Web-based calendar, TODO and email

[perpetualponder]

My paper calendar is frequently somewhere other than where I am when I need it, so I am considering switching to a web-based calendar service. Do you have any suggestions on web-based calendar services such as Google Calendar? Suggestions of other types of computerized or paper-based organization tools are welcome as well

Comments

[petercooperjr]

I use a Palm, which works well for me. I got it because like you said, I didn't know where we were supposed to be when. It syncs with its own software or with Outlook. (And Outlook's actually not that bad if you ignore its email functionality.) I think the cheapest model is only around $100 or so, and I find it quite useful to check or add appointments anywhere.

And, the main advantage of a PDA over a pocket paper calendar is that it can beep at you when needed.

One web todo list I've heard recommended is http://gootodo.com/, which is based on Mark Hurst's book Bit Literacy. But I haven't tried it myself. I use Outlook at work for my work task list, and I don't keep a personal task list (although maybe I should).

Hope this helps.

[sirroxton]

I haven't found a good solution yet.

I use gootodo in combination with X-ing off line items in a plaintext document.

The trick with the plaintext document is tricking yourself into using it. That's easy, though. I write down a summary of the task's requirements when I write down the task, and so I'm forced to look at the document to get any work done.

[sirroxton]

What I really want is a fully integrated GUI environment for handling tasks. When I start a task, I should have a blank slate. If I return to a task, every document I had open when I closed that task should be returned to view

[sirroxton]

The natural question is: "What would prevent you from degenerating into using a single task for everything?"

Two things:
1) I think the instant gratification of a blank workspace would drive its usage.
2) You lose the "aw, man, I'm going to lose my place" feeling when you get interrupted.
3) When you start your computer (or your embedded GET-STUFF-DONE platform), you're forced to select or create a task before you do anything. You would be reminded daily of your use of the degenerate task.

----

Man, imagine if all your applications integrated with this task system. Open and close would have no meaning anymore. You'd have New, Delete, and (effectively) Minimize. Done right, there'd be no save, just good runtime versioning.

[sirroxton]

I guess what I'm saying is, I should work for Google. ;-)

[mansu]

Look at remeberthemilk.com. It has a cool plugin for gmail which is a much much cleaner interface.

http://www.rememberthemilk.com/services/gmail/