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Best PIM for project management?
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Posted by Dr Andus
Apr 23, 2012 at 06:29 PM
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
>Have you tried Rational Plan? It’s a more ‘classic’ and full-featured
>application like MS Project, but cross-platform (Windows, Mac and Linux), and I
>personally found it more straightforward to use. It has a single- and multi-project
>version.
Thanks for this, I really like RationalPlan. No-nonsense task manager and easy Gantt chart. I just wish it had Achieve Planner’s weekly planner or if AP had an easy Gantt chart like this one…
MindView is too expensive for me. I’m still looking to try Mindsystems Amode V2 though (once they fix their download link, which wasn’t working at my end today), which seems to combine some of the features of mindmaps and project managers.
Re MLO I still think it’s the fastest task manager I have seen in terms of pretty much anything (start-up, entering tasks, sorting, indenting, visually consuming etc.), so I’d like to sing its praises.
Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Apr 23, 2012 at 06:29 PM
Dr Andus wrote:
>Thanks Steve, that is very creative!
>(What is Clarify, btw?)
Clarify is a tool for capturing screen shots, annotating them and then putting together a PDF like the one I linked to. It makes the whole process pretty easy. You can learn more about it here:
Steve Z.
Posted by Hugh
Apr 23, 2012 at 06:45 PM
Hugh wrote:
>I’ve used Merlin, and it’s certainly very good indeed for small to medium-sized
>projects. The people who developed it are, as far as I know, project management
>specialists, and started Merlin as a sideline. Their hands-on expertise shows. It
>has three chief merits in my view: an excellent user-interface that takes into
>account all kinds of possible project complexities, the ability to handle multiple
>projects across the same resources, and the facility to use it as a “container” for all
>the files, notes and digital encumbrances any project accumulates. It also, unlike
>some project software, doesn’t try to be too clever; it leaves plenty of discretion
>with the user. If I was back managing bigger projects as I once was, I’d seriously look
>at Merlin (certainly better than MS Project was when I was in that line of
>work).
>
>But… for personal project management, I think it’s too big. (I’m assuming
>that “project management” means Gannt charts - otherwise on the Mac platform a task
>manager like Things or Omnifocus would probably be adequate.) The main Mac
>alternative to Merlin is Omniplan, which is simpler for smaller projects, easier to
>learn and use than Merlin and has the reputable Omni Group behind it. When Omniplan can
>sync straightforwardly with Omnifocus it will be the zealous small project/task
>manager’s dream.
>
>Except… Omniplan can’t yet handle multiple projects. As a
>gun-for-hire, what I want a project management application to tell me above anything
>else is—if I take on Project A with deadline X whilst also working on Project B with
>deadline Y, am I going to be overloaded in Z weeks’ time? I’ve looked for this
>extensively and I’ve found several half-there alternatives, such as Pagico. But no
>simple, not-too-expensive project management application for the Mac platform
>that I know of can really give me the answers I need yet, I’m sorry to say.
To correct what I wrote above - Omniplan can now handle multiple projects, as of an update a couple of weeks ago. The procedure seems slightly convoluted, but it would enable resources, or in my case, a single resource, to be levelled across several different projects.
Posted by Dr Andus
Apr 23, 2012 at 10:19 PM
After having looked at most of the software suggested (except Mindsystems Amode V2, which is not accessible at the moment), I’m leaning toward constructing my own system out of several software, with the following process flow and tools. The main considerations are speed and ease of use, and keeping cost and learning curve down:
1. Use iThoughts in iPad for creating mindmaps for work breakdown, to establish the larger elements of the projects.
2. Use MLO to break down elements from above into sub-projects, tasks, and sub-tasks (a kind of a front-end for the next step, an experimental space);
3. Use RationalPlan for creating the final plan and managing it, using Gantt chart to monitor progress.
4. use Google Calendar for managing weekly and daily execution of the plan.
A key part of the system is having two monitors, so I can see Google Cal, RP and MLO simultaneously.
RP really appeals to me. I guess I’m an old-fashioned Gantt-type chart of person after all… :)
Posted by Dr Andus
Apr 23, 2012 at 10:23 PM
Dr Andus wrote:
>A key part of the system is having
>two monitors, so I can see Google Cal, RP and MLO simultaneously.
>
>RP really appeals
>to me. I guess I’m an old-fashioned Gantt-type chart of person after all… :)
I meant to say “Gantt chart type of person” :)
BTW, the iPad is the 3rd monitor actually, so in fact I can see all of the tools at the same time.