For the past week I have been using a software timer product to keep track of what I spend my time on when I am working.
For the most part, it has been a big improvement over anything I have ever used before.
I can switch from task to task with very little overhead and the cumulative time spent on any task is instantly visible. At any moment, I can see what my billable hours are and can see whether I am spending enough time on promotional activities.
The product I am currently using, the Secs timer by Sinner Computing, although not perfect, has enabled me to improve my efficiency without costing me more than a few minutes to set it up and use it each day. I purchased a license for it after three days of use because it actually gets the job done. Now, I want something better.
In the process of using this software, I have become an experienced user with a
well-defined need and I am really aware of the shortcomings of existing
offerings. I can now write out a list of the essential functions this product should have. I know
that I am willing to pay at least $25 for a product that meets my
needs and what is more important, I am ready to recommend any product that
actually does the job.
Thanks to my readers, I have been investigating other software products which claim to provide similar solutions. All of these recommended products were lacking one or more important characteristics.
UPDATE: I now have a better solution that incorporates what I describe in this article.
I am not looking for complexity. I am looking for flexibility and simplicity. Here is a list of the must-have features I’m looking for:
– A separate counter can be set up for each task being monitored with a clearly visible task name.
– Counters will be counting up.
– Counters must have scalable display sizes and colors visible at 6 ft if required.
– Tasks can be reset, started, and stopped with one click.
– More than one task will be active at any time.
– Switching from one active task to another should take only one click.
– Task status of all counters can be captured and saved with a few keystrokes.
– The application should save and remember the last settings of every counter on shutdown.
– The application should be small and stable and no require an Internet connection
– It should not require external documentation.
– A simple readme file should contain all instructions needed to operate the software.
If you have encountered any timer applications which meet these criteria, please let me know where I can find them.
Here is my evaluation of other product offerings so far:
SlimTimer is closest to what I’m looking for, but it’s web based. I need a desktop app.
Egg by Sinner Computing – not flexible enough – no visible task name capability
TimeSprite by timesprite.com – Limited functions – non-intuitive user interface – tracks only Windows apps.
Tracker by Allnetic.com – small and confusing display – app was unstable and crashed after several hours of use.
TimeSnapper – captures and stores screenshots – not useful for cognitive activity.
If anyone has any suggestions, please comment. Thanks!
Excellent analysis — i really enjoyed reading this (and the related entry — http://www.making-ripples.com/2007/02/keeping_track_o.html)
I don’t know if you’ll find a pre-built tool that quite suits your need. The interesting thing about your needs is that you want multiple tasks running at once. A simple detail like that is a real spanner in the works for these sorts of tools.
Perhaps the best bet is to find a separate tool (or technique) for loading all of the secs timers in one go (and stopping them in one go).
best of luck!
lb
You can check out yaTimer at http://www.nbdtech.com/yaTimer
(I developed yaTimer, it was somewhat inspired by this post)
I’ve been using complete time tracking http://www.complete-time-tracking.com for a couple of months and find it indispensible. A good balance between power and ease of use.
You mention you want multiple timers active at once. Why? I’m only ever doing one thing at a time!
Alf
I checked out complete time tracking and find that it does not meet my minimum requirements, although it has many more features than I need.
I have some activities that have to be monitored while I am working on something else. At the completion of these timed activities, I see an alarm so I can take action.
The bulk of my production tasks are done one at a time and their duration is not known beforehand. I am occasionally required to respond to phone calls or urgent emails, so it is a big help that switching tasks is a one click action.
YaTimer also gives me the ability to change the size of the display so that I can see the time from across the room.
Production in a one person consultancy requires customized time management. Cookie cutter project management and time management solutions have not been useful to me.
I use http://www.hourdoc.com for my company. It is easy to use and very affordable. They give free application to companies having less than 50 employees.