Support for our most powerful computer - we all have one!

Sigurd · Oct 25, 2024

Not exactly a Windows question as the computer in question doesn't use Windows.
The computer in question is the one that lives inside our skulls. Silver surfers like me, and I know there are quite a few of us here, will all suffer from the same problems - forgetfulness. The Windows computers on the other hand don't and there must be apps out there that would help us. I forget what I need to do, I forget what I was doing yesterday, I forget where I stored that file and so on it goes.
I Googled this question and found a few possibilities - Remember the milk, Microsoft to do, Google keep, and a few others.
Have you any thoughts on or experience of these apps, or know of anything better?

(Moderators - My apologies if this is inappropriate or in the wrong forum!).

XxXxX · Oct 25, 2024

i use a freeware program called simple sticky notes which i use to jot down reminders on my computer screen it seems to work better then Microsoft's version.

Simple Sticky Notes - Free Sticky Notes Software

Simple Sticky Notes - Free Sticky Notes Software - Download Sticky Notes - Sticky Notes Free Download - Create Sticky Notes to Your Desktop

www.simplestickynotes.com

best of luck, Steve ..

rk911 · Oct 25, 2024

Sigurd said:
Not exactly a Windows question as the computer in question doesn't use Windows.
The computer in question is the one that lives inside our skulls. Silver surfers like me, and I know there are quite a few of us here, will all suffer from the same problems - forgetfulness. The Windows computers on the other hand don't and there must be apps out there that would help us. I forget what I need to do, I forget what I was doing yesterday, I forget where I stored that file and so on it goes.
I Googled this question and found a few possibilities - Remember the milk, Microsoft to do, Google keep, and a few others.
Have you any thoughts on or experience of these apps, or know of anything better?

(Moderators - My apologies if this is inappropriate or in the wrong forum!).

I use a Google calendar to post appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. And then I use CompanionLink to sync the calendar to the MS Outlook calendar as well as our Apple iPhone & iPad calendars. I can add, delete or modify a calendar entry on any platform and it is immediately propogated to the other platforms. As for shopping lists I keep one in my iPhone Notes. The Apple Notes file is shared with my wife's iPhone and my iPad.

glasskuter · Oct 25, 2024

Big time sticky note user here. I use different colored notes for different purposes. I'll add to an existing note a lot too depending on what it's for.

As far as forgetting where you stored a file., other than utilizing search a lot, the best solution for me was getting into the habit of being diligent about my folder structure and file organization. I had files scattered across drives and folders, some attached, some not. I took one entire day, getting rid of junk, duplicates, etc. I wrote out on paper how I wanted everything to be organized, all the way down to sub-sub-sub folder level in some cases. Once I organized everything, I've never let my files get into disarray again. That was 20+ years ago. I know exactly where everything is and I never keep anything I don't need. It's become such a habit for me, I don't even have to think before I choose where to save a file. I know exactly where it goes. I was the world's worst about putting notes I found on the web into word documents that I thought I might need sometime. But I rarely (if ever) did.. I shucked 99% of them. The info is still on the web if I ever need it and one less file on my computer.

cereberus · Oct 25, 2024

Sigurd said:
Not exactly a Windows question as the computer in question doesn't use Windows.
The computer in question is the one that lives inside our skulls. Silver surfers like me, and I know there are quite a few of us here, will all suffer from the same problems - forgetfulness. The Windows computers on the other hand don't and there must be apps out there that would help us. I forget what I need to do, I forget what I was doing yesterday, I forget where I stored that file and so on it goes.
I Googled this question and found a few possibilities - Remember the milk, Microsoft to do, Google keep, and a few others.
Have you any thoughts on or experience of these apps, or know of anything better?

(Moderators - My apologies if this is inappropriate or in the wrong forum!).

Scotland has a great word " Numpty" which refers to people who definitely could not claim to have working brains in the slightest.

Winuser · Oct 25, 2024

Sigurd said:
Have you any thoughts on or experience of these apps, or know of anything better?

Only for things such as appointments or important todo lists. For messages I write them down on sticky notes.

Winuser · Oct 25, 2024

rk911 said:
I use a Google calendar to post appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

I use One Calendar setup to use my Google Calendar. This way all my devices including my cell phone are synced through my MS Account.

Ghot · Oct 25, 2024

@Sigurd

Support for our most powerful computer - we all have one!

The Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, didn't have a brain.

Quandary · Oct 25, 2024

Two apps/processes for me.
1. Thunderbird and Tasks feature. I have over 140 entries. These are all one liner items that include one-time and repetitive tasks (weekly, monthly, or periodically). The repetitive tasks would be something like:
Adjust light timers for DST & c/f 1y, 2024-11-04
I have not found a way to get these on my iPhone to allow updates across devices.

2. MS Calendar (new Outlook). This has all my appointments and activities for a particular day. This allows update on either my laptop or iPhone.

MrPig · Oct 25, 2024

Everything I want to do I remember. Everything that Mrs Wonderful wants done she reminds me, frequently! :wink:

TraderGary · Oct 25, 2024

I've used Microsoft OneNote, which includes Sticky Notes, for decades.

TonyCzar · Oct 25, 2024

I really like using MS To-Do. I spend my days (and nights) in front of my computer, and when I think of something I put it into the program immediately. If someone else is invovled, you can send them a link to install the app themself and when you include them on To-Do it updates their To-Do also.

For years I carried a flat voice recorder in my shirt pocket, which I used to capture thoughts in real time. The unit I used was inexpensive but I can't even find a picture of it online anymore. In principle the voice recorder in my cell phone can serve the same purpose, but it's just not as convenient so i tend not to use it. Sometimes I've put things-to-do into the Samsung Notes app on my Galaxy S23.

(You know, I can program the buttons on my S23 and can probably set it up to activate the voice recorder app with one press. I'm going to try that now. EDIT: Instructions posted by Samsung less than a month ago. A-n-d... it works like a charm. Thanks, @Sigurd, for raising the topic.)

jaree1961 · Oct 25, 2024

Post-it Notes (sticky notes) here all the way.

Damn, now if I can just remember where I put my pen!

antspants · Oct 25, 2024

Ghot said:
@Sigurd

The Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, didn't have a brain.

He was told he had one all along.

“If I only had a brain!” The Scarecrow doesn't believe he is smart because he doesn't have a piece of paper that tells him he is smart. Yet he masterminds the journey to Oz and rescues Dorothy, proving he already had a brain.

Everyone has one (unless I get to them and operate, it’s been known to happen) but not everyone puts it to use.

Then there are others, who have achieved much and have utilised much of their brain, like Ian (Sigurd), and are now faced with one of lifes cruelties.

I am the same, often, Ian. I can get up out of a chair and forget why I was getting up by the time I am upright.

Ghot · Oct 25, 2024

antspants said:
He was told he had one all along.

“If I only had a brain!” The Scarecrow doesn't believe he is smart because he doesn't have a piece of paper that tells him he is smart. Yet he masterminds the journey to Oz and rescues Dorothy, proving he already had a brain.

LOL
Yes, I saw the movie. About 50 or so times.

But... if the Scarecrow didn't "think" he had a brain... then while he was thinking that... he didn't.

antspants · Oct 25, 2024

Ghot said:
LOL
Yes, I saw the movie. About 50 or so times.

But... if the Scarecrow didn't "think" he had a brain... then while he was thinking that... he didn't.

He couldn’t of thought it if he didn’t have one.

Edwin · Oct 25, 2024

TonyCzar said:
For years I carried a flat voice recorder in my shirt pocket...

I had one of those, mostly for meetings, back in the day..., still have it, actually!

Edwin · Oct 25, 2024

I use Voice Notepad, but mostly just for shopping lists.

Sigurd · Oct 26, 2024

I am pleased to see that this topic has proved useful, especially as I wasn't sure if it even belonged here. Thank you all for your comments. You have given me plenty of things to consider.
I like Glasskuter's well organised folder structure. I have been fiddling about with folders and files but yet to arrive at a good structure. Example - Many years ago when still working, I couldn't find a report I wanted. So I asked a colleague who found his and gave me a copy. When I later went to file it, guess what! There was my original copy. It seems as if I was consistent when it came to filing things, but inconsistent when it came to retrieving them.
My biggest memory problem nowadays is keeping track of were I am with any particular project. Did I send that email, did I phone so and so, where is that item. The last is particularly annoying as there was a time when if I needed a particular item for a DIY project, I knew exactly where it was amongst the mass "kept just in case" boxes. Not know. Like with files, it would help to adapt Glasskuter's approach and get rid of the stuff I know I will never use.

Trouble is while not yet a numpty I am a Canny Scot and throwing things away goes very much against the grain. Too often I have thrown out something only to find a need for it a couple of days later.
Now, what was I going to do

kelper · Oct 26, 2024

I use Google calendar along with Jason Savard's excellent Calendar Plus Checker. When I set an event I can have an email or pop-up minutes or days before an event. I can set multiple reminders. My wife can see my events and I can see hers. I find it very useful for dentist appointments and reordering medical prescription which needs to be done at two month intervals.

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