Design
Cool new desktop icons and nice looking quickstart guides. The interface is basic; but the approach is intentionally designed not to be an application so it can work with all of your applications.
Installation
Installs with an installer. It tells you what it is doing along the way. Manual installation instructions are also provided.
Limits
The free trial version has all of the features of the licensed version and can be used for a few months—-plenty of time to decide if Ready-Set-Do! is a good fit for you.
Cost
The trial version is free and can be used until the limits are reached. The cost for the official version of Ready-Set-Do! is $29.95 US.
Contexts
Location contexts are put in the form of “@ Location: Next Action” in the comments section of Finder windows. You sort them by clicking the comments tab at the top of a Finder window. You can also drill down to a specific context by typing the context in that window’s search box.
Search
Searching is as easy as typing in the search box in any Finder window or Spotlight. Smart folders can also be set up in Finder for common searches (e.g., Urgent, 15min Reading, @Home).
Quick Capture
Quickly capture an idea with the Empty Your Head script. Use command-shift-N to capture an idea manually or download the RSD Quicksilver plug-in to capture the idea with Quicksilver.
Calendar
Ready-Set-Do! works with any calendar you choose. Change the link for the alias “Calendar” in your RSD system to have it link to whatever calendar you wish!
Linking
Since Ready-Set-Do! works with the Finder’s file system, creating links to your tasks and projects is as easy as making a new alias. Command-L is the shortcut.
On-The-Go
Print your entire setup, email it to yourself or another computer, make a zip archive, or store it on a thumb drive or Dropbox. Not at your computer? No problem! Launch the Mail Rule to RSD Desktop and you can email ideas and attachments directly into your Ready-Set-Do! system from anywhere. It also now synchronizes with the Reminders app on iOS devices.
Project Planning
Ready-Set-Do! talks you step-by-step through the process of getting clear on all of your projects. The tagging feature (e.g., Project-[TAG] Name of your project) keeps your projects organized and easier to navigate. It also displays the vertical dimensions of your projects.
Printing
Works great and you can set the margins however you want. Some more customizability with printing would be nice, but it does the job.
Productivity Reports
Ready-Set-Do! creates a productivity report that tracks the average number of weekly reviews per month, average tasks completed per week, the record number of items processed out of your inbox, percentage of projects clarified, and more! It even tells you what your “belt level” is, from the White Belt to the highest, 3rd Degree Black Belt, level of productivity.
Due Dates
Add a due date to a project and every project component on that project automatically gets its due dates assigned to ensure the project is completed on time. End any next action with “ > DUE ” followed by the due date. Then, as deadlines approach, the items move from Yellow to Orange to Red. Really nice!
Deferred Start
Defer items by dropping them into the Tickler for that month and day or use the Defer Until droplet to do it for you. This is faster than typing a deferred start date.
Completed Dates
All completed items get logged and Ready-Set-Do! generates a report showing how many items were completed by day and month as well as by project tag. Completed project components receive a grey label color which motivates you to complete the remaining project components.
Staleness-Buster
Ready-Set-Do! has an exclusive “staleness-buster” feature that helps identify stale tasks in your system and gives you options for renegotiating them.
Syncing
Ready-Set-Do! has numerous ways to keep your portable inventory of projects and tasks in sync across devices. RSD now syncs with the Reminders app on iOS devices. Launch the RSD Mail Rule and you can use the “shuttle feature” to request files or mark items complete by sending yourself an email.
Recurring Tasks
Recurring tasks and reminders are a frequent request, but these are managed better by calendar programs where they can be automated and customized. You can choose to integrate Ready-Set-Do! with any calendar program on the mac by changing the alias of the “Calendar” icon. It also syncs with the Reminders app on iOS.
Pomodoro
Ready-Set-Do! pops the dialog box back to the front-center of the screen every 15 minutes. This keeps you focused and moving along.