One time a friend of mine asked what the best organizer? He said, “Microsoft Outlook, of course.” Then he thought a little and added, “The most popular one, anyway.” But popularity is not the key issue for me. And, since I have to write down (or keep in mind) a lot in my work, I decided to take it more seriously. I have studied a lot organizers and developers. LeaderTask from Almeza company has proven the most suitable and convenient one for me. I will not compare it with all organisers, but with only one of the most popular – Microsoft Outlook. There is no doubt Microsoft Outlook is a product of high quality software, but LeaderTask outdoes it in some things. While Outlook is better in some other things. I will enumerate all these parameters in this article. Then …
LeaderTask advantages.
1. Separate groups object.
There are different types of objects defined in LeaderTask. These include: projects, tasks, notes .
Projects in LeaderTask say these things that have deadlines. Something specific results of a project to be completed.
A task in LeaderTask is the description of what must be done to complete a project (project stages).
The notes are chaotic records that can be allocated to different projects and tasks (they can also deal with a contact / category / hour, etc.). Notes serve as a convenient tool for taking down different thoughts, which may be useful for completion of a project or a task.
A project may contain several tasks. For example, the “Writing an article” project may include the following: “study materials”, “draft Writing”, “send it to the editor”, “Correcting the article.” The project is a result of the article. In other words, something big is divided into smaller parts, which is very convenient to use.
In addition, each project has the following properties: a name, a group (logical, a project to which it belongs), a contact (the list of project participants), a period of time (the time the project will be completed within), notes (comments on the draft). You can filter tasks by these properties (only the tasks of the task list). I am going to filter a little later.
Each task may contain subtasks. For example, the “Studies materials” mission may include the following subtasks: “Visit the library”, “Show information about the site”, “See the material for propaganda.” Any task has parameters (tags) which can also be used for filtering. These include: “Projects”, “Contacts”, “Categories”, “Calendar”.
Outlook has nothing like this – there are different types of objects are defined in it. There are separate projects, tasks, notes – there is only equal tasks. This means that the notes (occasional thoughts) will be on a list, which will make the demand for a special note after more difficult. It is totally unacceptable that a person who values time.
2. Tree-like tasks.
Tasks in LeaderTask are prepared in the form of a tree, which is obtained at the expense of the task hierarchy (divide tasks into subtasks). It lets you sort tasks, combine them into one project (or in a task of top level). This way you get tasks that are not scatterred but strictly structured. The tree-like structure allows you to see the hierarchy and understand what tasks to which it belongs at any time. She notes that the tree of folders and files in the operating system. It is much more convenient to keep the mission in this way (since you’re quite used to it). Moreover, these hierarchies levels may have as much as you need.
The tree-like structure allows you:
See all the tasks at once;
Sort tasks. You can sort tasks by any property (major / minor, personal / business, etc.);
Group tasks. You can group tasks by criteria (whether by one or by several criteria at once). The criteria include: project, time, category, contact;
Use a periodic task “option allowing you to complete tasks that can occur at certain intervals;
Customize the settings. You can customize the task tree in the way that suits it best;
Hide tasks completed. You can show (or hide) tasks completed at any time. What is also very convenient and allows you to not pay attention to tasks that are already completed.
The tasks are not organized as a tree in Outlook. He has only one level. All tasks are organized in a list, there is no integration, which makes it difficult sometimes to do what belongs to a specific mission. It is as if all the computer files were located in a huge folder. It is very inconvenient.
3. Flexible interface customization.
You can customize the interface flexible in LeaderTask (as in many modern programs). Any user can customize tasks to be presented in the way it thinks appropriate. The following items can be used to achieve it.
Panels floating. All panels are floating in LeaderTask – they can be dragged to any part of the main window. The user can set the panel size, to define its position and type, specify how many panels should be displayed in a moment. In addition, each panel has buttons you in the right corner of his the title bar. They allow you to maximize the panel (inside the main window), how to activate popup panel (the panel will slide out when you move the mouse pointer over it), close the panel.
Highlighting. Each user can highlight tabs on a special mission colors in order to see better in the task tree. Highligting is a perfect tool for the marking of the most important functions, tasks or urgent tasks you should not postpone or forget. An important task that is not posted May be lost among other tasks. LeaderTask allows you to avoid it. It seems as if nothing special, but highlighting in different colors is a very useful tool for planning their tasks right.
Skins. LeaderTask supports all types of skins, including any user will be able to choose what suits it best.
Sources. LeaderTask supports all types of sources. You can use it to highlight the various tasks on the list too.
You can customize the interface part in Outlook (but not so easy to do this). In particular, panels are static in Outlook (they are not floating), and it is also impossible to highlight colors different tasks, particularly in Outlook.
4. Structuring tasks.
It is there that is completely incomparable LeaderTask – which offers extremely rich resources for structuring tasks. Firstly, it is structured projects and tasks in subtasks (what I mentioned above). Moreover, it is possible to structure tasks by categories, with deadlines, with priority, for contacts.
The most important thing in structuring tasks LeasderTask is the priority. The priorities are arranged in a library of priorities that you can cusotmize so that it meets their needs. Tasks structured by priorities allow you only the most important tasks among all other tasks and complete them first.
The tasks are not structured in Outlook. All tasks are shown in a list reall where it is difficult to do anything out.
5. Clear sight.
A major advance in LeaderTask is a clear vision of tasks (in particular on the “Today” panel). Along with the task tree and recovery, which is achieved by the following:
Guides. Multiple tasks are grouped with the help of guides in the “Tasks” panel. Any items of the “Navigator” panels can be used as these guides. Most of the time, are projects. Using tabs is very convenient. For example, two projects: “Write an article” and “design development”. These projects include a series of tasks. Not to see work on both projects at once, you must click on the tab corresponding project and the “Tasks” panel will show only tasks of a project (for example, of “Writing an article”).
Filters. It allows the viewing of selected records in certain parameters. Parameters (criteria) are set when you create records: task start time, responsible person, physical locations where the task is completed, and others. This means that the filtering allows you to select records (from different projects) between all the records created by certain criteria. This feature that seemed more real to me, since it offers wide selection of opportunities where it is necessary at this time accoding to an event of the entire list.
There is no clear view in Outlook. And even more – view tasks is made as difficult as possible. As mentioned earlier, all tasks and notes are displayed in a list. There are no trees, no evidence, not only simple and tabs filtering (you can not create custom filters).
6. Tasks differentiated.
LeaderTask allows it to plan their activities assigning tasks to a particular context. Context in which fit best way to complete a task (for example, “the office”, “at home”, “in a conema” and others). Moreover, it is possible to bring into tasks with defined parameters and attributes to them. For example, through projects, through contacts, by priority, with urgency, and others. In other words, LeaderTask feels the same tasks with different characteristics and different tasks (which they are).
The tasks are not differentiated in Outlook. All tasks are equal. This is probably the reason why he does not have useful features such as trees, filtering and other …
Microsoft Outlook advantages.
1. Data synchronization.
Microsoft Outlook (to be exact, a lot of add-ins from both Microsoft and others) lets you synchronize your data on the computer with data on other devices such as cell phones, pocket PCs, etc.
There is no such synchronization of data LeaderTask. It should be mentioned that LeaderTask is not assigned to any system during its installation – you can save it, for example, on a flash drive and use it on different computers. It is a little excuse.
2. Data import and export.
Microsoft Outlook has impot automatic data and export. You can import quite a lot of items: address books, e-mail messages, account settings, etc. You can also export the data in different formats that are more convenient for the import of other programs. Also, there are special add-ins to enhance import and export data features.
I could not find data import and export in LeaderTask.
Abstract.
These are the main advantages and disadvantages of LeaderTask. Since I plan my time just using the computer and only in LeaderTask, I do not have the import, export and synchronize data. But of course, it is no excuse for their drawbacks. Probably, it will be fixed soon. And if they do so, LeaderTask will become the best organizer ever. And there is no doubt that they will do so taking into account how thoughful of software developers are Almeza on its software become comfortable, attractive and functional. Most likely, data import, export and synchronization is only a matter of time.
