What are the note taking/task managing features you dont like or think they are useless?

Posted by Luhmann
Apr 8, 2019 at 03:02 AM

I think how useful a feature is depends less on the feature and more on the implementation and how well integrated it is into the app. Tagging in Ulysses is useless for me because it is hidden in its own window (after the update!) and not central to organizing one’s data. Tagging in Bear, however, is wonderfully well thought out and is central to how I use that app. Having said that, there are some features I have never found useful in any app:

1. Mind Mapping
I love outlines, but despite having tried dozens of mind mapping apps, I’ve never found them useful for me. Maybe because my outlines are so text-heavy? I think it only works if you have short entries…

2. Contexts
GTD apps like the idea of contexts, but my work doesn’t have a clear context. I could be at home, in my office, or at a café and be doing pretty much the same thing. Location alerts are sometimes useful however. For instance, to remind myself to pick something up when I’m in the office.

3. Check lists
Checklists just remain stuck inside another task. What if an item on your list turns into its own project with its own sub-tasks? Todoist, 2Do, and Taskcade can handle this, but in apps with only checklists, your items are stuck where they are!

4. Estimated time
Seems like an absurd thing to include in a task manager. You can tag items as “quick” or “major project” but trying to narrow it down to a given time frame seems like a fool’s errand - and also a waste of time. I do like having “durations” however - which is how 2Do calculates a “start date” based on the “due date” without having to enter a given due date.

5. Grammar check
The grammar rules included in any contemporary computer - whether apple, or the service grammarly, are laughable and no good writer should keep these features turned on. Only useful for second-language learners I think.

Lothar Scholz wrote:
Learning from failures is giving a different perspective then learning
>from praise.
>And most of the general comparison topics are focused on whats good or
>bad in the programs.
> >But what is the advise for software developers where they should not
>spend a lot of time?
>Features are implemented and advisertised often just to fill the “me
>too” table column.
> >Are they just to hard to use from the current state of UX/usage design
>or did you just never found a real usecase for them.
>