Omnifocus

[michaela]

I'm new to this forum but have been looking for simple inexpensive tools to get started with GTD. I keep seeing reference to omnifocus. I did look at the app online but it seems awfully expensive for a list manager- the price is saw was $79- Is there a less expensive version of this that does pretty much the same? I thought I might try actionastic which seems like a simple interface and syncs with my ical and my ipod but the drag and drop feature on omnifocus appeals to me as a mac user. What tools do some of you use?

[lastgasp]

I've praised OmniFocus on these boards before. It's gotten even better since then. It's among the most powerful yet easy-to-use GTD applications available. (Believe me, I've tried nearly all of them available for the Mac...)

The new OmniFocus iPhone functionality makes it an easy win for anyone using Apple's OS and David Allen's GTD principles. I think OmniFocus offers a lot more than just "list management." I've been using OmniFocus since the alpha testing days, and I'm still uncovering features I didn't know it had.

I think OF has a trial period, too, so you don't have to pony up until you've had an opportunity to try it.

Tim

[nooozeguy]

Totally agreed that OmniFocus is the best Mac GTD app around.

I use it daily and love it!

I also have the iPhone version which is elegantly designed.

If you're looking for a price break, consider beta testing OmniFocus: http://tinyurl.com/344wbj.

-Josh

[mcogilvie]

Originally Posted by michaela

I'm new to this forum but have been looking for simple inexpensive tools to get started with GTD.

I think Omnifocus is not the best tool for getting started with GTD. I have both the desktop and iPhone version, and it works as advertised. This is saying a lot, because it does have a ton of functionality inside. However, I don't use it, because using that functionality has a significant cost for me in time and energy. While it is possible to use Omnifocus and not use the outlining, flags, et cetera, there is no real reason to do so, because there are other apps around that are faster and easier. However, Omnifocus is by far the best "full-featured" program of its kind for the mac. It has a free trial period.

But is that what you really need? I think many successful, experienced people have found that simple tools with clean edges work better. Right now I am using a web tool, Toodledo, for my lists. It has many features I don't use. I don't use due dates, priorities, subtasks, or many other features. I use folders (for contexts), title and notes. That's it, and I am more productive than ever. Toodledo has free accounts, or you might try paper. In one of his books, DA quotes a proverb "the work will teach you how to do it." Easy and fast is better than complicated and hard.

[ZZamboni]

I use and highly recommend Things: http://culturedcode.com/things/

It is very nicely designed and implemented, much simpler than OmniFocus but not less powerful IMO, and although it is still in beta, I have used it daily for months and never had any big problems with it. They also have an iPhone version that synchronizes with the desktop.

[darlakbrown]

You could try iGTD. I used to use it and liked it. Now I'm on OmniFocus and not looking back. It's the best.

[michaela]

Originally Posted by ZZamboni

I use and highly recommend Things: http://culturedcode.com/things/

It is very nicely designed and implemented, much simpler than OmniFocus but not less powerful IMO, and although it is still in beta, I have used it daily for months and never had any big problems with it. They also have an iPhone version that synchronizes with the desktop.

Does this sync to imac ICAL and or an apple Ipod? I am looking at the moment at actionastic which seems to work with both. Just trying to compare what is out there. Thanks!

[mmurray]

I've heard people talk about Things but not checked it out before. I like this comment on their website

"The big picture. A Leopard style source list lets you easily focus without ever switching view modes or wrapping your head around filter criteria."

Omnifocus has different viewing modes and filters

Michael

[der56]

does anyone have any suggestions for this set up? I'd love to keep using OmniFocus but the company I work for is on PC? Any way to sync the info?

[photodiva]

A former colleague who uses a PC just got an iPhone and he is using something called Nozbe. When he showed me how it looks on his iPhone, it looked pretty identical to Omnifocus - at least at first glance.