[bookrats]

Chalk up another person who's switched to Things on both the iPhone and on the Mac desktop.

I just migrated 10+ years of Palm (Tungsten T3) data to the iPhone, and Things is probably the application I'm most pleased with. It says something about an app's potential when I trust my Task list (which I live in) to beta software. The iPhone app and the Mac desktop sync up very well over wifi.

I looked at OmniFocus as well, but I found it too complicated (like Jason, I prefer my own organization methods to the "orthodox" GTD methodoloy) -- though it's still a very nice app. To each their own.

One note to Sterligz: There is a way to nest projects in the Thingz Mac desktop: via "Areas", which allow you to contain both tasks and projects. I do this myself. I tend to use Projects for categorizing things that will (someday) be completed, and Areas for grouping things (tasks or Projects) that are ongoing.

Which reminds me: Kudos to whoever's doing the documentation on the Cultured Code website. About 30 minutes of reading their Introduction and FAQ pages, and watching one video, got me to understand the way the product would work for me very well.

[sterlingz]

Yes - I am aware of the "Areas" functionality in Things, but it didn't work for me. It seems a bit like the "Contexts" function in OF, and this is most definitely not a substitute for folders as a method for organizing projects.

Trolling through the feature request boards on the Cultured Code website, it would seem that nested project organization is one of the top requested functionalities, so hopefully they will consider building it in soon. Mobile Me syncing is one of the other ones users are clamoring for that OF already offers, and CC says they are aware and have it on their list of priorities.

[gs3369]

A to-do item must go through Mail to get to iCal?a two-step process.

I've been using things for months. This hasn't been a problem. Getting todos in mail to work correctly is a problem. But I don't use mail for todos. By apple using the API they've made todos available to any application that wants to. Obviously, it's not perfect yet, but it's a great idea in my opinion. Regardless, it's not a workaround for Things to use the exact tool they've been given. The fact that you don't like the method doesn't make it a workaround. If you want to label it so, fine, but it's not the typical use.

I don't mind spending money for software that works for me.

That's not what you said at all:

That's $60 total, a ridiculously high price for a to-do list. $60 buys a ton of 3x5 cards you can slip in a pocket. For that amount of money, "Things" should make you coffee every morning.

None of that says you would pay 60 dollars for software that 'works' for you. According to you it would have to make you coffee to make it worthwhile. That was what I was responding to. You wrote it, which again, is nothing like you wrote later.

Most important, don't use personal attacks; they only serve to weaken your argument.

Are you reading a different comment? There is nothing, not a single line, that is a personal attack.

[gs3369]

and this is most definitely not a substitute for folders as a method for organizing projects.

People said the same thing about gmail. I use voodoopad every day without folders and my whole life is in it. Perhaps you should say that for you it isn't a substitute, because for me it is.

As for the forums, a bunch of requests for folders doesn't mean everyone wants them. Those that find tags and areas a proper replacement aren't on the forums stating that. They're off using things.

[PadreCohen]

The fact that you don't like the method doesn't make it a workaround. If you want to label it so, fine, but it's not the typical use.
Never said I didn't like the method, only comment on what I perceived it to be.
None of that says you would pay 60 dollars for software that 'works' for you. According to you it would have to make you coffee to make it worthwhile. That was what I was responding to. You wrote it, which again, is nothing like you wrote later.
I publicly rescinded the (above) comment after the developer corrected my misperception that one could not sync Things with iCal. The "coffee comment" was rhetorical, not literal.
There is nothing, not a single line, that is a personal attack.
"Wow, people really hate paying for software."

[sterlingz]

"Perhaps you should say that for you it isn't a substitute, because for me it is."

Fine, let me clarify, tags and areas are not a substitute for folders for me and a bunch of other users. Especially since tags and areas are not yet supported in the iPhone version, which is the topic at hand here. The developer has commented in this thread that they are part of the roadmap for future releases, but they don't work on iPhone today.

Nearly every major piece of Mac database software has some kind of folder system to organize items into buckets. For a long time, iTunes lacked folders to organize playlists, leading to massive scrolling as time wore on and playlists grew in number, and it was one of the most requested features by the time it was implemented. iPhoto, Aperture, Address Book, 1Password - pretty much any database driven product that you can think of has the capability to nest content so users don't have to scroll through a giant list- this is basic. And I'm sure this will be addressed in short order by Cultured Code, perhaps even in time for the MacWorld release.

"As for the forums, a bunch of requests for folders doesn't mean everyone wants them. Those that find tags and areas a proper replacement aren't on the forums stating that. They're off using things."

I never said everyone wants them. I said that nested projects is one of the top-requested functionalities on Cultured Code's forums. And actually, there are a lot of other feature requests as well (encouraged by the developer), as many users see Things as a promising start, with a lot of rough edges. I'm glad you think Things is so wonderful, but there are many users like myself who find Things to be limiting in its functionality, especially for a piece of software that is going to end up retailing for $50. These users are "off using things" and commenting about their experience doing so on the forums, tying to help Cultured Code make it a better product. I'm a paying customer who purchased the iPhone version to seriously test this software out, and have found certain elements lacking, and the amount of posting on CC's forums shows that I'm not alone. I think Things is a solid beginning, and I look forward to seeing where it ends up by Macworld '09.

[whentlaw]

I've been using the beta of the desktop version for some time on my desktop machine, and love it. However, unless and until I can sync other than via Wi-fi, which I do not have and have no other use for, my money stays in my pocket.

[rkeleher]

Dear Bookrats,



Can you tell me how you migrated your Palm data into Things. Does Things come with a detailed description on how to do this??? Any help you can provide would really be appreciated! I am about to purchase an iPhone and will need otdo this very soon!

[benmackay]

The showstopper for me for OmniFocus - after using it since version 1 on both Mac and iPhone - was the speed. I basically avoided using OmniFocus on the iPhone because it took WAY too long to open up to see my tasks and synchronize. It was painfully slow. I tried several things (reinstalling, clearing database, etc.) and it is just too slow. And I'm a huge fan of Omni applications (own/use daily for work OmniGraffle Pro and OmniPlan). Things is lightning fast on the iPhone and the mac, and synch is also very fast. In other words, it's usable. I haven't run into the synch problems yet, and am pleased with about a week of moving to Things. We'll see!

[rkeleher]

Are you not concerned that there is no way that I can see to import and export to Things?

[jenx3989]

To create sub-tasks, first you create a Project. Then you go back to the start page, then create a new task in the "In Box". At the "New To Do" screen, below where you enter the title of the task, there's a second box that says "Create In" and there's a little arrow at the far right. You touch it and it pulls up your Projects at the bottom. You can then select the proper Project it belongs in.

[night_sailor]

This program is full of bugs. Just try printing--too few options, or deleting???. You can't delete easily, you have to puzzle out the one way something can be deleted. Syncing with the desktop is not mature--bugs there also.
Probably the worse part is these poeple don't reply to emails. I've sent them 5 separate emails and never received a reply. I find it amusing that they will kick me in the teeth and expect me to buy their product. I waited a long time, though beta testing, and finally will have to start looking elsewhere because I need a product that will sync with my iTouch.
To tell you the truth. They are so upsetting, I'm thinking about writing my own application because I know I could do a better job--writing code or answering email.
I'm going to try the other products like Omni-Focus and ManagePro. Someone must have done something right.
Steer clear of this one.