The Four-eyed Journal » GTD

Combining Linux & Mac OS X – sort of

jhay — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:30:00 +0000

So I’ve finally taken the plunge. I gave in to the habit of tweaking the UI of Vista on my notebook so as to become more productive, suit my workflow and please my personal preferences.

No, I did not download one of those transformation packs to make Vista look and behave almost exactly like Mac OS X. I’ve grown tired of living in a dream and have decided that if I wanted to use something like Mac OS X, I’d get the real one. Albeit, someday, in the distant future. lol

What I did was simple. The Taskbar was moved on top of the screen, just like in OS X and Ubuntu. This way, I don’t have to strain my hand every time I scroll down when switching between running apps I’ve minimized and the same goes for my neck and eyes. I’ve only used OS X twice in my entire life, so it was in using Ubuntu Linux that I’ve come to appreciate the more natural look of the menus popping down from the top instead of from below.

Next, I’ve downloaded and installed ObjectDock. It’s a free and open-source application that works like the Dock in OS X. At present, it contains all the shortcuts to the applications that I use regularly. Firefox, WinAmp, FileZilla, NotePad++, Evernote, Photoshop and Flickr Uploader. Yes, since last week, Windows Live Writer is also included as well. What about Microsoft Word and Excel? Good question. I hardly use those nowadays that why I’ve become accustomed to launching them from the Start Menu or Vista’s nifty Search function.

As you can see from the screen-shot of my new desktop, which sports the WordCamp Philippines wallpaper, Vista’s Sidebar is missing. It’s because I’ve decided not to use it anymore. John Clyman from PC Magazine was right, using the Sidebar was really a personal preference and so I’ve decided that since I never really needed Sidebar, it’s much better to regain the screen space it once occupied.

The goodies

The immediate benefit is that I now have a much more organized, cleaner and less-cluttered desktop. Everything I need are just a few clicks away and I can keep an eye on the apps that I’m currently running. Plus, I get more eye-candy from ObjectDock instead of Vista’s Aero which is more demanding system resources.

Second, performance has increased significantly. Since Sidebar is no longer being used, my notebook’s startup time decreased dramatically. Plus, apps that I run are more responsive because they have more system RAM to work on. Proof of this is that I was able to run five Firefox windows each with not less than three active tabs, and close all of it after a whole day’s worth of web browsing without Firefox crashing. In between, Photoshop, EverNote and PowerPoint were ran at different times during the session.

Third, I was able to increase my output by some significant margin. Sidebar with its Notes, Calendar and Slideshow gadgets turned out to be more of a distraction that kept me from focusing on my work. Instead WinAmp has taken its place on the screen serving my daily dose of my favorite music from The Bee Gees, Bamboo and The Eraserheads. Tunes that help keep my creative mood and juices going and going and going.

Lastly, for now, I’ve learned to use keyboard shortcuts to get around the desktop instead of using the trackpad which gives my hand some extra strain. The only time I use the trackpad is when launching apps from ObjectDock, navigating in Windows Explorer and doing some quick editing in Photoshop. If ever there’s a need for an application from the Start menu, I just press the Start menu key, search for the app and hit Enter to launch it.

Too bad, I can’t get Lauchy to work on my notebook the first time I’ve installed it. Ah but that’s for another post. So far, I’m happy with the new setup. I’m not really after making Vista look and behave like Mac OS X just to get more eye-candy or impress my friends. All I wanted was to get things done, the way I wanted it done.

So did you changed Vista’s default UI too? Do share your stories, tips and tricks.

GTD: Three-pronged approach to organizing workflow

jhay — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:06:39 +0000

Been under lots of offline work lately which again explains the rather lack of updates on this blog and the other blogs I write for.

Thankfully, the work load has not been that heavy, time-consuming and sometimes too costly for me. It’s not that I’ve shaved off a few of my tasks, I just figured out a system of organizing the things that needs to be done, manage my time and leave something for my personal leisure, well sort of. Thanks to SexyMom for remindin me of this minor yet ever so crucial detail.

As the title suggests, this personal system of mine is designed to keep track of the tasks I need to do, schedule them and record the ideas that arise whenever I have a braingasm.

Sony Ericsson K800i

At the front line of this system is my Sony Ericsson K800i, which with its handy-dandy Organizer and the applications under it, setting appointments, scheduling them even keeping notes of ideas and stuff on-the-fly is not only easy it saves me a lot of troubles.

The Calendar – of course for scheduling appointments, meetings and deadlines.

Notes – stores tid bits of info, ideas, things-to-remember and do; it’s my virtual notepad.

Tasks List – it’s a built-in To-do list which comes with a reminder that sets off when the time is near.

I even use it’s 3.2 Megapixel camera to take photos and scans of documents I need to work with, especially my school work. Max Limpag has shown us how to turn our mobile phones into a document scanner using Scanr which is really cool and useful. Well, I really don’t need to upload those documents online and there’s no worrying about taking too many photos of documents and other subjects because my K800i is equipped with a 1GB M2 Memory Stick.

Student Planner

Last July 4, 2007 the University Student Council launched the “Come One, Come All” Freshmania special which served as the welcoming and acquaintance party cum general assembly for all the students of La Salle Dasmarinas especially the freshmen.

It was also during this event that the USC gave away free copies of the DLSU-D Student Planner for everyone who attended the event. This is the second part of my personal organizing system. The planner is one of the best things as student could ever have. It contains valuable information that will make college life much easier.

It has descriptions of the various administrative offices of the university plus their local phone numbers. We just need to put phones around the campus but hey, it’s a good start. Aside from that, the planner has enough calendar space to take note of and schedule the things you’ll be doing for the rest of the schoolyear. It even has important dates from the Academic calendar such as the schedule of holidays, major exams etc.

I actually use this as a hard copy and back up of the Calendar + Notes application in my K800i. This is so because I always carry my phone with me and since most appointments and ideas arise on-the-fly I first make note of them in my K800i then write them down on the Student Planner.

For DLSU-D students, you get a copy of your own from the University Student Council Office at the Administration Building. If you’re a member of any recognized organization in the university you get your planner from your respective organizations.

Google Calendar

The last part of this custom GTD system is Google Calendar which is part of the Google Apps system. Since I don’t have a laptop and I really don’t use the internet service as school, Google Calendar serves as another back-up of the things I need to do.

The feature that I love the most about Google Calendar is that it sends free SMS alerts or reminders about your up coming appointments, things-to-do, etc. to your mobile phone for free! Google Tutor has nifty guide on how to configure your Google Calendar to send you SMS alerts and reminders.

A screencast below will help you appreciate this nifty feature of Google Calendar.

The system right now is not yet perfect, I’m still figuring out to really help this manage my blogging as well. But I guess that’s for another post at another time.