Posted by Doug on December 29, 2008
Photo: jakecaptive
When you’re setting up a business of your own at home, it’s easy to overlook the cost of software–it can add up fast. In some cases, you simply can’t get around the fact that you have to buy a copy of Photoshop or Final Cut Studio or ProTools (or whatever). But there may be other applications you need for which you can substitute open-source alternatives and save a bundle of money.
Cost-saving example
Here’s an example of what we’re talking about: suppose your bread-and-butter application, the one that you use most of the time, the one that you’re an expert on, is Photoshop. You’re definitely going to buy Photoshop. You also occasionally do some word-processing, maybe a spreadsheet now and then, and on rare occasions, you need to make presentations–that sounds like a job for Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint). In addition, you need a way to manage your business finances, so you could use Quickbooks, or MYOB, or Quicken or something similar. Occasionally you get work that requires you to manage a larger project, so from time to time you need something like Microsoft Project. So you could be looking at costs similar to these:
Photoshop $600.00
Microsoft Office $300.00
QuickBooks $160.00
Microsoft Project $450.00
Total: $1,510.00
Depending on what sort of computer you have, you might be looking at more cost for the software than you spent on your machine! Now consider the same list with some open-source alternatives for MS-Office, QuickBooks and MS-Project:
Photoshop $600.00
OpenOffice 0
GnuCash 0
OpenProj 0
Total: $600.00
By substituting open source alternatives for the software that isn’t your main business tool, you’ve saved more than half of the potential cost, and that’s money that you can probably put into buying some great plug-ins or other add-ons for Photoshop, or maybe a new graphics tablet.
osalt.com - open-source alternatives
osalt.com–finding open-source alternatives
There is a LOT of free, open-source software out there. Some of it is great, some not so great. You can search the repositories like SourceForge.net and Freshmeat.net, but there a lot to wade through. One of the best places I’ve found to search for open-source software is osalt.com. At osalt.com you’ll find a directory of open-source alternative software, organized into categories such as business, graphic applications, multimedia and audio, and much more. You can search for a commercial package, and if there are open-source alternatives for that package in osalt’s database, you’ll see a list. Each entry provides you with a basic description of the package and its features, shows where to download it, and points to the application’s Web site.
OpenOffice, GnuCash, OpenProj
In the example above, I found all three of the open-source packages listed at osalt.com. OpenOffice is a great alternative to MS-Office, and comes with a whole suite of applications, including Writer (for word-processing), Calc (for spreadsheets), Impress (for presentations), Draw (for drawing and graphing), Math (an equation and formula editor), and Base (a database tool that also builds forms and reports). Runs on Windows, MacOSX and Linux.
GnuCash is open-source personal and small-business financial and accounting software. It will help you manage your income and expenses in all your accounts; keep track of customers, vendors, and projects; help you with invoicing, AR/AP, and even communicate with your bank (if the bank supports the OFX DirectConnect and HBCI standards). GnuCash can import data from Microsoft Money and Quicken, as well. And it is available for Windows, MacOSX and Linux.
OpenProj is intended to be an alternative to MS-Project. It can import MS-Project project files, and does pretty much all of what you might expect–Gantt charts, network diagrams (PERT charts), and more. Available for Windows, MacOSX and Linux.
Open-source caveats
Yes, I know some people will warn you to stay away from open-source software on the general premise that you get what you pay for. There is some truth to this, to be sure. Some open-source software is not well-supported, but I would argue that the communities that are involved with the development of the packages that have been out there for a long time, such as OpenOffice and Gimp (a Photoshop alternative), are very helpful and supportive. This is true of all of the most popular open-source packages. You might have to spend a little time in support forums asking questions in order to get the help you need, but the difference in price between MS-Office and OpenOffice more than makes up for that.
Not all open-source software is as mature and stable as OpenOffice, so you will occasionally run into trouble. But if you stick with the packages that have been out there for a while, and around which there are well-developed support communities, chances are you’ll do just fine.
Some people like to remind us that “open-source” doesn’t necessarily mean “free”–while this may be true in some contexts, particularly where additional development is necessary, for the average user of open-source applications, “free” really does mean “free.” If, at some point down the road, you decide that you really need the commercial software (and you might), you’ve at least saved some money for a while by getting by with something that was free as long as you could.
(If this has been helpful to you, Diggs and Stumbles are always much appreciated!)
Posted by Doug on December 3, 2008
Photo: ikoka
If you are still jotting your to-do lists on paper, and if that’s working for you, great. But if you’re looking for a new way to organize your work and stay on top of the stuff you have to do every day, you might want to consider trying out one of the many free, online to-do list manager applications listed here. There are others out there, and you can find applications that will do a lot more than just manage your to-do lists, but these are the simplest ones (in my opinion), and they are free. (Most of them require that you register for an account.)
There are some sites out there with a higher level of functionality–project and task managers and such–and we’ll talk about some of those another time. For our purposes here, I have tried to focus on sites that have to-do list management as their primary function. My bias in this article is toward Web-based to-do list managers that are free, fairly simple, and fairly intuitive. First we’ll take a look at the list, and then I’ll give you my top choices, and my recommendations.
http://blablalist.com
Bla Bla List is one of the simpler, more intuitive to-do list sites out there. Once you’re logged in, you can create various lists and add items to each one. Adding new lists or adding items to existing lists is easy to figure out, and the list lives in a small browser window that is created when you sign in. By clicking on the “Share” button and entering one or more email addresses, you can share your list with other people, who will be sent a link to your list and have the ability to update the list themselves. This could be a useful tool for delegating tasks to various members of a work group. (Or to a spouse or child!)
http://www.tadalist.com
TaDa List is another very simple to-do list manager that provides the essential functions and not a lot more. TaDa List also allows you to share your lists with other people via email, and you may either grant them permission to change or update the list, or simply to view it without editing capability, depending on what your needs are. It’s easy to use, and the user interface is intuitive. Like BlaBla List, TaDa List allows you to create and manage multiple to-do lists.
http://www.taskbin.com
If you need more than just the basics, TaskBin might be more what you’re looking for. There are plenty of options for prioritizing items, and individual tasks can be shared with other members of your work group. A history log is kept for you–you’ll have a record of all changes made to a list, which can be handy when several people are working on the same list. You can add another group member’s list to your list page, and keep track of their progress. You can chat with other members of your group, and you can theme your to-do list page in one of several ways.
http://www.toodledo.com/signin.php
Although packed with features, compared with some of the others in this list, I have to confess that I had a little trouble with Toodledo’s user interface. Once I was signed up for the free account, it took me a little while to figure out how to add items to a to-do list. For some users, this may not be an issue at all, particularly in light of all the other stuff Toodledo does (although some features are not available on the free accounts). Some of the additional functionality includes public sharing, a calendar (you can also use Google Calendar if you prefer), a personal goals section, and you can also print out your list in a format suitable for folding into a little booklet. Additional features are unlocked when you upgrade to a paid account.
http://www.orchestratehq.com/
The user interface for Orchestrate is different from most of the other to-do list apps out there, but fairly intuitive once you figure it out. You can create as many lists as you like, and they are stored in the form of little boxes on the left side of the window. To work with a list, you drag it onto the open area in the right side of the window, where the list expands for editing. Aside from the unusual, but simple user interface, Orchestrate is very straightforward–it does to-do lists without adding any other bells and whistles.
http://todoist.com/
The first Web-based to-do list manager I ever used was Todoist, and it’s still the one I use most. Todoist allows you to create multiple lists, and there are some fairly sophisticated features for organizing those lists, but using them requires learning the tags and codes that you enter when you create a list item. The premium (paid) version adds some additional functionality, including expanded labeling capability and e-mail and other reminders. There is also a Firefox plug-in for Todoist that makes it a little easier to access and edit your lists.
http://www.rememberthemilk.com
One of the cool things about Remember the Milk is that it has an API that has encouraged developers to integrate Remember the Milk (RTM) with other services. RTM is a very popular to-do list manager, and it is full-featured, as well. There are many ways to organize and configure your lists and list items, and there are many ways to set up reminders–via email, SMS messaging, instant messaging–AIM, Google Talk, Jabber, ICQ and others are supported. You can create smart lists that compile lists of tasks based on criteria that you specify, such as priority or due date, etc. You can even add tasks via email.
http://www.tasktoy.com/
Some people are wired a bit nerdier than others, and Tasktoy strikes me as the sort of application that a true nerd might like a lot, because it is fairly straightforward and simple, but it is also user-customizable. To understand what Tasktoy is, you really need to read the About page–this explains the many ways that you can use Tasktoy to manage not only your to-do lists, but other kinds of information as well, such as notes, URLs, etc. My first impression of Tasktoy was not great–it didn’t seem intuitive–but once I understood what its intended purpose is, it began to make a lot of sense to me.
http://sproutliner.com
I’m not entirely sure what a “supercharged, structured to-do list” is, but that’s what SproutLiner purports to be. Essentially, SproutLiner allows you to create lists with columns that you define–for example, if you wanted a “notes” field next to your list items, you simply create one, and now you can add a note to each item in your list. You can add columns in one of three forms: text, list, or checkbox. You can set them up pretty much any way you wish. I’ll admit that SproutLiner probably frustrated me more than any other of the to-do list managers I tried, but give it a look, because chances are there is gold there that I just wasn’t smart enough to mine.
http://voo2do.com
This to-do list manager is one of the more full-featured ones I tried–not quite on par with Remember the Milk, but there’s definitely more functionality in Voo2do than there is in, say, TaDa List. Voo2do has the expected to-do list functions, plus you can track time spent and time remaining on a task, add tasks via email, publish your task lists (read-only Web pages), and there is an API for those who want to integrate Voo2do with other apps.
http://jott.com/default.aspx
Given the criteria I listed at the beginning of this article, I’m not sure Jott belongs in this particular list, but Jott is such a cool tool that I thought it deserved to be mentioned here, plus it integrates with Remember the Milk. Jott essentially allows you to add items to a to-do list, or create text notes, or send email notes via your phone. Once you’ve registered for the service, you call Jott’s phone number, you speak your message into the phone, and Jott converts your message to text, which it then sends wherever you choose. Jott works not only with RTM, but also with Facebook, Google Calendar, Twitter, Amazon, Blogger, Wordpress, and more. Premium (paid) Jott users get even more options. Say, for example, you’re out picking up the kids at school, and you remember something you were supposed to do, but you forgot to put it on your to-do list, and now you’re away from your computer, and you’ve got nothing to write on, and you’d probably lose the note, anyway–with Jott, you just call, say the message, and when you get back to your desk, the e-mail is there waiting for you. Very cool stuff, indeed.
My preferences
As I noted earlier, I’m generally biased toward simple applications that are easy to figure out, but this clearly isn’t always true, as I am a long-time Todoist user, and while Todoist is not that hard to figure out, it is a bit more complicated than TaDa List, for example. (The other evidence of my internal inconsistency in such matters is my preference of Emacs over Pico, but we’ll not go there just now.) Nevertheless, if there was one of the list managers above that would cause me to re-think my loyalty to Todoist, it is probably Remember the Milk. It is powerful and relatively easy to learn. The user interface is attractive and not difficult to navigate. The integration with other applications is extremely cool and handy.
My recommendations
If you like simple and plain, try TaDa List or Orchestrate. If you’re looking for a little more functionality and don’t mind tweaking a few “nerd-knobs,” try Todoist. If you’re looking for a powerful, feature-rich application that can do a lot, definitely take a look at Remember the Milk. (And if you try RTM, be sure to check out Jott, as well.)
Update
There is a really nice article about how to use a to-do list effectively at LifeHacker: The Art of the Doable To-Do List.
So what (if any) online to-do list manager do you use? Why do you like/hate it? I’d be interested in your comments.
If this article was helpful to you, I’d appreciate any Diggs or Stumbles! Thanks!
Posted by Doug on December 2, 2008
Illustration: dh
Many people who work in home offices are freelancers of one sort or another, so I’ve been looking around for as many good resources for freelancers as I could find. If you’re trying to make a go of it as a freelance writer, Web developer, graphic designer, consultant, photographer or whatever, I’m guessing you’re going to find something here that will be useful to you. Here’s my list so far:
1. Freelance Switch
Freelance Switch not only sports a great line-up of articles and resources about freelancing, but they’ve also got a valuable (and inexpensive) job board. The concept is brilliant: you can advertise a freelance job for free, and freelancers pay only $7/month to apply for any of the jobs on the board–pretty much an “everyone wins” deal.
2. Freelance Folder
Oriented towards freelancers and Web-workers, Freelance Folder is another source for helpful articles on a wide variety of topics–productivity, creativity, marketing, and the freelance life in general. There’s a lot of good stuff here.
3. JD’s Blog
If you’ve got entrepreneurship coursing through your veins, you’ll probably profit greatly from hanging out at JD’s Blog. You’ll find many articles about how to build better businesses, from virtually every conceivable angle–marketing, tips and tools for entrepreneurs, finances and investing, and a lot more. (As of this writing, the last post to JD’s Blog was in October, so I’m hopeful they’re just on a brief hiatus–but there is still a ton of useful content there.)
The rest of the resources below are individual articles from a variety of blogs (including those mentioned above), but when you go to look at them, be sure to spend some time on these sites, because you’ll likely find other stuff that you can use.
4. 101 Essential Freelancing Resources
This Freelance Switch article is a very long list of all kinds of resources–tools and Web sites for things like time tracking, invoicing, project management, business tools, job boards, Web site and blogging tools, and advertising and marketing tools and resources. “Essential” is the right word for this piece.
5. Freelancer’s Toolbox–30+ Online Freelance Resources
This article from Mashable.com is another great list of useful online resources for the freelancer. Lots of great stuff to browse here.
6. 20 Resources for Freelancers
This article is from Tutorial Blog–there’s some duplication with the lists above, but you’ll find some other stuff here, too, and this site is definitely worth a look.
7. The Freelance Writing FAQ
Writing for newspapers and magazines is the bread and butter of many freelancers, and this article at Creating Marketing Solutions is a very helpful set of answers. If you’re just starting out, do yourself a favor and get up to speed with this FAQ.
8. Tools for Freelancers
This Society of Professional Journalists article is a great source of information for the freelance journalist, and the resources referenced span a wide range of topics, from tax guidelines to professional organizations to writer’s conferences and such. Put that j-school degree to work.
9. Ebook Writing and Marketing Secrets
Ebooks are all over the place, and people are buying them. If you have what it takes to write them, you could stay pretty busy and do pretty well. This site explains how.
10. Resources for Freelance Web Designers
Here’s a list of resources with a practical, nuts-and-bolts feel. There’s stuff here about dealing with clients, protecting your work, online portfolios, social networking sites for designers, and more.
11. 53 Steps to follow if you want to become a freelance Web designer/developer
No-nonsense introduction to the process involved in becoming a good Web designer or developer–good stuff, and most of the steps link to resources for further reading.
12. The Ultimate list of Freelancing Resources (1-25)
The Ultimate list of Freelancing Resources (26-50)
These articles comprise a list of 50 articles about freelancing–a lot of helpful content here.
13. 25 tips by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs
This article contains a set of valuable tips–practical stuff–but be sure to check out the collection of articles on entrepreneurship at the end of the article.
If you know of other great freelancing resources out there that I’ve missed, please post a comment and a link.
Posted by Doug on October 13, 2008
http://openoffice.org
When I was at my old job, I had a company laptop computer with all the software I needed on it. When I quit my job and bought my own laptop, I was suddenly faced with some pretty daunting costs. As a Mac user, I decided pretty early on not to pay $400 for Microsoft Office, particularly when iWork ‘08 was available for only $99–and that was for a “family pack” that I can install on up to five Macs in my household.
But there is another option for those who need MS-Office-type capability and file format compatibility but can’t afford the stiff price tag, and it comes from the open-source community: OpenOffice.org 3.0. The latest version was just announced today for the Mac (Intel-equipped Macs only, unfortunately), and versions are available for Windows and Linux, as well. And it’s free.
OpenOffice is an application that integrates word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing and database functionality in one application. It doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles of MS-Office, but it can read and write files in many different formats, including the common .doc, .xls, .ppt, .psd and others. I haven’t had a chance to try out all of the options yet, and I’ve only used the Mac version, but it appears that while you can read the newer Office 2007 document formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx), you may not be able to write in those newer formats. You can write regular .doc, .xls and .ppt files, among many other formats.
The most significant thing about this release is that it runs natively on MacOSX; previous versions of OpenOffice had to run in the X11 Xwindows environment.
A new NeoOffice should follow soon
The release of OpenOffice.org 3.0 is also good news for users of NeoOffice. NeoOffice has been native on MacOSX for several years, and is based on the OpenOffice.org code, but is more tightly integrated with certain MacOSX features. NeoOffice has also been faster than previous versions of OpenOffice (although the new OpenOffice is also faster than previous versions). A 3.0 version of NeoOffice is scheduled to be available some time next month, so you may wish to watch for that release. NeoOffice is also free.
NeoOffice 2.2.5
I may be somewhat biased toward open-source software (partly because I’m cheap), but I think it’s remarkable to get this kind of functionality for free.
If you need to save some money on software, you may want to check out OpenOffice.org and NeoOffice. Are there any NeoOffice or OpenOffice users out there who can share their experiences?
