[Mischka]

Hi all

My office is purely PC based, I was wondering how other folks in similar situations have adapted to this. I'm thinking about switching back from ToodleDo to OF, but I'm worried that the lack of portability will be an issue.

I have used OF before and I do have the iPhone client, but the iPhone app is a far cry from the Mac-based program. That said, I'm thinking about just bringing my MacBook to work with me, although that's not ideal.

Why ways have other people adapted?

Thanks!

[sriggs]

I use the iPhone client at work. Sometimes I do bring in my MacBook but I've been able to survive pretty well with just the iPhone client. I go to a lot of meetings so it works out nice. Everyone has their pens and notebooks and I have my iPhone. Happy!

[whpalmer4]

Mischka, if you had context-mode perspectives on the iPhone, and didn't have to do the bulk of your data entry via the virtual keyboard, would that be a workable setup? Obviously, it still wouldn't be as convenient as having the full desktop application.

If you can leave your MacBook running the Mail application while you are at work, you could use the mail processing features in OmniFocus (see the help for "Processing Mail") to let you do your data entry with a real keyboard and only have to use the iPhone to perhaps do some shuffling of the order. As far as actually executing the work, I find the iPhone/iPod app to be pretty good, myself; it's doing reviews and building projects where the biggest obstacles are for me.

[Mischka]

Originally Posted by whpalmer4

Mischka, if you had context-mode perspectives on the iPhone, and didn't have to do the bulk of your data entry via the virtual keyboard, would that be a workable setup? Obviously, it still wouldn't be as convenient as having the full desktop application.

If you can leave your MacBook running the Mail application while you are at work, you could use the mail processing features in OmniFocus (see the help for "Processing Mail") to let you do your data entry with a real keyboard and only have to use the iPhone to perhaps do some shuffling of the order. As far as actually executing the work, I find the iPhone/iPod app to be pretty good, myself; it's doing reviews and building projects where the biggest obstacles are for me.

Thanks both of you.

@whpalmer4. I would love to have a context-mode perspectives on the iPhone. Is that available? As for leaving my MacBook on indefinitely, I did that to input new items but I stopped as I was worried I'd burn out the machine; is that a unwarranted fear?

Ideally, I'd like to be able to do project planning on the iPhone app, if I can't have my MacBook w/ me. I think it's relatively easy to punch through Next Actions on the iPhone app, but actually figuring out what are the following actions and reviewing reference items that are on OF, that's a problem on the iPhone app.

[whpalmer4]

Originally Posted by Mischka

@whpalmer4. I would love to have a context-mode perspectives on the iPhone. Is that available?

Not yet, but soon. It does exist!

As for leaving my MacBook on indefinitely, I did that to input new items but I stopped as I was worried I'd burn out the machine; is that a unwarranted fear?

I don't think there's any cause for concern if the machine is just sitting idle, with the display dimmed or off. I've got a 37 month old MacBook that probably hasn't had more than a handful of days yet where it didn't get at least 10 hours of hard use, plus quite a few bumps and knocks being carried and used everywhere. If the fan isn't coming on, I doubt there is any problem.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to do project planning on the iPhone app, if I can't have my MacBook w/ me. I think it's relatively easy to punch through Next Actions on the iPhone app, but actually figuring out what are the following actions and reviewing reference items that are on OF, that's a problem on the iPhone app.

I'm not saying you can't do project planning on the iPhone, but it just isn't as convenient on a screen which is at best about 1/6th the size and without a real keyboard. But if you do your reviews at home/on the Mac, you can have your projects in good shape for just knocking off the tasks from the iPhone, right?

[whpalmer4]

By the way, you've already got everything you need to try this workflow out, so why not give it a spin with a few projects and see if it works for you? If it doesn't, you can give more thought to whether you want to bring the MacBook to work or adopt a different system or find a job at a place where they use the right kind of computers :-)