Does anyone use a computer based Rolodex program, or some sort of software for your personal contacts? Name, address, phone #'s, important dates, etc... Preferrably something, too, that we can use to print out the address(es) onto labels, organize various ways, etc.... Or do you just use your email program (Thunderbird, Outlook, etc..) instead address book instead? TIA oh, yeah, free is better, too....
When you think about it though, its the gold standard in terms of mobile communications for corporations. They do sync with various computer programs and those computer programs sync with word and the various other programs you can use to print labels.
I don't doubt that, but I'm not in the market for one right now, and don't have the need for that amount of mobility. We were cleaning up the office, and I came across our overstuffed Rolodex with half the cards sticking out, bent, ripped, or what have you. I thought to myself, "Gee, it'd really be nice to have all that in the computer, I wonder what would be good to use?" I may look at just using Thunderbird, I was just wondering if there was anything else out there that was popular....
Also, try one of those card scanners. They usually come with a outlook compatable program to import them all and will read the cars for the names, addresses, phone, fax, etc off each card for you.
I use one of those ancient things they call a personal phonebook. I use one of those old time lead things they call a pencil and write them down in said book.
You might want to look into the free version of EssentialPIM and see if it fits your needs. It reminds me alot of Outlooks contact and calender, but it has no email feature. I don't know if it can do the printing of labels that you are looking for..
My PDA, smart phone syncs w/ MS Outlook so that's what I use Matt. Outlook does everything you are looking for w/ the exception of label printing. Not sure about that. If Outlook isn't for you, I'd just do a Google. It will find something compatible for your use. I recently did the same thing w/ my checkbook register. Decided the paper version was sloppy and error prone. Now I use an electronic, free online register. Works great.
A very functional and non-Outlook alternative is Time & Chaos that really takes the chaos out of time management.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll check that out Jake, along with Outlook and Thunderbird. We use gmail, so all of our email accounts are online. We used to use Thunderbird before we switched over to gmail, and Outlook Express on our XP box. We never did use Windows Mail on our Vista box, we went right to Thunderbird knowing that WM wouldn't do what we used to with OE, and even Thunderbird didn't work the same as OE the way we had it configured, but in the long run we grew to like Thunderbird better. Anyways, I'll look into all the suggestions....
There are a lot of excellent Personal Information Managers out there for free. I have never really had the need for one. I would recommend going to snapfiles.com and searching on Personal Information Manager. There are approximatly 1,000 for free or very little.
Might try this one: http://chandlerproject.org/ They wrote a book about making it called dreaming in code. A good read.
I like Outlook. It's easy, clean, and big enough to stuff in every last little detail about every contact. Haven't looked at Thunderbird, but if it's got a contact system and you like it anyway, it's probably the right way to go. Just my 2p
