Linux based GTD

I'm starting to sort things out in my Linux based system. I've tried using Evolution, which is sort of an Outlook clone. It's a good looking program and the Palm sync seems to work fairly well. There are a couple of problems. The Todos don't sync and this seems to be a documented problem. The other issue is that it puts memos into a separate folder, much like Mac Notetaker. You can edit them with a text editor, which is nice. I really prefer to have it all in one spot.

I'm now using J-Pilot, which I like a lot better. It's closer to Palm desktop. I have the sync working for everything. I haven't tried installing Palm programs with it yet, but seems like it would work. And it will even read memo32 databases from pedit. So this looks like a keeper. I'll check back on Evolution at some point to see if they have the bugs worked out.

The other program I've found, that I really like, is Remind. It's text based but I am using the tk version for the gui. (I'm having some problems getting it to store reminders from the command line. I think I can get that sorted out this weekend when I have time.) I really like having that reminder come up when I open up the computer. It's very straight forward. I understand that I can sync reminders with my Palm using Pilot-link. Haven't had a chance to try that yet.

All in all, I'm really happy to be using Linux. I don't have to worry about upgrades or whether something will run on my version of the OS or not. The video problem is gone and it's totally stable. The bits of unix I know are starting to come back to me. I just need to transition the PC over too and set up a network.

Palm based GTD on a Mac using Linux

This old G3 is now using Ubuntu. I have a lot of disks for linux installs on both PC and Macs. I've never gotten one to connect to the internet before. It's a pleasure to finally have one up and running. I'm going to type up my notes, so if anyone has a G3 and wants to give it a try, I'd be happy to share.

This all started because of Goodwill. The new Goodwill by my house gets a lot of good computer stuff. There's a fair amount of Mac stuff too. The problem is, when I get it home, that I can't come up with the drivers for it. There's the ongoing issue of what will run on the version of the OS I'm using. I realize this is a non-issue if you can afford to update your hardware and operating system when the new stuff comes out. I can't and I hate the idea that I have to throw away good stuff to put more money in Steve Jobs' pocket. I tried installed Yellow Dog Linux a few weeks back. In fairness to them, I didn't use their CDs and I think I had bad copies. It was an older distro too. So I could get just a bare minimum to install. It was able to find the modem but wouldn't connect. While surfing the web at work, I found the instructions to install Ubuntu. I'd already gotten the disks from them and was anxious to try it. So the weekend was spent hacking my Mac. I have a couple of 10GB hard drives, so I could leave my OS X drive alone and install on a new one.

I like it a lot. When I added an old HP printer, I had to download 40MB of drivers, which took a long time on my dialup. The drivers were built in to this distro and it works just fine. I have a nice graphical ftp program built in. I even like Evolution, the Outlook clone. My Palm syncs, with a minimum of fussing. I finally have usable programs and it seems like a larger base of drivers. I don't think I'll be going back. When I upgrade the hardware, I may go back to PCs. The hardware is cheaper after all. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

One of the changes I may be making is the use of Tasks or ToDos on my Palm. Evolution has this nice display of Tasks in the program. It even gives you a drop down menu of them when you right click on the date and time on the menu bar. I haven't been using them but I think I will now. I also can see that I'll be moving towards a plain vanilla system. I like having the memos accessible from a real text editor. I don't miss the Palm desktop at all.

macs & moleskinnes

I've updated my mac to 10.2.8 again and the crash is back. I thought it might help to add more vram but it's still not enough. I've gotten a new video card on ebay, so we'll see if that helps.

And then there's the Moleskinne. I'd decided that I wasn't going to use them any more as they are not fountain pen friendly. I've yet to find an ink that doesn't smear on them. Yet I now own the reporter's style Moleskinne. It's all because of that 30% off one item coupon from Borders. It seemed like a good idea.