bonsai question

[nausicaa]

Hi, I'm looking into Organizer software. :rolleyes: Browsing thru 1source search results, I'm thinking-- Bonsai (with Shadow plan and Life Balance also lurking in my back burner).

For those of you using Bonsai, does it have card/memory stick support? :confused: I wanted to save the notes linked to a given outline on my memory stick. (I anticipate using Bonsai to order meeting notes & conference reports which would take up a lot of space if all in RAM.) Or do I have to buy Daynotez to do this? :confused:

Also, I was curious if the "reverse linking" enabled folks to use Bonsai like the Agendus contact history thing (you are in addressbook. you click on the link and agendus finds all your appointments and todos that deal with that person.) :p

Hopefully the investment in an outliner will help me get a handle on my now-overwhelming to do list!!! :eek:

[DenisC]

I've used Bonsai for several years and am quite happy with it.

It does have card support. As a matter of fact, I just installed a free upgrade from version 3.0.1 to version 3.2.1 and the first time I opened the application, it automatically upgraded all my outlines to the new format even though I keep them all on memory sticks. I even keep the app itself in the Palm/Launcher folder on my memory stick.

On the home page of Bonsai where you see a list of all your outlines, tap any outline to highlight it, then tap the menu button and under the "Outline" header you will see "Details". When you tap "Details" Bonsai will open a new tabbed form. On the "General" tab you will see checkboxes. Here is where you can choose to store an outline in RAM or on a card.

I haven't used links so I can't help you there.


I was Denis on Clie Source

[Bonsai User]

Bonsai is available as a free fully functional 30 day trial. You should download it and try out all the features for yourself.

http://www.natara.com/bonsai/download.cfm

[RobertS]

I have been using Bonsai for around a year now and use it daily as a Tasks PIM replacement.

It is an excellent program and you should definetly give it a try.

[wellsjs]

Bonsai is great!!! I use the desktop a lot as an IT professional to track and manage project dates. I have a master file set up that simply links to all my projects, eliminating the need to manually search/open files.

It is a very versatile product. It's uses are limited only by our imagination (I'm finding!). I have a "Packing/travel List," "Camping" list (no more nightmares discovering that essential item was left home when it's dark and your miles from nowhere!), PC and PDA "Rebuild" lists, etc, etc.

A highly used and highly recommended product! ;)

[LanMan]

Have you tried the freeware Progect? You may want to give freeware a try first.

[wellsjs]

Too late . . . bought Bonsai! :eek: Actually I did give it a test whirl and it's pretty good for freeware, but it's minor leagues compared to Bonsai and Shadowplan! Life Balance was much too complex and complicated for my needs, BTW! ;)

[MMike]

wellsjs,

I'm a relatively new ShadowPlan user. Out of curiosity, if you tried both Bonsai and Shadow, why did you go with Bonsai?

Thanks,

Mad
Mike

[kennyd]

I've been using heirchial apps for four years. I used Progect for the majority of that time. Progect is a very nice freeware heirarchial app. Expandable lists is the best format for catagorizing lists on a small screen. I also would recomend anyone to start with progect. About a year and a half ago I moved up to bonsai after trying brainforest, shadowplan, and bonsai, bonsai came out head and shoulders above the others for my needs. Since then Bonsai has gotten even better providing more even better features. I love their linking system, with link back (jumping from the linked pim to the bonsai outline), dtbk icons, link note contact etc icons, their windows app and conduit was my favorite. Bonsai provides a very intense amount of control over the gui and interface of list's. Bonsai is the DtBk5 of the expandable lists in my opinion.

Side note. I have not been able to uninstall the shadowplan desktop utility for over a year. It's not real big in size, but that is annoying. I'm sure their tech support would help me out if I took the time to contact them and inquire.

[bobbd]

I'm a relatively new ShadowPlan user. Out of curiosity, if you tried both Bonsai and Shadow, why did you go with Bonsai?

I'm curious about Wellsjs' reasons as well but here are mine.

I tried Bonsai, ShadowPlan, Brainforest, ThoughtManager, and Life Balance a few years back. I settled on Bonsai because my priority was an outliner and Bonsai was the most intuitive and user friendly. It was the only one where I could get easy drag and drop item re-arranging to work. The rest of what Bonsai can do is a bonus for me. ShadowPlan might be a more complete project manager, but that's secondary (to me) to the outline capabilities. I'm quite happy with Bonsai. The support is good (when I've needed it) and the application is updated regularly.

Bob

[apeugnet]

I've been using heirchial apps for four years. ... About a year and a half ago I moved up to bonsai after trying brainforest, shadowplan, and bonsai, bonsai came out head and shoulders above the others for my needs. ....

I'm about to bought Bonsai, but a quick tour around ThoughtManager page http://www.handshigh.com/html/tmtoutlines.php3 made my hand shakes. They promote exchange of Outlines and looks very proffesional. I've already taked a look over Progect, Life Balance and Shadow Plan but not over ThoughtManager. All of you that have used both ¿could you give me your advice? :confused:

[oz-nom]

When I bought my 1st Palm a few years ago (the original Zire) I looked at & tested a few outliners/organisers. I went with LifeBalance for a few reasons.

Number 1 was that I wanted a flexible, powerful "to do" list replacer (to be overly simplistic). As a former user of the FranklinCovey paper organisers, I wanted something that offered the same flexibility and ability to link tasks and appointments to my values and roles. LB is definitely that and more so. It is extremely powerful although, at first glance, can seem complex. I have found that it CAN be complex if you want it to be, but can also be very simple & easy to use.

The deal clincher, for me, was that the desktop application was Mac compatible. Bonsai (2nd on my list) is not. For me, that was the end of the story. If anyone knows of other outliners that have a Mac desktop, please let me know. But until I find a better app, LifeBalance is for me. It is probably my number one application.

cheers,
Tim