GTD software comparisons what's your opinion?
Dean
via web
I'm new to Nirvana and just signed up today.
I am also new to the GTD system and am
reading the book now (dry at times). I've been searching for
weeks for a solid GTD online software program and have tried
Goalsontrack, vitalist, nozbe, lifeticks to name a few.
I'm using nozbe extensively right now and like it but I like
Nirvana's
speed - so darn fast, interface and ease of use. Very intuitive
and
that's how it should be! Furthermore, I like the direction
Nirvana's going and can't
wait until they get some of the upcoming features implemented.
What have you tried and what do you think is
the "King of the Hill" of the GTD software systems?
Also, what do you use for Keeping track of
your Goals? Such as life long goals, family, spiritual, work
etc? It seems that GTD system is for tasks.
At the moment in my trial version I'm using the
Goalsontrack for that but am open to suggestions.
Dean
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32 Posted by schollguin on 11 Feb, 2011 12:58 AM
Well Damn!....that was a waste of time. I made the rounds again over the past 2 days....Toodledo, Vitalist, todoist, rtm, SmartyTask, etc...etc...etc. I even reconsidered firing my OmniFocus back up but the Mac-Only aspect is still a show-stopper for me.
My conclusion (and this is just my opinion), Nirvana still has the cleanest, most elegant, easy-to-work-with interface. It's just missing a few really important features. But those things will hopefully arrive at some point. (for me it's just missing recurring tasks, and another project grouping mechanism.) I'd rather stick with the solid foundation and hold out hope.
I really, really tried to like SmartyTask, but without something like Nirvana's "Areas" I found myself creating too many duplicated Contexts to keep Work and Personal stuff separate. Also, the truncation of the Project Names in their Project NavList irritated me..(just a pet peev of mine I guess.) Any project name longer than 21 characters gets truncated by the fixed-width Project Navlist. So until OmniFocus becomes cross platform (which will be NEVER), I guess I'll keep using Nirvana and hoping.
33 Posted by Kenny Grant on 11 Feb, 2011 08:52 AM
Thanks for the update schollguin - it's good to be reminded Nirvana has the best platform moving forward...
I like to read things like this when I get disheartened about the flakey cross-computer syncing and the lack of context filtering on the mobile site.
34 Posted by Proximo on 11 Feb, 2011 02:41 PM
@schollguin,
I want to echo what Kenny said and thank you for the great update.
SmartyTask looks amazing and is very simple. The little things like you describe is what keeps me away. I also prefer List based GTD systems rather than context based ones.
I don't have long term experience with it, but it seems it does a few things in ways that I would not like at all.
They do have a very polished UI and some fantastic features such as the Weekly Overview Guide and Smart Context. From the tutorial it seems that a scheduled task will show back up on the inbox and this goes against GTD big time.
I also need the ability to switch my "Roles" from Personal to Work in order to have a focused UI based on where I am. This is a big time features for me that I can't live without.
I think SmartyTask has a cleaner UI or at least it appears to be more polished. I also love the Areas of Responsibility (The Real Ones) that allow you to view your 20,000 foot level and above Horizons of Focus.
You can associate task and project to your Horizons of Focus which is really neat.
Nirvana still has the incorrect naming on the "Areas of Responsibility" which has caused confusion, so I hope they rename this to "Roles" or "Views"
I am still holding out in hopes that Nirvana starts to finally move things forward to a finished product by fixing the bugs with N2 and adding the major features that are missing.
I will be honest and say that when something as polished as SmartyTask shows up, it makes my eye twitch. :-)
35 Posted by mapjr on 11 Feb, 2011 10:07 PM
@schollguin and @proximo,
Thanks for the info and perspective.
I agree re the use of Areas of Responsibility, proximo, both as to renaming the feature and as to its necessity. When I am at work I want to shut out the personal stuff. I think in Smartytask they suggest using separators, but that seems only to be be half a loaf.
Does anyone have nay idea when the Beta phase will move to production?
And I hope we can get N2 on the mobile "app" instead of N1, since for now the mobile function is worthless when using N2. Given the limited efficient functionality of the mobile "app" even with N1 it is really best used now as a list, but I'd be happy with that for the moment.
36 Posted by Proximo on 12 Feb, 2011 01:41 AM
I hope Nirvana picks up the pace. They have the best potential because they got so many things right. They just need to make the final push to release.
The silence drives us crazy.
37 Posted by dean on 16 Feb, 2011 09:55 AM
RE: Omnifocus
I watched a video on what it does and it seems quite robust. I contacted their tech support manager and he said they don't plan to make a windows version. He said Apple is constantly changing their core programs causing them to try to keep up. However, they are thinking about creating a web version or as they say 'in the cloud' but no definite date.
Re: N2 I'm enjoying it more and more! I'm like many of you I'm excited to see when the next features spring about.
38 Posted by rstaebler2642 on 16 Jun, 2011 03:34 PM
Anyone using or tried GQueues? I have started using it, after trying Nirvana2. I have modeled my setup based on the Nirvana2 UI. I'm a newbie, but it is working for me so far.
My biggest barrier to Nirvana is the lack of calendar integration. I will stay tuned in to Nirvana's progress; just waiting for it to fulfill it's potential.
39 Posted by Proximo on 17 Jun, 2011 05:41 AM
GQueues can be hacked for GTD but falls short in doing many things correctly or easily.
I personally don't like systems I have to hack for GTD and prefer something that was designed for it.
Nirvana is the cleanest and simplest implementation of GTD to date so I stick with it. I quit trying to find the next GTD system for me to try which was a weekly process. This made me less productive and in the end, Nirvana was the best.
GTD is about having a system you can trust which does not require ONE APP to RULE THEM ALL. What ever feature Nirvana lacks, I simply use a different tool to fill in the gaps. The more features Nirvana adds, the less tools I use as a whole, but Nirvana does not hinder my ability to do GTD nor should any software.
I welcome the new features as they come but I think we should be more focused on practicing GTD with a trusted system, rather than trying to find any one app or service that will do everything we require.
Nirvana
Evernote
Gmail
Google Calendar
iPhone
Physical Inbox
Label Machine
Mind Mapping
etc.
etc.
My GTD system is solid and Nirvana is just one part of it.
40 Posted by AJS on 20 Jun, 2011 03:47 PM
I've been using Gqueues for a while mainly because it's fast and it does have a load of good features. The Calendar integration is tight but for me it's a bit pointless. Only tasks with a due date show up on the calendar. It's not like Outlook where you have a separate task bar where you can see undated items. So in that case it ends up just being a calendar entry for all intents and purposes in which case you might as well use the calendar.
I am not strictly a GTD person either, I prefer Linenberger's MYN system where everything is in one list, but it's only really possible to set that up with Toodledo at the moment. Gqueues has the better mobile site though. The "add new task" in N" is too narrow to view the text properly and there's no predictive text autofill which slows things down as well. Not quite there yet for me.
41 Posted by ALC on 20 Jun, 2011 04:54 PM
I have been using the GTD system now for about 18 months and am still refining my customizations and personalizing. I've tried several different software and digital solutions, but always seem to hit a roadblock or difficulty. I've used Toodledo, Nozbe, Remeber the Milk, Vitalist, and GTDagenda and none of them turned out to be what I was looking for. Some were way off and other just didn't have some of the key features I need. I then decided to go to a paper based system. That worked for a while and allowed me refine by personal system and really increase my productivity. After awhile though, I got tired of having my pockets full with keys, wallet, phone, note pad, pen, pocket briefcase, Also, my hand writing is atrocious. I began to look at digital solutions again. And again I ran into the same problem. My GTD system is not complicated, but I found myself having to use several hacks and work-arounds to use the other systems. I also was not fond of their corresponding iphone apps. Just before I decided to abandon the digital path again, I discovered Nirvana. I watched the video on youtube and was really intrigued. I signed up for the beta and received access about a week ago. I have been using it extensively and can sincerely say that I have finally found the one. Nirvana is AWESOME.
Nirvana is perfect for GTD because:
-No hacks -No work-arounds, -The screen isn't cluttered with useless, non-GTD features -Intuitive dashboard layout -Fast (love the speed of everything) -Attractive UI -Areas
I am so impressed with this application. It does everything I need it to do. EVERYTHING. To all at Nirvana, keep up the great work. You guys have hit a grand slam. I am extremely excited about the up-coming iphone app. I am using the web app currently. Its good as far as web apps go, but the loading lag inherent with web apps can be annoying.
If anyone has any questions about why Nirvana is better than the other apps I mentioned above, I will gladly let you know. I highly endorse Nirvana for any and all who use the GTD system.
42 Posted by AJS on 25 Jun, 2011 09:34 PM
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this before but Doit.im has a ton of features and is GTD based. I checked this out a few months ago and despite the features was put off by the speed of the web app. I kept an eye on it though because they have a genuine native android app. On looking at it again recently the web app has come on in leaps and bounds. I don't think the web app is quite up to the standard of Nirvana but it's a damn sight better than most. I would prefer the completed tasks to disappear or float to the bottom as in Nozbe and Nirvana rather than the strike through but it's not a deal breaker for me.
Where it stands out though is the native iphone/android app which is superb. Fast, entry, native app speed and a clean UI. Not for everyone I suspect but for those who need a native android app worth consideration. For you guys at Nirvana you might want to check out their mobile app for ideas. Their task entry design is very well thought out.
43 Posted by AJS on 26 Jun, 2011 04:29 PM
Well I've had a bit more time to play around with Doit.im and while the android app is indeed very well implemented and thought out, the web app still feels a bit flaky. It just doesn't seem as solid or responsive as Nirvana which almost feels like a software app these days. Nozbe have native mobile apps as well but the green web UI makes me feel slightly ill. Just have to be patient until one or the other hits the mark I suppose.
44 Posted by Proximo on 27 Jun, 2011 03:55 AM
@AJS
Nirvana may hit the mark for you in time. More features are on the way.
45 Posted by AJS on 27 Jun, 2011 12:29 PM
Proximo,
I think you are right. I know it's frustrating to have to wait for certain features but to be fair the developers here have put their time to good use as the web app is in a class of it's own. It's only when you look around at other sites that you appreciate this fully.
46 Posted by DCB on 29 Jun, 2011 12:54 AM
I agree - Nirvana is in a class all it's own!
47 Posted by david on 06 Jul, 2011 09:55 PM
The only problem I have with Nirvanahq is that it doesn't work on my Windows Phone 7. Otherwise, it's perfect.
Perhaps fewer nested menus would be nice for adjusting contexts and the like. I find nested menus annoying -- probably because I have "fat finger syndrome".
But let me be clear, all the major stuff works just the way it should, and better than any other service I've tried.
In fact, I recently spent $9.99 for another month at SmartyTask and didn't last the afternoon...I'm back.
And the fact that it doesn't work with WP7 is not Nirvana's issue...it's a Microsoft issue. One that I hope will be fixed when Microsoft releases the much discussed Mango upgrade that's in work. Until then...I'll have to limp along without mobile phone access.
But the main web app is perfect (I mean that it's perfect for me, of course). Hope I made that clear. :-)
48 Posted by Proximo on 07 Jul, 2011 02:03 PM
@david
Windows Phone 7? What's that?
Just kidding. It's an Apple and Android world and Microsoft is late to the party. :-)