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Email + PIM - Is There A Decent One Out There?
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Posted by Bob Mackreth
Dec 5, 2007 at 12:39 AM
It’s definitely been fun discovering this group and reading the discussions about all the sophisticated information managers that are available these days: UltraRecall, Zoot, MyInfo, SQL Notes, etc, etc, etc. Being afflicted with a moderate to severe case of CRIMP, I’ve purchased licenses for many of the programs discussed here, and spent what’s probably way too much time trialling programs, trying to achieve the perfect system.
It’s ironic, then, that the one glaring gap I find in my tool kit is not related to sophisticated information management needs, but the much more basic world of day-to-day life and work management; the sort of thing that the term “PIM” has meant to most people since the days of Sidekick.
What I’m searching for is one basic program to manage my routine, everyday life, that includes—and here’s what’s making the search difficult— an email client. In other words, a program to do what Outlook claims it does. Since so much of my work is directly tied in to email, it makes no sense to separate the functions.
I’m looking for a program that has the following functions:
1. A robust email client with the usual organizing and filtering functions, and (this is vital) a good search utility.
2. A flexible to-do manager with the ability categorize and filter. It should be tightly integrated to the email client, making it easy to create tasks from emails. I don’t need a full-blown project manager, but I would like the ability to arrange tasks in a hierarchy and to create custom views.
3. A decent notes function, a la Essential PIM. The yellow-sticky metaphor is not acceptable.
4. Your usual calendar and contact list functions.
I had some hopes for Barca, from the Pocomail folks, but while the email component is fine, the PIM side is pretty weak. The task manager in particular, is pathetic, with minimal filtering and organizing ability, and no way to edit the predefined categories. Notes are sticky-style; fine for trivial reminders in my view, but nothing more.
I gave Time & Chaos !ntellect (that’s not a typo) a brief try, but it did not impress me for reasons I no longer remember. WordPerfect Mail is lacking any sort of task manager.
I downloaded a trial copy of Do-Organizer but besides the fact that the interface looks like an explosion in a LEGO factory, I’ve heard a lot of worrisome talk about the state of the company.
So right now, I’m using ECCO for long-term planning and keeping track of the big picture, Essential PIM for routine calendar and daily to-dos, and Barca for email and little else. I’d love to be able to cut the three down to two; to one would be ideal.
Some times I’m even tempted to give Outlook a shot, despite all its well-known baggage: on paper, it does almost everything I need. (The sticky note business is close to a deal killer, though.)
Is there a great email + PIM program out there that I’ve missed? Do you Mac people have something along this line? Would definitely appreciate hearing what others think.
Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Dec 5, 2007 at 01:37 AM
Bob,
The only option I can think of is InfoSelect. It has all the components you are looking for, but I am not recommending it, as I found it kind of a mess… some of the features are well implemented and others not so. You might want to take a look at it… I believe they now offer a trial version.
If you’re willing to live with separate e-mail client an PIM, the PIM part isn’t too hard to find. Some good ones are
Priorganizer (http://www.priorganizer.com)
Debrief Notes (http://www.debriefnotes.com)
Of course, if you’re already using ECCO, you are probably using the best program available.
It will be interesting to see what other suggestions others on this site come up with!
Steve Z.
Posted by Bob Mackreth
Dec 5, 2007 at 01:44 AM
Yes, there’s nothing like ECCO, is there?
Sometimes I dream of an alternate universe where Arabesque hung on to ECCO and continued to develop it. I’m sure today it would suit all my needs and then some. As it is, the main hangup is the email integration. I’ve tinkered with the Shooter trying to come up with an easy way to transfer information back and forth from email, but ECCO and Barca don’t seem to play well together.
I’ve heard of InfoSelect, of course, and I’m interested to learn they may finally be offering a trial version. Their rent-for-a-year option, or whatever it was, turned me off last time I looked it over.
I’ll check out the other two that you mentioned; even if they’re not for me, it’s always fun to find out.
Thanks!
Posted by Derek Cornish
Dec 5, 2007 at 05:02 AM
What’s wrong with Outlook + Zoot? In addition to its Notes, Outlook also has its Journal entries, which provide longer Zoot-like items.
Derek
Posted by Alexander Deliyannis
Dec 5, 2007 at 08:48 AM
Bob,
I most definitely suggest that you give Outlook a try, and this comes from someone who only uses Outlook as a calendar (The Bat! is my e-mail client of choice since development of my beloved Calypso/Courier stopped, leaving them unable to handle Unicode). The main reason is its virtually unlimited expandability.
The thing is, that no matter what features Outlook lacks they can be complemented by the multitude of add-ons on the market. This goes for most of Microsoft’s applications, i.e. their object-oriented nature makes them excellent platforms for third parties’ programs and for interconnection. It’s amazing what one can put on top or aside of a program like Outlook. Take UltraRecall’s excellent two-way integration.
There are many competent task managers that work with Outlook, such as Franklin-Covey’s Planner (that admittedly doesn’t come cheap) which should do what you want. Others have been mentioned in this forum in the past. I’m sure there are similar add-ons for notes.
Cheers
alx