ThoughtManager Organizer for Mothers

Reviewed by: Jodie Carlisle, send e-mail
Published by: Hands High Software, Inc., go to the web site
Requires: Any Palm computer with Palm OS 3.0 or above and 250KB of free memory; Windows 95 or higher is required for ThoughtManager Desktop
MSRP: $49.95 (Windows & PalmOS); $29.95 (PalmOS only)

ThoughtManager Organizer for Mothers is a database application which can be used by just about anybody with a penchant for organizing life, work, school, family and everything else that makes up our busy world. A better name for the software might be just plain ThoughtManager Organizer (without the "for Mothers" part), because it's extremely easy to re-purpose the layout, categories, sub-categories and data entry fields to suit many different needs. What you get out of the box is a database ready to input all the information you need as a Mom. It's preset with about 40 lists and outlines. After you populate the outlines (sub-categories) you'll have all the information you need on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis, right at your fingertips. Change the lists, rearrange them, create your own.

ThoughtManager as reviewed here comes with two components: a desktop PC program and a PalmOS program. Use the desktop program to create new outlines (i.e.: new category and sub-category lists based on a particular subject, item or activity), then synchronize the whole thing to your PDA. It's simple and effective. The user interface is very plain and somewhat uninspiring, but also does not attempt to dazzle you with fluff, exotic graphics and other peripheral silliness. On the other hand, while it works effectively, it doesn't do much too invite you back. A database is a database after all and we really shouldn't expect too much.

The biggest chore that will ever be required of anyone who decides to eschew dedicated programs (Shopping, Address Book, Contact List, To-Do List, etc.) for the broader and deeper power of a customizable database, is inputting all your relevant details into the database so that it becomes something other than a monstrously huge list of empty data fields. I went through every category, sub-category and sub-sub-category in an attempt to fully populate the database with every possible detail. I spent a total of 6 hours at the task and I'm still not finished. Beware of this effort with any database program - if you're going to spend this much time imputing data, first make sure that you really want to use the program. The smart thing to do is to reduce the initially huge data input effort by deleting all the categories which really don't have relevance in your life (you can always add them again, as needed). Once that's done you'll still need the better part of a day to input everything. Database software (any database software), because of its nature, always demands this kind of effort whenever you're getting started. Once the effort is complete, you'll only need to spend a few minutes each week making sure the few variable categories are up-to-date.

Here's the complete set of database categories and sub-categories preset and installed:

Shopping Tools: Anniversary Gift Ideas, Back to School Shopping, Errands, Gift Wish Lists, Grocery List, Grocery Price Book, New Baby Shopping List, Size Chart

Planning: Birthday Party Planner, Teacher/Parent Meetings, Goals Planner

Travel: Car Camping Checklist, Packing List, Picnic Planner List, Travel Preparation List

Moving: House Hunting Checklist, Moving Checklist

Inspiration: 31 Days of prayer for children, 31 Days of prayer for husband, Bible verses on Parenting

Reference Tools: Birthdays and Anniversaries, Books, Videos, Movies and Web sites, Borrowing and Lending, Government Numbers, Miles, Vital Statistics

Home Management: Housecleaning Day, Maintenance Journal for Home and Auto, Meal Plan Organizer, Super Supper service, Clean Team Rules, Clutter Control Rules, Freezer Contents, Home Improvement/Odd Jobs

Medical: Child Doctor Exams, Dental History, Emergency and Medical Information, Medications Journal, Mother's Health History, Normal Stages of Child Development, Pet Care, Vaccination Schedule

Each category entry has a small arrow. Tap the arrow for a drop list of the detailed information fields. Tap any field to enter or edit data. It seems simple and it is, but the default setup is comprehensive enough to help almost any Mom get started.

I have been using ThoughtManager Organizer for about 5 weeks and the results are quite good. Although several categories haven't been touched (Moving - we're not; Borrowing & Lending - we don't; Back to School Shopping List - it was already done, maybe next year; Pet Care - no dogs or cats here, Achoo), most of the preset categories have been directly useful. In addition, integrating ThoughtManager into my daily routine has been useful as well because I've been able to make use of the various lists supplied in the default categories (Super Supper Service, etc.). Perhaps Hands High Software should consider renaming the program "Mom's Important Info Lists"?

Cons: The barest minimum of automation in the Palm program - record duplication, date insertion - that's about it. If you're not already using a PDA on a daily basis, this is not the program to start with. We feel it's meant for more experienced PDA users who can breeze through outline creation, the user interface and data entry tasks. New users may be frustrated. Desktop program is not supplied with content - no extra outlines or templates - a curious omission considering the price of the software. We'd like to see a Soccer, Baseball, Ballet, Football, Hockey, Karate schedule outline in the default set up. How about a School outline complete with PTA days, PD days, exam days, first day of school, last day of school, and so on (to replace the simpler Teacher/Parent Meeting category)? Scheduling functions are absent - no alarms, no insert time/date function within Palm program. No integration with DateBook.

Pros: We especially loved the Clean Team Rules and the Clutter Control Rules lists which I have now read aloud repeatedly to my 8 and 10 year old boys. The software comes with a 60-day, unconditional money-back guarantee (although why anybody would ever admit to being disorganized enough to not at least appreciate the software is beyond me). Basic integration with AddressBook for adding phone numbers. You can also add notes and/or drawings to any data field. The hard work of setting up a database (outline and template) with all its categories, sub-categories, sub-sub-categories, etc., has been done in a thoughtful manner which encourages the use of the software. You can quickly create custom outlines and templates using the desktop software. Sophisticated drag & drop in the desktop program - positional context is maintained so that you can keep or change the status of any bullet you create, move or copy (very handy). For Moms (and Dads) who are already using a PDA, ThoughtManager Organizer is powerful and useful. Recommended for experienced PDA owners.

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