Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Jones
Other than the lack of a Windows version, what sophistication and features do you feel the app is missing?
|
Good question -- something to justify the price, I guess. Perhaps reporting and analysis tools? Perhaps system-generated analysis of trends in progress with projects? Richer features to actually manage projects. Some visual aids -- gantt charts? I'm not sure. Something a big step on from a spreadsheet, which is what I used to categorise tasks, projects, contexts etc. when I was reading the book in April. It's hard to see too much additional value here except a pleasant interface.
The thing is, GTD is essentially a pretty simple methodology (one of the reasons it works well), so perhaps you ask a good question: in a world where the average iPad app is a couple of dollars, and $10 is usually pretty feature-rich, what can you actually fill a GTD app with to make it worth $20 or $40? (And I see that users are asked to pay again for the iPhone and Mac apps... !!)
After I wrote my post, I noticed that there was a similar discussion a bit further down the page. The main defence of Omnifocus seems to be that it's an investment i.e. a small price to pay for greater efficiency and time-saving. It's not that $20 or $40 is too much to pay for something that will help to save time and stress. In isolation, of course it isn't. But in the context of iPad apps, it is very pricey however you look at it.
Moreover, it is GTD that is the time-saver surely, rather than the wrapper? Omnifocus is another means of implementing it -- I could well understand the value argument if the Omnigroup had originated the methodology.
And finally, the other popular defence is that it's a free market and that no one is forcing me to buy it. Indeed not. But the issue I have is that it's a leap of faith because there does not seem to be a mechanism for trialling the software before a decision is made. I read the reviews, and thought - wow, this must a totally incredible app. I then discover that it's a decent app, but nothing more, and I feel short-changed.
Is there a way of getting a refund? It's the principle rather than the cash -- I'm not that financially pressured, I can assure you. But other people reading these forums might be, and should know that there is an alternative view.