passwords and other secure info like drivers license, cc #s etc. </p> <p>It's completely customizable, so you can design the templates to suit your organizational preferences. </p> <p>If you're interested, here's the website <a href="http://getstrip.com/c/forum" rel="nofollow">http://getstrip.com/c/forum</a> </p> http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/what-personal-information-manager-do-you-use/page/2#post-3316 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:54:54 +0000 trillie 3316@http://unclutterer.com/discuss/ <p>@anita, I use the same Moleskine notebook! (The 18 months soft cover journal, one page calendar, one page notes, here: <a href="http://www.moleskine.com/catalogue/diariesplanners/18_months/)" rel="nofollow">http://www.moleskine.com/catalogue/diariesplanners/18_months/)</a> I found that if I write down things with a pen, I remember them more easily. I actually manage to keep everything in that notebook up to date (which wasn't the case with every software solution I tried), so it's really an external backup of my brain ;o) And I love that I don't have to be online, or at a certain computer, or near a power socket to use it, and I don't have to synch it with anything.</p> <p>In the back pocket of that book, I keep a smaller notebook (one of the Moleskine little insertable ones that came with a previous journal), and I use that for My Big Universal To Do List. I've beem using an adapted version of Mark Forster's Autofocus system (here: <a href="http://www.markforster.net/autofocus-system/)" rel="nofollow">http://www.markforster.net/autofocus-system/)</a> for a while now, and for me, it works pretty well so far.</p> <p>For the inside of the front cover, I crafted a similar pocket out of sturdy paper, and it keeps the little things that usually get lost, like shopping lists, business cards and a small Berlin transit network map. </p>