The Hit List Preview: Get Your Tasks Done
Today in the Mac applications world their are dozens of applications to help you keep track of your to-dos and get things done. I have tried several of these apps, but I don’t believe any of them work as well or feel as good as Potion Factory’s The Hit List Beta.
The user interface of The Hit List reflects that of yellow ruled notebook paper with various tabs allowing you to access different to-do lists. It also features a navigational bar on the left hand side of the window very much like other GTD (Getting Things Done) apps. This bar allows you to set up some data structure through various folders, smart folders, and lists. Unlike typical GTD apps, The Hit List’s method of doing things is much different.
Most GTD applications force you do get into the program and with a series of clicks enter your tasks. The Hit List does this in a different and much easier fashion. Instead of forcing the user to spend extra time clicking around adding tags, priorities and et cetra, it allows you to do all the same without your fingers leaving the keyboard. All you need to do is hit ‘return’ when within a list to add a task, once the task is entered you can insert a tag by placing a ‘/’ in front of the tag name or a context by replacing the slash with ‘@’. Personally, I have found this method of adding tasks much easier, allowing me to spend more time on the tasks at hand, although if you are a GUI person this could be a problem.
Aside from The Hit List’s keyboard centric nature, it also allows you to time how long it takes you to complete a task and then log the time as part of the tasks data. Additionally, whenever you complete a task The Hit List plays a noise, which as corny as it may sound, is surprisingly satisfying.
The only thing that worries me about this application is its lack of an iPhone companion application. In the preferences pane of the application, however, they state, “Please rest assured that we’re already working on the iPhone version of The Hit List that will sync with the desktop version”.
The Hit List is currently in beta but is available for pre-order at a discounted rate of $49.95 via the purchase menu in The Hit List. Once the application leaves beta, the price will jump to $69.95. Stay tuned for an interview with the developer. If you have any questions to ask, please post them in the comments.
¦ So, 70 US dollars for a desktop app, and what, 20 for the iPhone version?
I took some time to put The Hit List through its paces. It’s quite a slick application, but doesn’t live up to Things (www.culturedcode.com) in my opinion. The lack of an iPhone application is currently a major drawback. I love the convenience of being able to access and create tasks on my iPhone.
I’ve also spent some time with Evernote. While it has an impressive feature set and is generally well though out, I still find myself being drawn back to Things ultra-polished and uncluttered user interface.
I encourage you to check out all three, but for me Things is the clear winner. It has a rich feature set while being very simple and easy to use (something that’s very important in a GTD – if it’s too cumbersome I probably wouldn’t use it regularly). As a side note there’s a 20% discount on Things until January 15, 2009 using coupon code THINGSPRESALE20.
I strongly prefer What ToDo (http://www.objectivesatisfaction.com/what_todo/) It’s only $29 and works great for me. It’s also perfectly stable. I’ve tried a bunch of different applications, but this is by far the best one for my purposes.
I’ve used OmniFocus, Things, RTM, and about a dozen more. I’ve even paid for many of them. Until I saw HitList, I was always a bit disappointed. They worked, but never fully embracing all the keyboard could offer, or still forcing you to do it there way. When I began testing HitList, I fell in love. This is the most amazing app for me, and so far, the only one I’ve been able to use consistently and with any sort of regularlity. It’s still young, but I’m already ready to follow it forever.
You simply must try it, and really embrace those keyboard shortcuts, they make it feel as if you’re mind is just on paper. I’m good with a keyboard, and this is the greatest gift of an application I’ve found in years.
It’s like quicksilver for my mind.
Take this as the highest praise available.
[...] established Omnifocus and Things apps but some users already have switched (see our preview of The Hit List, review of Omnifocus, and our soon to come review of [...]
[...] The Hit List Preview: Get Your Tasks Done | MacApper. [...]
[...] http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/30181 http://macapper.com/2009/01/12/the-hit-list-preview/ [...]
I like the quick data entry, but can I export to google docs and/or calendars or have some other way to share with my boss?
The amount of To-Do Lists/Task List apps is getting a bit out of hand. They are all imitating each other with one or two new features. I don’t think you can really go wrong with any of them.
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I’ve been looking for a Mac to-do app that fits me for a while now. The Hit List is nice but it doesn’t really appeal to my minimalist’s mind-set. Things are a bit better in this sense but it’s still a bit to much. And the price-tag is not that appealing…
There is one promising contender from http://www.getcodo.com which I actually like. It is lacking mobile app / synchronization but it’s free and looks like the app is fairly new and these things are on the way.
[...] http://macapper.com/2009/01/12/the-hit-list-preview/ [...]
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