I don't usually write about productivity software or gadgets. It's not because I don't value tools that make me more fruitful in the work God has given me. The tools I use on my computer are as important to me as a saw and plane are for a carpenter. But there are already lots of sites dedicated to the electronics of productivity, and I've found that, when people ask about the specific tools I use, they sometimes get discouraged in thinking that being productive is too elaborate or requires too much computer knowledge to even try. When I talk or teach about biblical productivity, I always emphasize that Jesus didn't have a laptop and Paul probably had to scrounge around for parchment to write on. They were plenty productive for God. Any discipline worth having should be possible to perform in prison as well as in a cubicle.
That said, I do have friends and students who ask me about my set-up. Today, a friend who recently switched to using a Mac asked me to point him in some productive directions with his new machine. Although I never want this blog to become a "tricks and tips" site, it seems reasonable to share my response to him here, since it is directly related to productivity and is a question I get fairly often.
Because I work in front of a computer most of the day, I have tools for many different scenarios and needs. Some scenarious come up more often than others. For my friend, who has been a basic-level PC end-user for years, I wanted to boil things down to a short list of programs and utilities I use every day. I also wanted to major in tools that have a free option, with only a sprinkling of premium products. So here is what I told him. Only read it, if you have already memorized the first verse of Psalm 127, and read at least some of my posts on prayer and productivity:
Advice to a Mac switcher interested in productivity
The Basics
Read Walt Mossberg's very basic switcher tips.
Review Apple's tutorials for switchers.
Utilities
Watch video demo of Dropbox and install on all of your machines.
Watch video tutorial, puchases, and install Textexpander.
Read wikipedia explanation of Quicksilver and install it. Once you have it installed read some of these tutorials. Tuaw's tutorial is also helpful as a start.
Get Firefox, then install Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer to synchronize bookmarks across machines.
Download free version of Flip4Mac (to view Windows Media files), if that is relevant to you.
Project/Task Management
Watch the video demo, then purchase Omnifocus, my tool of choice for project/task management and review.
Tools to promote universal capture of tasks, ideas, conviction, and promptings of the Spirit
Watch the video tutorial, and install Evernote client and bookmarklet on all devices (mobile and stationary)
Get Jott to aid in universal catpure of ideas and tasks on the fly using cell phone.
Textexpander, Omnifocus have cost, rest are free with the option to purchase premium features or more space as your use and need determine. The two applications I use everyday, but did not include on this list are 1Password and Mindmanager. 1Password is the ultimate password manager, but my friend will be moving between his Mac and a PC, and 1Password is mac-only. If you use secure passwords, it's hard to be without them on your second computer. Mindmanager is central to my writing, planning, presenting, and brainstorming. Fantastic software. However, the mac version, while still excellent, is no where near is good as the Windows version, so it didn't seem appropriate to have it on the Mac Switcher list. In fact, even though I have Mindmanager for Mac, I usually use it on the Windows side of my machine with VMware Fusion (which is also a helpful utility I use a few times a week, but don't put it in the must-have category).
I hope this list is helpful and read its proper context and purpose: for the glory of God in software, hardware, and all things.
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