Quick and easy task management software.

March 1, 2012 11:14 AM

Task management: help me find just the right iPhone/web app, please. To get you started, I love Taskpaper, but...

...am running an older version of Mac OSX at home, so I don't think I can use the latest software. Have you read Zen to Done, which is something of a reworking/spinoff of the Getting Things Done system? That's loosely the model I'm working from. So I need a task management system that:

- is streamlined. No bells or whistles needed.
- will allow me to shift between "project" and "context" views fluidly (which is to say, when I'm running @errands, I'd like to be able to see all the @errands I need to run for my various projects)
- will somehow allow me to prioritize my most important projects for the week and most important tasks of the day.
- I can access from my iPhone running IOS 4.3, my Mac running OSX 5 or something, and/or online. A dedicated iPhone app would be lovely, of course.

I'm happy to pay for something that rocks my world.

posted by 2or3whiskeysodas to computers & internet (11 answers total)

If you really love Taskpaper, would you consider upgrading your computer in order to use it? If your Mac is compatible, you can get Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) for $29 via the Apple Store.
posted by bcwinters at 11:23 AM on March 1, 2012

TeuxDeux meets all of your requirements, except possibly the "context" view (but you may be able to hack it to do so). It's very streamlined and simple, has an iPhone app ($2.99, I think) and web interface (free) that sync, and allows dragging to reorder / prioritize tasks.
posted by geeky at 11:37 AM on March 1, 2012

(By hacking TeuxDeux for the "context" view, I mean you could make headers and separate lists in the "Someday" section for your more complex projects. They mention it briefly in the video on their site.)
posted by geeky at 11:44 AM on March 1, 2012

I haven't used it in several years, but I believe pocket informant will do that.
posted by markblasco at 12:39 PM on March 1, 2012

I haven't read Zen to Done, but I have read GTD (multiple times), and I've found Things to be the best program out there that balances usibility with the depth needed for even complex projects. You can access and update projects from both your iPhone and Mac.

(On preview, I'm seeing that Things requires OSX 10.6 or greater. Are you sure you're running 10.5? If so, apologies for the useless suggestion - I'd still recommend it for your iPhone, though!)
posted by Kevtaro at 1:38 PM on March 1, 2012

Ugh, I really do need to update to 10.6, don't I? It's one of those things that, post-baby, gets shoved down the list beneath all the housework. Hmm.
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 2:20 PM on March 1, 2012

My husband and I just started using Wunderlist. I *think* it does everything you want, but I can't find the system requirements for the desktop application. There's a web version and a dedicated iPhone app -- all free, so maybe you could give it a try?
posted by pupstocks at 3:55 PM on March 1, 2012

*usability. I’ve got to stop posting before my morning coffee.

I know the feeling, 2or3wiskeysodas. If you have an older system, it may be wiser to just hold on to OSX 10.5 until you get a new computer entirely. Upgrading from 10.6 to 10.7 on my early 2010 Macbook Pro was a huge mistake. Now it beach-balls regularly and takes 40-60 seconds to start up and shut down.
posted by Kevtaro at 4:11 PM on March 1, 2012

FWIW, I've been using Wunderlist on and off for a while but haven't found a way to switch between project and context views. If one exists I'd love to know about it!
posted by Lexica at 6:25 PM on March 1, 2012

Have you seen workflowy? I am not super familiar with Taskpaper, but workflowy seems to have all the same major features. It is browser-based and free.
posted by emyd at 6:49 PM on March 1, 2012

I'd definitely been considering workflowy, but the quick demo videos I watched made it look almost too stripped down, even for my needs. But looking at it further, I see that it has tagging and search, so I'm way more interested. I'm going to play with it ASAP and update here. In the meantime, of course, other suggestions are still welcome, thanks.
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 5:11 AM on March 2, 2012