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PIMs, PIMs everywhere...so where did I put that info?
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Posted by Stephen Zeoli
May 6, 2013 at 02:05 PM
I for one will be rooting for you to succeed in your quest to pare down your PIMs, Cassius. This is something I’d love to be able to do, but it seems impossible. Oh, not paring down—as I’ve done that. I mean paring down to one or two and sticking with them.
Sometimes I long for a simple solution, and I’ll focus on an app like that (e.g. Yojimbo on the Mac). But then the short-comings of the simple version become evident and I swing back to the more sophisticated soltuion (e.g. DevonThink on the Mac). And then I like the versatile solution (e.g. Tinderbox on the Mac). And then I like the visual solution (e.g. TheBrain, Mac or PC). And then I want the universal system (e.g. Evernote, everywhere). And then I fall for the organic solution (e.g. ConnectedText on the PC). And by now I would kill for the simple solution, (this time, e.g. NotationalVelocity on the Mac). And the cycle begins again.
In truth, I’ve settled on a workable system on my Windows PC for my day job. TheBrain is mission central, where I gather most of my project and day-related information. Zoot is my catch all, especially for mildly structured data. And for notes I think I may need on my MacBook or iPad, I go to Evernote. Work is the place I need the most sanity, which may be why it’s the place that has the most stability in terms of my info workflow.
The MacBook is more like my sandbox, where I dabble in so many different apps (though Tinderbox and Scrivener and some combination of Yojimbo and DevonThink are essentials, with TheBrain and Evernote important as well).
That’s why they call it CRIMPing, I guess.
Steve Z.
Posted by Dr Andus
May 6, 2013 at 10:35 PM
Is it such a bad thing though to have different tools for different jobs? It’s a normal fact of life in most professions.
Perhaps the issue with PIM software (and the computer as a desktop/workbench/workshop/office) is that it is not all that easy to keep track of where all the tools are, how they fit together, complement each other, communicate with each other, and what the different possible combination of uses (scenarios, workflows, tool-chains) might be.
I would like a separate piece of software that can keep easily track of all of the above (remember and can remind me of what tools I used, give me intelligent suggestions for tool combinations and workflows, e.g. on the basis of the various import-export capabilities).
One could create a manual version of this (a list or a table or a database), but it would be tedious, need regular updating, and would not be all that intelligent with suggestions.
Posted by Alexander Deliyannis
May 7, 2013 at 08:58 PM
MadaboutDana wrote:
[knowsynotes is] actually rather good - and compatible with droves of Android/iOS apps, too.
Of the Android apps you’ve mentioned on various occasions, which ones would you consider compatible with Knowsynotes? I can think of options for the text/markdown items, but what about the CSV files? Do you view/edit these directly with an Android app, or do you convert them to some other spreadsheet format first?
Posted by MadaboutDana
May 9, 2013 at 11:10 AM
I have to confess I ignore the CSV files on Android - I suppose I could use one of my office apps (SoftMaker, QuickOffice) to open them, but on a phone? Why bother. I can still play with the Markdown files, however! Knowsynotes one weakness is half-baked support for Markdown Extra - yes, it does tables, but no, it doesn’t support all the table functions (headers, justification etc.), although it does support full HTML tables too. I’m going to whinge to the (very nice) developer…