portable, cross-platform GTD'ing (or web based?)

March 28, 2006 1:30 PM

Calling all GTD-ers! I need some help with a cross-platform, portable system to keep track of my endless supply of open-loops and next-actions. I'm looking for The One tool to use and it has to meet some odd requirements.

Spoiler alert: I'm only halfway through the book, some things may become more obvious to me once I finish. sorry if I'm jumping the gun.

I use a MacBookPro (no whine-whut whut?) at home and sometimes at work. Sometimes I dont have the MBP at work because I bike commute. Think more along the lines of Jan Ullrich than a leisurely bike ride into town; putting my MBP in a messenger bag is not an option. When I bus/drive in, I have the MBP.

So, I have an XP machine at work. I also have a 1gb USB flash drive. I can bike with the USB drive.

So, this rules out a Mac-Only or a windows-only solution. I would like to keep my solution computer-based if possible. I'll even consider web sites. I'd like to hear about some different options that may be more appropriate for my situation. I'd like to keep it as Mac-friendly as I can because that's my main platform.

posted by neilkod to Work & Money (13 answers total)

I think the GTD TiddlyWiki might work for you:

"GTD Tiddly Wiki is a GettingThingsDone adaptation by NathanBowers of JeremyRuston's Open Source TiddlyWiki. The purpose of GTD Tiddly Wiki is to give users a single repository for their GTD lists and support materials so they can create/edit lists, and then print directly to 3x5 cards for use with the HipsterPDA."

You can put the file on a USB key and start rocking on any computer with Firefox (which can be any computer if you have Portable Firefox on your USB key as well).
posted by sablazo at 1:34 PM on March 28, 2006

I've been using rememberthemilk to keep track of my next actions.
posted by driveler at 1:34 PM on March 28, 2006

Backpack from 37signals.com. There's also the other free tools that they offer which could fit nicely into your GTD routine (Tadalist, Writeboard, Basecamp, etc.).

I use it every day and love it. I don't cross-platform, but I do use 3 different machines (a work desktop, home desktop, and laptop). It saves having to remember your USB drive also, so you can jump onlin real quick to jot something on it when you are without it.
posted by chrisfromthelc at 1:36 PM on March 28, 2006

I just use a Palm...
posted by k8t at 1:39 PM on March 28, 2006

KinklessGTD is the be-all and end-all of Mac desktop GTD programs.
posted by unixrat at 2:03 PM on March 28, 2006

unixrat-kGTD looked the most appealing when I did my initial research, but what about the times where the MBP is not available? Can I work on text files and then import/merge into kGTD?
posted by neilkod at 2:07 PM on March 28, 2006

Neilkod: Every system will have times where you're not plugged into it. Get yourself a Hipster and remember that if you can recall the item needed to be done, you can jot it down for entry later.
posted by unixrat at 2:33 PM on March 28, 2006

NextAction. Needs Firefox.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 3:54 PM on March 28, 2006

I 2nd k8t's Palm suggestion. I have a Zire72 that I use to capture everything that comes my way during the day. This isn't a plug for Palm, but I'd steer clear of anything that didn't offer the voice note feature. I used a PocketPC before the Palm that also had this function, and can't imagine going through my day without some way to do voice notes. It's especially nice that you can do these one-handed, since most of my ideas seem to hit me as I'm driving...
posted by richmondparker at 3:55 PM on March 28, 2006

Tasktoy is a web based GTD system. You have to play with it a bit to figure out how it works, but it does the job. I think it could use some more bulk editing features, though.
posted by blue grama at 7:30 PM on March 28, 2006

Tracks is a Ruby On Rails based GTD system, total online access and a system that outputs TXT Feeds (showing your next actions in a text format you can print out). The Tracks Community is getting bigger by the day. Have a look and see if it suits you.
posted by Nik_Doof at 11:32 PM on March 28, 2006

I tried Backpack, then RememberTheMilk (which was pretty nice), then a paper notebook that I carried around everywhere. In the end, I went with a Treo and it's been amazing. I started to see benefit the day I got it. But I'm a pockets-only person (no man-bags unless I'm travelling), so the number one factor for me was having something that I would never forget to carry: a phone.

I still consider them to be almost brutally expensive, but Cingular frequently has deals on refurbished models online. For $150 with no data contract, you can get an almost new phone. And if you keep it for three months, they'll unlock it with no hassles. I just unlocked mine yesterday, and it was wonderful.

If you do go this route, please refernece my name and Cingular Sales ID. It's...
posted by hammurderer at 7:49 AM on March 29, 2006

ps: I sync my Treo to both my work PC and my home Mac. It duplicates data in both places, but it also means I can use either computer to create items, upload files, etc. Bluetooth sync works, but is modem-slow.
posted by hammurderer at 7:50 AM on March 29, 2006