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Get organised: PIMs and PDAs

Tired of keeping track of slips of paper? Carrying around countless outdated addresses in your Filofax? Your computer can help you get organised with a handy little software package known as a personal information manager or PIM.

The best advice: try before you buy. Downloading trial versions takes time, which, of course, is exactly what you're lacking if you're in the market for a personal information manager, but it'll be well worth your while.

As the name suggests, a personal information manager needs to fit your personality. Some of us can't get anything done without looking at a calendar, and some of us would rather just make all-encompassing to-do lists.

A PIM should have more than just the right features; it needs to have an interface that you find intuitive. Playing around with a trial version is the only way you can find out whether a PIM will allow you to tie all your loose ends together or fray your wits even further.

The problem with organiser software is that it is only helpful if you take time to keep it up-to-date. Some people can't live without full-featured organisers such as Act or Goldmine, while I can't seem to handle anything more complex than the digital post-it notes that Mac users already get for free.

Don't let the programs bewitch you with their options. If you're not able to precisely schedule your day hour by hour, a highly detailed calendar program is only going to frustrate you.

If you start with fewer features, you'll not only find it easier to identify what you find truly useful about a program, but you'll be better able to clarify the components you actually want.

If you've never tried a shareware program, now's the time. Shareware programs are inexpensive (or free - also called freeware) software programs that are distributed over the Internet or bulletin board system, and there are thousands to choose from. Although this can be overwhelming when you're looking for a straightforward application, the variety is a boon in the PIM world, where the slightest variation in features or interface can make or break your inexperience.

The aptly named Time & Chaos is one of the more popular shareware PIMs. And if you're really on a budget, check out the free Electronic Assistant Lite. Regardless of cost, you'll want to weigh up such features as flexible calendar views and printouts, reminders and alarms, and the ability to import and export data.

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