I’ve been thinking about upgrading my time management system, currently paper-based from Franklin-Covey, to a portable electronic device like a PDA, notebook, etc.
I am just beginning the research process and, in addition to reading and the web, I am interested in getting feedback from you if you use them.
I’d like it to be able to do the following, ideally, but I haven’t done enough research yet to know if all of these functions can be performed at a reasonable cost:
- Calendar with the ability to link entries to the to-do list/project tracking, schedule of goals, contacts, contracts, appointments, meetings, classes, etc.
- Note taking system: keyboard or stylus to enter data and write?
- Contact information: telephone & addresses, e-mail address, lists of saved websites, business card file, birthdays & anniversaries (repeating events)
- Ability to temporarily store files downloaded from a digital camera
- Small spreadsheets, word documents…
Obviously, what ever I end up with has to be physically tough and sealed tight against sawdust.
Words of wisdom appreciated,
-Jazzdogg-
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Gil Bailie
Replies
I've been using a Palm Tungsten E for about 2 years. Does everything you asked about. Couldn't live without it now. Get the optional metal case. For those of us who live in the shop it is a life-saver (for the device)
DR
Thanks, Ring. It's nice to have a recommendation for a specific product that'll stand up to the shop environment!
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
It would help if you can describe your user environment. There is a significant difference in capabilities and the ease of use. If you are in a situation where you can't readily use a notebook then that dictates a PDA. Or, if you really aren't on the go that much and the working environment supports a notebook then that is you best option. Are you adverse to carrying a notebook all the time that won't clip to your belt or will you be eternally frustrated trying to scroll through messages and text files on a postage stamp PDA screen while trying intelligently mash incredibly tiny keys? Define your usage and personal style of working and then the answer regarding capability will be be more fruitful.
BTW, almost all high-end PDA's and any notebook computer with Windows OS and Outlook will do all and more of what you want: it is simply a question of what you are willing and able to accept.
"It would help if you can describe your user environment."
Doug,
Let's see: Workshop, home, school (as a student), volunteer work, church, school (teaching). I think that's about it.
I like the idea of something I can tuck into a shop apron, tuck into a pocket, or attach to my belt; I'm trying to avoid toting a laptop like I used to as a CFO.
Thanks!
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Before you buy any technology, read the book Getting Things Done by David AllenView ImageA great book on personal productivity. I've also attended David's classes (http://www.davidco.com). They are great.
And for what it's worth, I switched from paper to palm, back to paper/palm. Phone numbers and calendar in the palm. To-dos on paper...
I works for me.
Mark
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.
Visit Dust Maker
Edited 7/27/2005 3:14 pm ET by Mark
Mark,
Thanks for the lead - I really like the idea of an integrated approach to time & task management as opposed to just another gizmo.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
>integrated approach to time & task management<
I've tried many, many systems over the years and come to believe that for people at the "genius" level of procrastination skills like me, every "to do" list becomes longer, more complex, and more granulated with the passage of time. Eventually, updating the "to do" list becomes a "to do."
When I was actively involved in the rat race, there were times when I would just dump everything in my "In Box" into the "Out Box" for a couple days to kind of get a "filter effect" going and shake out the chaff. Worked surprisingly well,...
Ahhh, better to just be a musician or artist,...
Good luck
"Ahhh, better to just be a musician or artist,..."
Ed,
No disagreement here: I view it as a rare privilege to have so many activities about which I am enthusiastic that a little effort to help me keep track of it all, and help prioritize, is well worth the effort.
It was sheer drudgery to have to juggle flaming chainsaws in the bad old days, spending 70+ hours each week managing other people's problems and making them rich at the cost of my health and happiness.
Today I practically jump out of bed, rarin' to have another grab at the brass ring.
Here's a quote you may appreciate: "Imagination is the happiness of intelligence"
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I'm two years away from retiring as a COO and the one thing I look forward to the most is chucking all of the electronic teethers, schedules, meetings, project and task deadlines. One of my responsibilities includes management of IT and Network Engineering and I salivate at the prospect of leaving technology behind me. Being organized is the last thing that will be on my retirement list unless it helps me ride my bike or work my wood better :-}
Your previous response pretty much dictates a PDA and I defer to other responders in this area of technology. Most of use Black&BlueBerrys and they work well for everything you mentioned with the exception as a photo editor. I'm not sure I would recommend putting any PDA in a shop apron unless it is well padded and sealed-off from dust.
Edited 7/28/2005 9:51 am ET by Doug
Yes that's the other benefit of paper. It does not come with nor need batteries. Nor does it need to be padded :-)Mark
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.
Visit Dust Maker
There is no question that IT technology has enabled us to be more productive than at any time in history. Unfortunately the increase comes with an extremely high price tag: a significant piece of our mental well-being. Just me, but my shop has no phone line, TV cable or any other communication technology save pencil, chalk and paper.
Q: What ever happened to the 32 hour work week we were supposed to get out of the promised productivity boost from the PC revolution.
A: What we meant to say is that we can get another 32 hours of work out of you every week.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
It was a brave new world and we were still so arrogant to believe that we had a monopoly on a middle class society supported by technical and manufacturing capacities second to none. Many still live in that fantasy world.
The technical revolution certainly permitted unparalleled increases in productivity at time when challenges from an emerging global economy coupled with, in my opinion, a myopic and short-term focus by business and government on the short term intersected to make the promised Norman Rockwell picture of the American "good life" a ad agency slogan rather than a reality. It will interesting and perhaps painful to see how things evolve over the next 20 years.
I sell for living and spend about 80% of my day on the road. I did the paper to Palm, back to paper, to pocket PC, back to paper. PDA's are great for contacts, some "to do list" functions, but I always found myself using that yellow pad for the quick stuff. Now I have a cell phone that has some PDA fuctions and that seems to be a pretty good compromise. Paper just works better for me, (along with a laptop).
Are you considering the Franklin Covey software as well? I am a very happy user. If you use the Covey A1, B1, etc. prioritizing method, the software is very helpful. It has a great tool that lets you quickly sort your daily tasks by priority, which helps me discipline myself to make daily decisions about which tasks really should be tackled first. Another great feature is the ability to link notes with contacts. You can keep a detailed log of all your notes relating to a given contact.
Good point, H-Town. Thanks!-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
In the good old days, I use to use a Psion, it was the best.
It became obsolete and I had to replace, so now I have the latest Palm Top. Color screen, recognizes my handwriting,synchronizes with my PC, etc. etc. etc. Not the same though, still miss my old Psion.
It's OK though and I use it for notes, appointments, simple worksheets, all my contacts and the golf game is really good. Anything I write on paper, always gets lost.
The Psion,...That brings back memories. I think I had the 3C? Bought in Hong Kong. The machine and software were British-designed as I recall? It was cool - wish I still had it. Can't remember what I did to make it die,....
project tracking?..scheduling goals?? appointments and meetings?..........Gee Jazz you seem to want to make this endeavour of ours almost like work.
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
It ain't work, John, it's my life's passion!
God, it's great to be alive!
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
I bought my daughter an HP Ipaq and she loves it. I already carry 2 cells and an iPod. They tried to get me to use a Blackberry at work and I said fine but it'll be down from 5 pm to 7 am every night and on the weekends. I could get by without the phones, but not the iPod. I was an early adopter and had a Casio Boss and a Sharp Wizard way before PDA's and Palm PC's. Since electronic organizers couldn't sync to a PC they were more trouble than they were worth. I've used Frankin's and Day Runners too. Now I use a combination of a paper notebook and Outlook Calendar, but I'm a cube dweller with a desktop PC. I could have a notebook, but the keyboards are too damn small for my freakishly large hands (10" span).
Here's a curve ball for ya. Looking at your wish list the calendar functions, contacts and file downloads are all supported on a windows configured iPod and you could do audio notes with a 3rd party mic from Griffin. If you have a Mac you can do task lists too. So everything but the small spreadsheets & word documents can be done on an iPod. I don't actually use mine for business other than muleing files home from the office occaisionally, but I could and might if I was self-employed. I just need to carry around 8,000 of my favorite songs. The 60gB iPod Photo sells for $399. At $100 per 1gB memory card you'd spend $6,000 on memory for a palm pc and have to carry around 60 cards. If file storage is a priority maybe an iPod is the way to go. Check out http://www.ipodlounge.com to see what's out there as well as the Apple site.
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
I use an Ipaq pocket PC. It does anything I need (almost....more about that in a minute). I bought it mostly to use for statistical process control applications (this is the industrial woodworking side of what we do.....not fine woodworking), but use it for all the normal PDA stuff. I have some Mitutoyo software on it......reads data from digital calipers directly into the Ipaq. The Mitutyo/Ipaq combo is sold and used in manufacturing situations, including sawmills, so I think it will hold up given reasonable common sense. The only thing I'm not happy about (and I don't think this is an Ipaq problem) is I also have some custom Excel spreadsheets for statistical process control, and on my laptop I can input directly from a caliper to the spreadsheet with the click of a button.....can't figure out how to do that with Pocket Excel.
cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
Adrian,
Sounds like you have a combination that works well for you in most instances.
Thanks for the info,
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Thanks, John. I'll check it out.-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
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