rnv
rnv

In anticipation of an extremely busy 2019, I decided it was time to explore task manager apps.

I began the trial periods of Things 3 and OmniFocus on Thursday morning, and have been working into each in parallel.

Oh my.

This is going to be a VERY hard decision.

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jean
jean

@rnv If you create a project called “Decide Between Things and OmniFocus,” you might cause a rip in the space-time continuum before you list the first step.

(But seriously, are you a GTD fan? Either can work with that method. @janesdempsey and I like OmniFocus.)

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rosemaryorchard
rosemaryorchard

@rnv They're both excellent tools, I prefer OmniFocus - they provide a community for their tools, and the app suits my needs better. However when I tried Things I thought it to be very good too.

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rnv
rnv

@macgenie I actually have no prior direct experience with the GTD method; I’ve worked with people who followed it, and I’ve read some primers, but that’s it.

I developed my own task/project tracking system over the years, which uses a combination of pencil/paper, reminder apps (like Due), and calendar events.

So I’m evaluating which one lets me think the way I already think, and work the way I already work, but with more centralization, ease of visualization, and ability to let me juggle more projects at once.

And even in the last few hours, one of them… has begun taking the lead… (cue suspenseful old-time radio-show organ warble)

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rnv
rnv

@rosemaryorchard The active OF community is definitely a plus! And the longevity of the Omnigroup is another.

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Gabz
Gabz

@rnv I have tried Things 3, been an OmniFocus user for a much longer time. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. I love Things but for whatever reason I always end up coming back to OmniFocus

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pauljacobson
pauljacobson

@rnv I used OmniFocus pretty heavily when I had an iPhone. It's one of the best productivity apps I've used. The only reason I stopped using it was because I switched to an Android phone.

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ronguest
ronguest

@rnv I see a number of folks use OmniFocus so I’ll chime in to say I went with Things3 a little over a year ago. I found the two very different and got the best bang for the buck (both $ and effort) from Things.

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jack
jack

@rnv I'm not allowed to make any suggestions due to my history of constantly switching todo apps, but I'm currently using Things. I wanted to avoid the over-thinking that happens when I use OmniFocus. You can't really go wrong either way.

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JohnPhilpin
JohnPhilpin

@jack tell me about it ... I am starting to use OmniFocus with many less categories than in the past ... and tags like they are going out of fashion .... the drag and drop on the Mac makes it easy ... but I still find myself spending too much time sorting tasks ... when I should be doing tasks ... so also I find a lot of stuff now staying in the inbox and being cleared before they even make it to the tagging / categorizing stage ... one thing I am thankful for ... I don’t have a recurring task to tell me to organize tasks!

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JohnPhilpin
JohnPhilpin

@rnv I have used both ... currently back in Omni land. My simple summary ... Things is beautiful and Omni is functional ... the basic choice for me was form over function.

Out of the box and easy to get your head around Omni functionality and powerful with scripts and extensions.

Things out of the box not as rich and to me ( a non tech) the things extensions are waaay too much ... though undoubtedly powerful.

One other big kicker. I use calendars a lot and the ability to view your calendar ... with the tasks in the same view - at the right times was invaluable ... not possible with Things .. I asked ... they expect you to live in the Things app and view your calendars there. Like with Omni ... but the views are too limited.

Also @rosemaryorchard published a script that takes that a step further ....

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rnv
rnv

@rnv As the weekend has progressed — even over the course of the afternoon — the decision has been getting easier. In fact, I think I’ve already decided.

But there’s a saying in my line of work: deliberate slow, act fast.

So I’m glad each trial period runs 13–14 more days, so I can keep testing them both, under many more conditions.

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Bruce
Bruce

@macgenie @rnv Create the projects "Evaluate OmniFocus" in Things and "Evaluate Things" in OmniFocus. It'll be like crossing the streams in Ghostbusters!

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rnv
rnv

@Bruce @macgenie “Next time someone asks you if you’re a GTD, you say YES.”

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soypunk
soypunk

@rnv Have used every task manager under the sun available for iOS/macOS. I love Things 3 - I switched the day it came out and stopped trying out new tools after that. It just works like my brain works. The fact that it treats iOS like a first party system (native keyboard support for example) means a lot to me as I spend 99% of my computing time on iOS (iPad Pro/iPhone). Holla if you have questions!

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rnv
rnv

@soypunk Thanks! With Things offering no free trial for iOS, I’m in the dark about how it feels on the iPad/phone, e.g. how similar to the Mac interface/functionality it is. And how is their sync? zippy? Are there (m)any conflicts?

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soypunk
soypunk

@rnv sync is fast! I can watch things being entered on my iPad and Mac as I type it on my iPhone. Never had conflicts and I have multiple projects and repeating tasks.

The Mac and iOS versions have no differences in terms of functionality - which is awesome. Too many iOS tools assume I want to do things on a Mac.

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rnv
rnv

@soypunk That is… compelling.

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mdhughes
mdhughes

@rnv I used Things for a decade or so, and it's great, but finally switched to Trello as a lighter-weight and more tasks-always-visible process. I could let stuff slide in Things if it wasn't on my Today list.

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rnv
rnv

@mdhughes Funny you should mention Trello. I had kicked its tires a few years ago, but had never really embraced it.

After farting around with T3 & OF all weekend so far, I just started revisiting Trello a few hours ago, by re-creating a complicated project I ran a few years ago using about a thousand post-it notes and a 15-ft long glass wall.

I’ll give it a look-see as a task manager.

I strongly agree about the value of “tasks-always-visible.” There ain’t nothing in this world I can’t postpone if I think I can get away with it; I need a task manager to nag the hell out of me and get up in my grill.

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toddgrotenhuis
toddgrotenhuis

@rnv my .02: I’ve used both. OF is one of those systems where it’s tempting to spend lots of time organizing my work instead of actually doing it. Things is more likely to get me to do my review and then get to work. The visual and quick-entry cleanliness was a nice benefit, too.

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rnv
rnv

@rnv Well, I decided.

At first, it was a tie, then one pulled ahead, then it was a tie again, then the other pulled ahead. And stayed ahead.

OmniFocus.

I have some Very Strong Opinions, if anyone is interested in hearing them.

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derekpeden
derekpeden

@rnv Everyone here loves to hear about strong opinions, even the ones we don't agree with.

Regardless of which tool you use, it's just a tool to get the job(s) done. It's not actually the job.

(For the record, I'm in the OmniFocus camp)

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JohnPhilpin
JohnPhilpin

@rnv post away

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schuth
schuth

@rnv Joining this late, but yes, please. I’m currently using 2Do, but with some potential changes on the horizon, I’m wondering if OmniFocus is where I’m headed. I’d appreciate your perspective.

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rnv
rnv

@rnv Alrighty then! My day just opened up, and I suddenly have a lot more time today to get my notes in order and draft something for y’all on my Adventures Choosing A Task Manager App…

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jean
jean

@rnv Waiting with bated breath. I never get tired of hearing this story!

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Bruce
Bruce

@rnv Woot! Woot!

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In reply to
rnv
rnv

@rnv It’s up.

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the
the

@rnv Thanks for doing that. I read it with interest.

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rnv
rnv

@the You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.

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