Who uses Omnifocus for iPad as ONLY task/mgr?
 

Hi all,

For many years I've used different apps on handhelds that sync with my PC to get things organized. Since I got an iPhone, I haven't had much luck finding a good task mgr that syncs with my computer. Endless issues with sync - sometimes taking many hours to correct.

Anyway, I read a review of O.F. For iPad - about how it can stand on it's own as an organizer. Well, I took a chance and bought it. After a week I'll report I really like it. But sometimes I wonder if I need the iPhone version too for those rare occasions when I don't have my iPad nearby.

I was wondering how many of you use the iPad version as your only version? And How well is it working for you?

I got the ipad version, and it is superb! It does take a little getting used to (like all omni products) - you have to invest more time upfront to understand properly how to use it - and that's where many people give up and go instead for one of the simpler "To Do" apps, but it's worth sticking with it, because once mastered it's a VERY powerful tool!

I alo got the iphone version for the same reason as you are thinking of - in case I need it for when I'm away from the ipad, as well as the 14 day free trial desktop version. I sync using MobileMe, and I have to say that the syncing is quick and smooth - no problems at all. But here's the thing - the iPad version is so much better, in my opinion, than the iphone or desktop versions,that in three weeks of use, I have never used anything but the iPad!

I do have the iPhone version along with the iPad, but I use the iphone version as a way to capture actions or ideas whilst out and about and a reminder about who to phone whilst in the car.

The iPad version is my working location, everything goes through there. Reviews on it are brilliantly easy.

I don't have the Mac version purely down to the cost as I wouldn't use it at home enough to justify the expense, and I'm on Windoze at work.

Thanks for the replies. As a perfectionist I always feel like I might be missing out if I don't have another tool. But I am going to try to stick with the iPad version. I've been working at GTD since 2005 and this version seems to be about perfect. I especially see the value in the forecast feature.

I have all three versions.

I use the iPad version the most, by far.

I think the iPad and desktop versions have their own unique features that make them better than other versions for specific things. ie: There are things that I prefer to do on the iPad, and things that I prefer to do on the desktop.

That is, there are times when I'm sitting with my iPad and my desktop, and choose which one to do something with based on the UI of OmniFocus on each.

That's not true for the iPhone version. I love having it with me, but you're not missing out on anything unique or surprising. You need to evaluate how much of an impediment having to get out your iPad is. For some people, the extra effort to get out the iPad may make them not add things to their inbox, or not look at their lists often enough.

That's it, though, IMHO. iPhone gives you a very small window into your data with very little effort. The only times I've had my iPhone version open next to another computer were:
a) Laptop didn't have Internet
b) I wanted to look at two windows at once - looking at a to-do list while looking at some other content (rare)

Do you keyboard with your iPad?
 

My iPad is mostly my device of choice over my MacBook Pro, due to it's portability. Add a bluetooth keyboard and you have a pretty good combination, until that is it comes to bashing in a mind dump of tasks into OF. It would be so good if there was more keyboard input available instead of having to take your hands from the keyboard to poke the screen to move between OF fields or choose from menus. I have asked the ninjas to take us keyboarders into consideration, but I need some supoort from the rest of you keyboarders to move the request up the rankings.

So do you keyboard? Do you find data input a trial compared to the desktop version of OF? Have you contacted the ninjas?

ANNOYINGLY - I have added a post that I have been thinking about for a while which is at the moment covered by a post a couple down from here. Please feel free to lock or delete as that thread answers the question very well.

I have all three versions, but the other half has swiped my iTouch. The desktop version (on an MBP15) tends to be my backup device for my iPad and rarely gets used for much else. I do use it to tidy up loose projects and contexts, although I realise now that I could do that on the iPad.

Bluetooth keyboard is a real pain, an IOS problem rather than Omni's, for which I have given the Apple iPad team feedback.

My computer usage is mostly email, surfing, Twitter, music/podcasts and GTD so a laptop is becoming redundant for me, except as mentioned above for backups. With the advent of IOS there may be even less point in having one and I might finally go for a desktop as my second computer when the MBP gets too slow.

No worries, Dogsbreath - I just merged the threads. Not a problem. :-)

My iPad is my personal comptuter and task/project management is an area that I am not yet sure of how to address.

I have been using remember the milk for a while, I miss start date and projects.

Considering the price of OF on the iPad, I wanna be sure that it is going to do what I need. If I only use the iPad, will the experience be satisfying? I am reading that it is not possible to create perspectives directly on the iPad, will I miss that feature a lot? Is there anything else that I will miss if I do not use the desktop version (I might also get the iPod/iPhone version)?

From what I have seen, I can do more with OF for iPad than with RTM, Toodledo or even 2DO.

So back to the original question, is the exclusive use of the iPad version enough?

[QUOTE=carlbolduc;98799]I am reading that it is not possible to create perspectives directly on the iPad, will I miss that feature a lot?[/QUOTE]

Don't read the forums too much, especially threads about perspectives: the more you think about perspectives the more you will probably want to use them. You probably won't miss them if you don't know about them. :)

I use perspectives for two things:
a) The standard OF display for flagged items displays both projects *and* tasks. Say, "Clear out smelly cooler" is a project, and "Put stinky stuff" and "Hose it out" are tasks. I want them all flagged. So I flag the project. This means that OF displays all three items as flagged: The project itself and the not yet available actions are listed.
I have a custom perspective that displays only flagged tasks that are available. Actually, I have three: One as a straight list, one sorted by project, one sorted by context.

b) I have contexts for errands. I have a perspective that shows me all errands, but sorted by project. Normally, I would go into contexts, and see "Nearby errands", but this lets me see *all* errands, within their projects. You could also customize the perspective to show you even un-available items - so you could quickly identify things you needed to get ready so an errand trip was more productive.

Even without perspectives, IMHO OF is very rich and is far more in-depth than any other app I've seen. If you don't think about perspectives you *probably* won't miss them.

You could probably use the trial version of OF on the Mac to configure your perspectives and sync them. They'll stay there. (Also, on the iPad, you can add a "star" to a perspective, making it appear in the top-level list - this lets you have a lot of perspectives in the main list, but a few instantly accessible)

I use all three products at the moment, but I could very easily see only using my iPad and iPhone if there was some strange problem with all of the macs in my house.

The interface on the iPad version is drop dead gorgeous, and incredibly functional. I'm really to the point where I like using it for the "doing" part of my to-do list over everything else. I also love having a visual indicator that I've got stuff in my inbox--I would kill to have a freaking toolbar badge on the inbox on the desktop version, but I instead have to go into projects mode, or keep a small inbox-only window open.

That said, clipping and quick entry from any app are incredible features that I couldn't live without on a real computer, so even if I mostly use the desktop OF for that and act on things later on a different device, I'm a happy camper.

As for the iPhone? It's with me everywhere, no matter what. Get an idea I want to tease out later? Remind myself of something? Into OF it goes.

Long story short? I don't think you'd be all that unhappy relying on just the iPad and iPhone versions.

For those of you using only iPad + iTouch (my setup as well), how do you guys handle processing e-mails?

I type them & have folders
 

I've not gotten to a system that I really am comfortable with yet, but at least at present, I have folders in Outlook set up as @actioning, @waiting and @Project Info. I will move emails that I need to take action on into the @actioning folder, etc.

Then I will manually enter an action into the inbox on OF on my iPad. It isn't perfect, but so far it works. I have a step in my weekly review to review the emails that I've assigned to the folders and then process them into the appropriate projects on the iPad.

Trying to
 

I have OF for iPad and iPhone, and really really miss having a Web or Windows version, due to the lack of keyboard functionality and spending most of my time on a Windows box at work. (No Macs in sight.) I've sent a feature request about that.

Still, I think OF for iPad can serve as your only task/GTD manager -- IF you carry your iPad with you most of the time. If not, you're going to need something you DO carry with you at all times. It can be your phone, or you can carry a small notebook (a la David Allen), or even index cards.

The point is, for your system to be effective it has to be [B][I]always accessible[/I][/B]. You'll have to decide the best way to make that happen.

Bruce in Louisville

[QUOTE=BruceWriter;99199]

The point is, for your system to be effective it has to be [B][I]always accessible[/I][/B]. You'll have to decide the best way to make that happen.
[/QUOTE]

I did break down and buy the iphone version exactly for that reason. I think it's a pretty good version. Definitely with me more than my ipad.

OmniFocus: Why You Don’t Need All 3 Versions
 

Here's an article that provides some thoughts

[url]http://brooksreview.net/2010/09/omnifocus/[/url]

I have all three versions. I use the ipad version mostly for reviewing, while the desktop version for creating projects and adding tasks. Somehow, I prefer the desktop app the most.

The ipad app has a few quirks that i don't like -
1. The left pane shows no icon for 'project' vs. 'Single task list' differentiation. They all are listed as just text. There are no quick visual cues like that in the desktop app or even the iphone app.

2. The desktop app has an option to display 'next available item' in a different color while the ipad app does not.

Unfortunately for me, I have no option but to use a company assigned windows laptop at work. That's where the iphone app comes in handy (I don't carry the ipad to work). When I need to work on my task list, i log in remotely to my home mac just to use the OF desktop app.

[QUOTE=pumpkinwhite;99236]1. The left pane shows no icon for 'project' vs. 'Single task list' differentiation. They all are listed as just text. There are no quick visual cues like that in the desktop app or even the iphone app.
[/QUOTE]

Out of curiosity, how would this distinction be helpful to you? What are you going to do differently if you see that a given project is a single action list when you are looking at your list of projects in the sidebar?

I have OF for both my Mac , iPod touch and iPad. The only one I actually use is the iPad version.

It is the best iPad app out there , in my opinion.

I would love to use my iPad as my only Omnifocus app but I need my tasks on the go. I wish Omni created better UI's and follow's Apple's formula where you can still do many things in an elegant you UI (Like Things and Hitlist) because the Omnifocus Mac app gives me a headache (like my old blackberry pearl) every time I look at it. I'm not a hardcore GTD'er by any means and I prefer things just simple and straightforward without too much configuration. I'm aware that Omnifocus 2 will eventually come, and I do think their iPhone app could be a lot better. It works (and doesn't give me a headache) but to me it feels a bit bland and boring. As for the iPad app, no complaints there. They really took advantage of the extra screen estate and it looks and feels fantastic, almost like as if the iPad alone was built for this App :)

[QUOTE=Tedallen;99140]I've not gotten to a system that I really am comfortable with yet, but at least at present, I have folders in Outlook set up as @actioning, @waiting and @Project Info. I will move emails that I need to take action on into the @actioning folder, etc.

Then I will manually enter an action into the inbox on OF on my iPad. It isn't perfect, but so far it works. I have a step in my weekly review to review the emails that I've assigned to the folders and then process them into the appropriate projects on the iPad.[/QUOTE]

+1.
I use a very similar system; my folders are : @Action, @Read&Review, @Reference, @WaitingFor.

These are set up with macro code linked to keyboard shortcut keys (Alt+1, Alt+2 etc). I then process emails in my inbox using the preview pane. I still action emails that can be done in a couple of minutes, however it helps sort the wheat/chaff very quickly..

Then when I process the action emails, I have my iPad sit next to my desktop keyboard - @action folder open on windoze screen, and typing into the iPad OF the appropriate tasks..

My ideal scenario would be an ability to import tasks from outlook into OF automatically (Even better if it synced!).. :)