Internet notepad

October 30, 2006 12:11 PM

How to keep an easily-accessible to-do list on the web?

Warning: This may be a dumb question.

I always end up with ideas I need to jot down, and end up emailing myself ideas/to do lists/shopping lists/etc. so I can access them at home or at work.

I know there must be a more efficient way to do this. Something like text file easily accessible from any computer. Some kind of "internet notepad"?

Thanks!

posted by mammary16 to computers & internet (23 comments total)

i like tada lists.
posted by wearyaswater at 12:14 PM on October 30, 2006

Do you already use web-based email? I use the 'drafts' folder for just this purpose.
posted by box at 12:17 PM on October 30, 2006

There was endless answers to this question. Here are three.

1. Using email isn't all that dumb, lots of smart people do it.

2. If you have a nerd friend, see if they can install a "Wiki" somewhere for you. Basically, your own personal Wikipedia with each article being one of your to do lists

3. If you don't mind storing things on someone else's web server, 37 Signals has a free product called Write Board which will let you and others update a document online.
posted by alan at 12:18 PM on October 30, 2006

Another popular list manager is Remember the Milk.
posted by O9scar at 12:24 PM on October 30, 2006

I've been trying to figure out a decent way to do this too.

Lately I've been using Google's personalized portal as my home page, so I used their Add stuff link to add an inline to-do list to one of my columns. It's working out fairly well so far, since I can add items anywhere I have internet access. The one I'm using can be found here.
posted by JaredSeth at 12:27 PM on October 30, 2006

Something like text file easily accessible from any computer. Some kind of "internet notepad"?

If you already have a Yahoo account, then Yahoo Notepad is just that.

But as others have said, even the web-savvy use email-to-self as a form of reminder.
posted by vacapinta at 12:28 PM on October 30, 2006

I use the to do list section in the free version of base camp, which is basically the same as what wearyaswater suggested above, except base camp does other stuff that I never use. I signed up for it when trialling project management software at work, decided it wasn't suitable for that, but that it would be great for an online to do list - which it is!
posted by chill at 12:31 PM on October 30, 2006

Seconding tadalists.
posted by vytae at 12:41 PM on October 30, 2006

thirding tada-lists. But I'm also a big fan of the Hipster PDA idea and even though I haven't yet fully implemented it myself, I've found that one of those tiny moleskine notebooks (the kind they sell in three-packs) are so easy to carry around I can just jot things down in it as they bubble up, which is great for times when I am away from my computer, and then all my notes are in one place.
posted by ambrosia at 12:49 PM on October 30, 2006

I second the Google personalized homepage. It's so nice having the weather, my email, my calendar, my todo lists, and even some extra stuff like games all load on one page (and quickly too!).
posted by pwf at 12:50 PM on October 30, 2006

Something client-side is the GTDTiddlyWiki.
It's a wiki that you store on your computer. If you've got a USB thumb drive you can store it there and carry the drive around with you. Then, you don't need internet access to get to your lists.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:11 PM on October 30, 2006

There's also HiveMinder, specifically designed for managing to-do lists, and full of bee puns.
posted by mendel at 2:12 PM on October 30, 2006

Another easy to use wiki service is PBWiki.com.
posted by chrisamiller at 2:27 PM on October 30, 2006

Seconding tadalists for a no messing, straight down the line place to make lists.

However it really does sound like it would be worth your time looking in to RememberTheMilk, it's well presented, simple, and the multiple options for reminders are awesome - I've even set up regular sms alerts to remind me to get lottery tickets :)

OnPreview: Yeah, if you use google personalized homepage already then google notebook might be keeping things simpler for you.
posted by chrissyboy at 3:46 PM on October 30, 2006

My life has improved since I started using my left back pocket for stuff I'm supposed to do something with, and my right back pocket for stuff I'm supposed to be chucking out. Every time I change my trousers I get the opportunity to review my reminders.

Personally, I usually find the process of finding a pen to scribble something on one of my left back pocket scraps to be less time-consuming than the process of starting up a web browser. YMM obviously V.
posted by flabdablet at 3:48 PM on October 30, 2006

Nobody's mentioned Backpack? Sounds like just what you're looking for. To-do lists, notes, a calendar & reminders; very simple but versatile. It's sort of a lite, personal version of Basecamp.
posted by Xelf at 4:01 PM on October 30, 2006

Our Google overlords have something called Google Notebook precisely for that sort of thing. You can use it directly on the website, or you can install a browser plug-in/extension for quick note-taking.
posted by Goblindegook at 5:04 AM on October 31, 2006

Remember The Milk
posted by na2rboy at 5:36 AM on October 31, 2006

I also recommend Backpack. I use it multiple times throughout the day for quick notetaking for myself.

There is a Firefox add-on, Backpack Pages, that displays a user's Backpack pages in the toolbar.
posted by chase at 7:35 AM on October 31, 2006

Google Notepad.
posted by jesirose at 8:15 AM on October 31, 2006

I like Rough Underbelly because of the point system. It makes me feel extra accomplished.
posted by zannah at 12:55 PM on October 31, 2006

Nth-ing Backpack. I couldn't live without it.
posted by dmd at 4:12 PM on October 31, 2006

By the by, there's an applet in google personalized for rememberthemilk now, and it rocks.
posted by chrissyboy at 7:42 PM on November 2, 2006