37signals‘s new project planning/personal wiki app Backpack launched today and it’s prompted me to try a little experiment: I’m going switch from my regular productivity apps for one week and use all Web-based apps for my GTD setup. I’ll try to keep track of what works and what doesn’t and report back in a week. Here’s what I’ve done so far:
- Set up all my next actions on Tadalists.
- Created a project page for this project on Backpack, I’ll create more for the rest of my projects.
- Created a Jotspot page where I’ll keep personal notes.
- Imported my calendar into Trumba.
- Imported most of my mail into Gmail.
- Took some screenshots of it all.
**Update:** I made my Backpack page for this project public.
I’m curious — if you are using Backpack, why do you need JotSpot? What are your different applications? Likewise with Tadalists — doesn’t Backpack include all of the list functionality?
I’d love to do it all in Backpack but the page limits are way too restrictive. I could probably manage my action lists and project pages with the 20 pages a Basic account provides but if I tried to use it as a Wiki and keep all my little notes there I think I’d fill up even the 500 pages a Premium account provides before too long. Jotspot doesn’t have any page limits as far as I know.
Sounds like an interesting experiment. We would be interested in learning from your experience. Thanks – Dennis
I’d also suggest you beta AirSet.com at http://www.airset.com. Very good for GTD.
Combines many of the best features of Backpack and Trumba and then some.
Enables networked calendaring, contact lists, to-do lists, web links and blogs. Users can access and update their info. from PC’s and — importantly — mobile phones.
This sounds like a fascinating experiment. I was just wondering why you chose to use tadalist and not basecamp ?
I actually don’t like the todo list interface in Basecamp as much, you can’t create a todo just by hitting Enter. Also, Tadalists just seems better suited for personal todo lists. Basecamp is probably great for shared, project-related todos.
Hi Ben,
You mention in your public Backpack page that in JotSpot you have “Display problems in Firefox on Linux”. Would you be kind enough to drop me a line with some more specifics so I can see if we can get that taken care of?
Aside from our interface lacking snazzyness (which we’re working on, btw), do you have any other feedback/feature requests/wishes for JotSpot? We’re always listening!
I am interested in your views. I gave up on Backpack after a few days. It is too restrictive (no photos) and too expensive to upgrade. I am testing JotSpot now.