Calendar Software Recommendations

[Steve Pavlina]

For the past few years I've been happy using a paper calendar. My schedule has been getting more complex though, and I'd like to give calendar/scheduling software another try. Basically I want to be able to schedule one-time and recurring appointments and insert items from my to-do list. I'd like something that can incorporate goals, projects, and actions in a GTD-like manner.

Any recommendations for your favorite calendar applications?

In the past I've used Outlook as well as a Palm IIIxe, but it's been several years since I've tried either, so I'm not current on their latest capabilities.

I'd prefer a PC desktop app, since I don't roam that much, but it would be great if it had the capacity to sync with handhelds and/or to a laptop.

[nurikabe]

I've fiddled with a lot of different systems over the years and, in the end, have settled with a fairly "standard" Outlook/Exchange Windows Mobile setup due to superior calendar sharing and mobile sync support. As I use Exchange, I can grab all of my data over GPRS or connect via WAP from other mobile devices. Exchange webmail is also solid and cross-browser compatible these days. All of my data lives on a server somewhere in New York so I can grab it on the road.

The David Allen company has a GTD Outlook add-in that looks promising: Getting Things Done Outlook Add-In Support

[Jill]

Franklin-Covey also has an Outlook add-in based on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which you might want to look into. I had it installed on my previous computer and really liked it at first, but I'm not as disciplined as you, Steve, and gave up on it!

I probably still have the disc, I should try it again...

[Steve MacLellan]

Try:
Calendar Project - Home of Sunbird™ and Lightning

Regards,
Steve MacLellan

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by Steve MacLellan

Try:
Calendar Project - Home of Sunbird™ and Lightning

Regards,
Steve MacLellan

Nice, thats pretty cool, however I love using all the integrated Google apps...Keeping all my apps, mail, feedreader and news right on my homepage is amazing. The onlything missing on the google homepage is a GTD, heh.

[WanderingOak]

Originally Posted by Lucas

The onlything missing on the google homepage is a GTD, heh.

There is a 'to do' list that you could customize into 'next action', 'someday, maybe, etc. I haven't been able to get them to work with OS X and Safari, although they work fine with XP.

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by WanderingOak

There is a 'to do' list that you could customize into 'next action', 'someday, maybe, etc. I haven't been able to get them to work with OS X and Safari, although they work fine with XP.

I dont actually use a GTD, but it seems to have flared up on the web in the past year or so, so maybe its worth looking into.

[Brutha]

There is a 'to do' list that you could customize into 'next action', 'someday, maybe, etc. I haven't been able to get them to work with OS X and Safari, although they work fine with XP.

Neither OS X forces you to use Safari nor XP forces you to use Internet Explorer, don't confuse browsers with operating systems.
Firefox should work fine on OS X and with the Google stuff.

[TheHulaQueen]

Can someone let me know what GTD stands for? I use a more Tony Robbins style RPM method and am curious!

I downloaded the calendar program Sunbird as recommended above. Thanks!

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by TheHulaQueen

Can someone let me know what GTD stands for? I use a more Tony Robbins style RPM method and am curious!

I downloaded the calendar program Sunbird as recommended above. Thanks!

Getting Things Done

[nurikabe]

Originally Posted by Lucas

Getting Things Done

Amazon.com: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity: Books: David Allen

[Zero]

I prefer Sunbird, but you can also give this a shot: Chandler

[Milo Riano]

I use Outlook a lot and has been very pleased in terms of collaboration with other people, organization of data, feature set capabilities, etc. Plus I am sure it will continously progress the software since it is headed by Microsoft.

[New Every Day]

I use Franklin Covey's PlanPlus program. It syncs up to my phone/PDA and it really works well with me. After I read GTD, I changed some of what things meant and that has helped me a lot.

Most of the things on my To-Do list, I have listed under "Master Items" and have very few things on my daily list. I use my A list items for things to be done this week, B list for this month, and my C list is for whenever they get done.

It may sound strange, but it works for me.

They also have a project section so that you can organize projects and they will automatically get added to your to-do list.

[rockstar]

I have used several well-known calendar and todo list apps that is around and here's what I found relatively better than the other on the PC :

kontact

It's on linux, but this app alone could justify your switch of OS. It's that good. It's a full-fledged PIM but you could just use it's KOrganizer component as standalone calendaring and todo list, although you'll miss a very nice integration with mails, feeds, notes and contacts apps.

Assuming you can live within it's functional area (linux, kde, device and os it's support for synching) it's the best I know on PC.

Some highlights/impression :

* Nicely looking : don't refer to much on the outdatred-screenshot on the site, the current state looks much better
* Simple, unbloated (at least from geek-standard of bloatedness )
* the thin red line of current time on the calendar view is a simple yet elegant and useful touch, adding a "realtime-feel" to it
* high standard compliance (vCard, iCal, vCal, online calendar access, etc..)
* I haven't found any typical use case of calendar/todolist that it does not support yet
* mature and stable with no bugs I have encountered yet in my use of it
* could make hierarchical interrelated tasks
* command line operation for those who into scripting and automating some recurring/boring operation or just want to do typical action which not need to fire up the whole calendar

[Mark Lapierre]

Since you've mentioned it before I suspect you've already considered and rejected The Journal. What is it about that app that's unsatisfactory?

[and]

For purely a calendar app, I've tried using many different solutions, but now I'm with Google Calendar and can't be happier. The only limitation is that it doesn't integrate Tasks well. I love it for what it can do and that it's available online and anywhere.

Maybe I'll write a post on how I use it.

[Akashic_Librarian]

I just downloaded Sunbird. Its pretty cool. I have been looking for a good program like this for ages!

[Antarananda]

For GTD, I use Remember the Milk. It's integrated with Google Calendar, which is my Calendar app of choice.

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

For GTD, I use Remember the Milk. It's integrated with Google Calendar, which is my Calendar app of choice.

Hey thats pretty snazzy. I am trying to figure out a way to merge GTD into my google apps as seamlessly and quickly as possible. Im kind of a google fanboy.

[Antarananda]

Originally Posted by Lucas

Hey thats pretty snazzy. I am trying to figure out a way to merge GTD into my google apps as seamlessly and quickly as possible. Im kind of a google fanboy.

They have this gadget which integrates your GTD tasks into your Google homepage as well

[zeroone]

Amazing, I have been looking for digital calendars for the past week (school).
Anyways, I too enjoyed using just pencil and paper, but it takes too long and it's quite tedious process.
All I found that I liked was "Google Calendar" and "iCal." One is web-based and the other is for Macintosh. I also found others but they're not simple, too cluttered, or don't have the features that I want (the world would be a better place if we all learned to program).
All I want is a stand-alone, simple-to-use, off-line, Windows or Linux based calendar.

Thanks you bro.s or sis. for your submitting those links.
Chandler, looks great.

[Steve Pavlina]

I tried Sunbird, but given that it's still in pre-release, the 0.3 version was fairly slim on features. I'm trying Google Calendar now. Neither seems better than Outlook so far though.

[zeroone]

I tried Chandler .6 & .7alpha on Windows XP SP2, both are buggy. Although it looks like it has great potential.
Although I like Google calendar, unfortunately one can not access it off-line, therefore the next-best thing is Outlook from Microsoft (or Evolution on Linux).

PS> Of course we could always try this great alternative: Windows 3.1 Calendar

[bossb]

Originally Posted by Antarananda

For GTD, I use Remember the Milk. It's integrated with Google Calendar, which is my Calendar app of choice.

Thanks for the RTM link, looks useful.

[nurikabe]

Another GTD dashboard for Outlook: Jello « Jello.Dashboard

[Milo Riano]

Just go with Outlook. It has everything you need and if you would not worry about future versions because they are going to come. Also, a lot of plugins are available to extend Outlook.

Outlook can be used as simple and as complex as you want depending on your needs...

[Que]

How about Zoho office? Better than Goggle I guess.

Zoho Virtual Office Login

[dor]

Originally Posted by Steve MacLellan

Try:
Calendar Project - Home of Sunbird™ and Lightning

Regards,
Steve MacLellan

Works for me...and you can get a plug-in to integrate with thunderbird - uses ical format so you can transfer it.
Personally i try to keep of microsoft -one you get into the rut their tracks make they make it difficult to get off.

[mattinglot]

I use Outlook for calendar along with my BlackBerry - they make a reasonable combo. If all you are looking for is portable calendar I've found the PocketPC's calendar implementation superior to the BlackBerry (BlackBerry kills in e-mail however).

Exchange server would be a nice touch, but I've been able to survive fine without it. Downside is that calendar has to be synced by physically plugging the device into the desktop where as the Exchange server integration is nothing short of magic.

If you do use Outlook I highly recommend at the very least 2003 since the work week view and general enhancements are what makes Outlook a good calendar program for personal organization imo. I love being able to see my entire week on one screen with the appropriate blocks of time booked off with my appointments.