I was not referring to Omnifocus in particular here, my point is that I prefer App Store licensed apps by default because that frees me to do all those licensing gymnastics I was mentioning when changing to a new computer. That an app licensed through the AppStore cannot have a clear upgrade path is not Omni’s fault, IMHO.
That’s right. The only thing I worry is that NotePlan’s developer may be too active with updates for my taste and needs. He’s got a mature product but is still being deluged with requests for new stuff and has been keeping up a frequent release schedule. So far I have been able to turn off or ignore new features that don’t fit me. And I have to admit, there have been a couple of changes that I liked, once I gave them a chance. So, what do I know? 
I’m just enjoying the ride. 
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This may have been covered (I did look) … if I purchase the upgrade (jealous of those who get it for free), do I get all components? I’m mostly asking if I get web access, if I upgrade to 4.
It’s not included. If you have a license for the apps, it’s an extra $5/mo for web.
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No disagreement whatsoever. I’m just noting that a lot of what Omnifocus does that sometimes seems “complicated” is actually pretty vanilla GTD. Start and defer dates, for example, are effectively just a digital tickler file.
If one is actually doing straight-up GTD, Omnifocus is one of the few apps I’ve seen that doesn’t seem to require compromises. I agree with the notes above about how the UI is the one weakness it’s always had, in the sense that it can be overcomplicated.
Of course if one isn’t doing straight-up GTD, then any given app’s compliance with that methodology is far, far less important. 
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May I ask how that adds it back in if they have removed the functionality intentionally ?. Did they decide to re add it ?
I began with GTD (then known as Mapping Actions and Projects) in late 1999. Back then your system choices were paper based or the new Palm Pilot. There was no OmniFocus or Things or any of the other slick systems we now have. I tried a lot of stuff before OmniFocus came along.
Before OF I found a Palm Pilot based outliner I converted into a Kinkless GTD like system. It was great but I was eager for OF to appear since it was on the horizon. I have been a user since, outside of a brief fling with the lovely Things. Before OF it was a lot of bake your own systems. Some things worked and some didn’t. It was the frontier and hard scrabble.
What I have found to be the truth, and what David Allen told me, is keep it simple but make it work for you. It is a deeply personal choice. Deeply.
And you can see it in the passionate notes from all herein. Buy OF , don’t buy OF, like the UI or not, too complex or lacking features.
Every time I complexify … add a layer here or there or do some new cool thing … I have regrets. No matter OF, Things, or some DIY thing.
It took a long time to get my lists and systems is working trim. All of life is mostly maintenance. Takes a lot of work. I have found maintenance is hard and few like the concept. This may doubly hold true with task managers.
I like OF warts and all. Well worth the cost to me. Could it be better? Sure. What things in our orbit couldn’t be? But the problems I have usually ain’t OF. It’s me.
The bottom line is this: whatever you use, make it count.
Also remember: De gustibus non est disputandum (in matters of taste, there is no dispute).
And of course, I upgraded immediately. 
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Great point. It’s not our fav, OmniFocus, it’s me. “All you need is a list manager for your next actions”, like David Allen said.
Very helpful forum on this topic, right here. 
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Could it be better? Sure. What things in our orbit couldn’t be? But the problems I have usually ain’t OF. It’s me. The bottom line is this: whatever you use, make it count.
Well said.
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now I am curious about the apps you are referring to. Can you give me examples?
The new iOS TextExpander keyboard adds full textexpander functionality to every app. Unlike their old keyboard that just expanded text snippets
It used to be built into the Omnifocus app so that you didn’t need to use the text expander keyboard. I’d sooner do it all manually than use that keyboard. It (at least to) work awfully.
This is my experience also. I would add that the nature of digital task managers is that they also hide things, which you must then find. This, for me, is why I always end up back on paper.
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I think this is a misunderstanding of the core idea.
Chronologically, digital task managers hide things that I’ve told them I don’t want to look at. If something can’t be worked on until January 1, and thus I tell OmniFocus that the project has a “start date” of January 1, the standard view won’t show me that thing until January 1st.
Focus-wise, the various tag views show me things only related to the tag I’m looking at. If something isn’t tagged with that tag, it’s not visible.
But if I want to see EVERYTHING related to the Jones project, I just click the Jones project and switch the view to the “everything” view. It then shows everything, including everything that I’ve deferred.
This is by design.
But (a) I don’t have to use that “defer” feature if I don’t want to, (b) I don’t even have to use tags, and (c) I almost never have to go find anything.
If your task manager is routinely squirreling away your tasks in places where you can’t find them, and you’re having to constantly dig around to unearth the tasks that should be right in front of you, you’re either (a) using the wrong task manager, or (b) using the task manager incorrectly.
Because the nature of this discussion is related to task managers and hiding tasks, I’m curious as to how you “defer” things with your paper system. For that hypothetical task I mentioned above, would you just leave it on the main list with a note that you can’t do it until January 1st (in which case you’re looking at it until January 1st)? Set a calendar reminder? Something else?
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If you use a paper system with any complexity or over enough time, you’re going to hide things (have cards under other cards, multiple sheets of paper, multiple notebook pages, notes you left in another location, tickler files, slipped execution in re-copying items.)
(I like paper despite this. Great memories of the 43 folders years, especially.)
If you are talking about keeping all your tasks on one piece of paper, the digital default is do the same thing. For example, the new user experience in OmniFocus has you keeping every task in your inbox. There’s no way to lose something when you use OF like that. Same for other approaches like todo.txt, Things’ default, a spreadsheet, etc. The approaches that inherently misplace information, like entering everything as a calendar event, aren’t common.
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By the way, I get you’ll never use OF since you’re an Android man now, and you’ve had some other personal realizations. I just like discussing these concepts.
Built-in TE does not exist in any app now. Don’t be too quick to judge the new implementation. Its not the old keyboard. Smile has done a good job and even though it’s beta, it runs beautifully even on external keyboards… I was the biggest whiner about devs not rolling TE into their apps so now I am happy. I want TE everywhere and thats what I have.
DEVONthink has a seat based license that makes you remove the older computer (but you don’t have to remember your license code, it’s on Devon’s web account). Aerate happens to have a license code but to deactivate your license you need to do it on the old computer, there’s is no website where you can deactivate licenses for your computer. It’s not a big deal, granted, but it’s not as convenient. Note that these are perpetual licenses.
Yes I know, but we were talking about apps that are in the Mac App Store also that have superior licensing. DevonTHINK is not in the Mac App Store. Aerate does seem to be available outside and in the MAS but the only review in the MAS is a complaint about the MAS license.
As I said, its whatever one is comfortable with… I keep my distance from the App Store whenever possible.
Still eagerly awaiting whatever is next from the gang at CC.
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