Need Mac ToDo!

February 2, 2007 3:11 PM

I need a better todo/tasks management system. I'm on a mac, and iCal isn't getting the job done...

I've been using Outlook 2007 for a while, and really enjoy its approach to tasks - but Office for Mac is not particularly reliable and so it is not really an option. Here's what I need:

Tasks I can view by date (not all in a row by date, but just, say "Feb 3rd") and an ability to sync with iCal so I can sync it with my windows mobile device. Ideally, I can use the software with Quicksilver as well.

GTD support would be fine, but I prefer it not be forced. Thanks!

posted by Gideon to computers & internet (15 comments total)

I use Ghost Action, which allows for iCal sync, but it is designed for GTD on the Mac.
posted by chudder at 3:24 PM on February 2, 2007

Overkill a bit, but I use Kinkless GTD with Omnioutliner. I can throw tasks into my inbox with quicksilver in a few seconds. It can also sync with ical. The downside is that it requires a pro version of omnioutliner which is expensive for the full license, although it's a great program in and of itself.
posted by cschneid at 3:45 PM on February 2, 2007

I wouldn't buy omnioutliner to use with kinkless at this point. The kinkless author has been working with omnigroup and they're coming out with omnifocus later this year.

(Unless you need an outliner in which case I love omnioutliner)
posted by justgary at 4:19 PM on February 2, 2007

Isn't Omnioutliner bundled with Mac OS X these days? I have it on my Intel macbook....
posted by Happy Dave at 5:05 PM on February 2, 2007

I think you get the basic version bundled, while KGTD needs the Pro version.
posted by chrismear at 5:39 PM on February 2, 2007

Maybe OmniPlan? Allegedly it's "Project management made painless." (I haven't used it, but I like OmniOutliner and OmniGraffle.)
posted by kirkaracha at 10:31 PM on February 2, 2007

I shudder to think what sort of software the OmniGroup will have if they follow kinkless.

Midnight inbox or thinking rock are better GTD apps.

And GTD is SOOOOO the way to handle this sort of stuff.
posted by filmgeek at 11:26 PM on February 2, 2007

I like Hotplan:

http://www.intuiware.com/Products/MacOSX/HotPlan/

You can set up your to do lists in categories, and individually--and each entry has a completion bar so you can monitor your progress.

I find it far more effective than what is mentioned above, which I found to be overly complicated
posted by DudeAsInCool at 12:14 AM on February 3, 2007

I love Actiontastic. It's GTD-oriented. It syncs to iCal / iPod, and its free. Works with Quicksilver. It's free, now, but the author seems to insinuate it won't be as soon as it hits 1.0.
posted by adamwolf at 10:34 AM on February 3, 2007

I personally find web-based systems to be far nicer, since they're accessible from anywhere. Try Remember the Milk -- it's even got iCalendars that will let you have a local copy on iCal.
posted by WCityMike at 5:59 PM on February 3, 2007

Well, you didn't specify whether you need a local client or a web client. I can recommend a couple from the web side and one from the local side:

web:
- Alex King's Tasks
- voo2do
- 37signals backpack

local options:
- omnioutliner (like many others have said)

I like Alex King's offering because it's lightweight and full of features, including a mobile interface. Voo2do just gets it right for the kind of work I do for a living. And 37signals Backpack just makes sense for a ToDo pad.
posted by timmins at 10:07 PM on February 3, 2007

Thanks for all the suggestions. It looks like I'm goin to embrce kGTD.

I really don't like web solutions much as I so often find myself without net access - so, while many web programs are amazing the lack of local versions really muck with it.
posted by Gideon at 10:03 PM on February 4, 2007

Also, I already had the pro version of omnioutliner - so it was a free option.

Inbox seemed nice, but.. not quite there yet. I looked at Easytask, but the documentation was atrocious. Actiontastic just didn't seem robust enough, I'm not sure why.

Now that I've gotten used to kinkless, however, I'm really fond of it.
posted by Gideon at 1:55 AM on February 5, 2007

Gideon - really. Try out thinking rock. It's free, cross platform. It's biggest flaws are that it's java based.

Gary,
What makes you think I don't like Omnigroup? I own Omni Outliner, Omni Graffle and Omni web.

It's just an outliner doesn't do this job right. I used kinkless for two months. And then found software that works.

How did my software go? I don't design software for a living. So, I guess I fulfilled that just fine.

Next time either ask me what flaws I found in the poorly scripted, awkward, data losing, non-intuitive kludge that kGTD is, or insult me directly via my email. Doing so here is a bit crass.
posted by filmgeek at 12:34 AM on February 9, 2007

I have nothing to add, but I just wanted to thank everyone for these posts. After switching to the Mac this week, they are exactly what I was looking for.
posted by 4ster at 7:49 AM on March 30, 2007