April Windows 98 Shareware

Keep yourself organised with this collection of calendars and other Personal Information Managers.

By Kieran McNamee

Ready to Print Organizer can be set up to include the holidays and special events for numerous countries and their respective individual states. Calendars can also be printed in multiple languages. You can also make use of the address book and expense report features to ensure that every facet of your life is in order. The address book allows you to manage email addresses, newsgroups, Web sites and telephone numbers. Entering your expenses is simple enough and you can choose to keep track of everything on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis. Ready to Print Organizer also allows you to print labels and envelopes, and synchronise your system clock over the Internet.

Now you can install the software version of this handy communication tool on your PC. Instead of grabbing that familiar yellow pad and scribbling your note, you left-click on the little system tray icon and type your note in the dialog box that appears. The software version also has a few features that make its physical ancestor seem feeble. You can post your notes on your desktop or arrange them in folders and on memo boards. When your notes unexpectedly pile up, you can use keyword searches to find the note you're after. Version 2 of Post-it Software Notes also allows you to send notes directly to others on your network. All notes are saved automatically, and to ensure that you don't forget anything, you can set alarms to bring specific notes to your attention when required. When a note has accomplished its purpose you don't have to worry about paper wastage and deforestation; the make-believe scrap of paper crumples up and disappears into digital oblivion. Whether sending notes and reminders to yourself or to others, this piece of software, like its physical counterpart, is a must-have for everyone.

When you run Above & Beyond in Pro mode, you have access to the Dynamic Scheduling feature that makes this program so useful. When you update the items you want to do, Dynamic Scheduling gives you optimal plans for that day and every day ahead. You set the times for specific appointments and events, then Above & Beyond slots your other tasks around them in the most efficient way possible. You can also balance your workload by prioritising your tasks and specifying the desired workload for each day. Above & Beyond can be used on a single workstation, but when installed on a network its potential as a group organisational tool is endless. You can share schedules amongst the workgroup, arrange joint meetings and simplify the process of delegating tasks among staff. Mobile computer users can easily transfer data between their desktop units and portables. Palm Pilot users can also Hot Sync their Above & Beyond data.