Why no simple Reminder in Outlook?

[tuv8]

Our company recently migrated from Lotus Notes to Outlook 2003 and now I
really miss the simple Reminder as it was in Lotus Notes (just three fields
to fill in - subject, time, repeats).
Creating tasks or appointments (with 0 time) seems absurd for simple
reminders like “Call Peter…†, “Buy this and this…â€, “Take clothes from
laundry†etc.

Is there any explanation why such a simple Reminder is not included in
Outlook?

P.S. sadly that perhaps even Nokia has removed “Reminder†from their
smartphones calendars in order to provide synchronization with Outlook

 

[Vince Averello]

Have you tried using Tasks for this?

 

[tuv8]

Yes, but IMHO they are too complicated for simple reminders.
In addition, 1) tasks do not appear in calendar and 2) I don’t want mess up
task list with such immaterial entries.

I have used such simple reminders in Lotus Notes and in my phone for ages
and I am indeed surprised not finding this convenient feature in Outlook.

I posted here expecting that perhaps someone could explain why Outlook does
not have them and what to use instead. But for sure tasks or appointments
with 0 time are not as convenient as those simple reminders.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Outlook offers tasks without a due date for that - if you use outlook 2007,
the to-do bar makes it easy to add them. I think the reason there isn't a
different format was that few people would use outlook for such a list.
(that’s why nokia removed it - it wasn't because they needed to support
outlook sync.) Most people would use paper or postits for this type of
list - the calendar printout includes such a note space.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

 

[tuv8]

Perhaps I am just too used to Lotus Notes and can’t get rid off my habits
using LN reminders.

Actually, I miss that even more in Nokia e series calendar (because on phone
any extra data input and typing is more pain than on computer). Would be
interesting to find similar Nokia forum and ask there why reminders are
removed from calendar.

Post-its are not solution.
Very often note should be taken at one place and time, but carried out in
another place.

Simple example: “Bring that book from home to work†– at work I would create
reminder in my phone with reminding moment at my breakfast time.
Can I use post-its for that? No, because I won’t take post-its with me.
Is that appointment? No.
Is that task? Hardly. At least in my opinion task is something what requires
process, status, % completed etc.

Or another one – let’s say I met acquaintance today and we decided that in
the beginning of next year we perhaps could meet to discuss business.
Something rather uncertain. Is that appointment? Is it task? I doubt. But I
would create very simple reminder which repeats perhaps even for a couple of
weeks in the beginning of next year. If not after first, then after second or
seventh reminder I would make a call after which already real appointment or
task could be set.

Those are real situations where I miss simple reminders. And there are many
more others.

Outlook offers tasks without a due date for that - if you use outlook 2007,
the to-do bar makes it easy to add them. I think the reason there isn't a
different format was that few people would use outlook for such a list.
(that’s why nokia removed it - it wasn't because they needed to support
outlook sync.) Most people would use paper or postits for this type of
list - the calendar printout includes such a note space.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Our company recently migrated from Lotus Notes to Outlook 2003 and now I
really miss the simple Reminder as it was in Lotus Notes (just three
fields
to fill in - subject, time, repeats).
Creating tasks or appointments (with 0 time) seems absurd for simple
reminders like “Call Peter…†, “Buy this and this…â€, “Take clothes from
laundry†etc.

Is there any explanation why such a simple Reminder is not included in
Outlook?

P.S. sadly that perhaps even Nokia has removed “Reminder†from their
smartphones calendars in order to provide synchronization with Outlook

 

[Bob I]

You seem to be stuck on getting past the labels of features. You want a
reminder? Use the appointment feature to set a Zero minute appointment
at the time you desire, end of issue.

Perhaps I am just too used to Lotus Notes and can’t get rid offmy habits
using LN reminders.

Actually, I miss that even more in Nokia e series calendar (because on phone
any extra data input and typing is more pain than on computer). Would be
interesting to find similar Nokia forum and ask there why reminders are
removed from calendar.

Post-its are not solution.
Very often note should be taken at one place and time, but carried out in
another place.

Simple example: “Bring that book from home to work†– at work I would create
reminder in my phone with reminding moment at my breakfast time.
Can I use post-its for that? No, because I won’t take post-its with me.
Is that appointment? No.
Is that task? Hardly. At least in my opinion task is something what requires
process, status, % completed etc.

Or another one – let’s say I met acquaintance today andwe decided that in
the beginning of next year we perhaps could meet to discuss business.
Something rather uncertain. Is that appointment? Is it task? I doubt. But I
would create very simple reminder which repeats perhaps even for a couple of
weeks in the beginning of next year. If not after first, then after second or
seventh reminder I would make a call after which already real appointment or
task could be set.

Those are real situations where I miss simple reminders. And there are many
more others.


:

Outlook offers tasks without a due date for that - if you use outlook 2007,
the to-do bar makes it easy to add them. I think the reason there isn't a
different format was that few people would use outlook for such a list.
(that’s why nokia removed it - it wasn't because they needed tosupport
outlook sync.) Most people would use paper or postits for this type of
list - the calendar printout includes such a note space.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Our company recently migrated from Lotus Notes to Outlook 2003 and nowI
really miss the simple Reminder as it was in Lotus Notes (just three
fields
to fill in - subject, time, repeats).
Creating tasks or appointments (with 0 time) seems absurd for simple
reminders like “Call Peter…†, “Buy this and this…â€, “Take clothes from
laundry†etc.

Is there any explanation why such a simple Reminder is not included in
Outlook?

P.S. sadly that perhaps even Nokia has removed “Reminder†from their
smartphones calendars in order to provide synchronization with Outlook

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

For the first scenario, an electronic reminder on my phone would do me no
good as I'm unlikely to check it for reminders before leaving work. I'm more
likely to put a post-it on the phone till I get to work then move the note
to my computer or purse once I get to work. I probably would not check tasks
or the calendar for it either - because remembering it might require me
being at the computer when the reminder triggered.

The second I would make a task for mid-jan to call the person.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Perhaps I am just too used to Lotus Notes and can’t get rid off my habits
using LN reminders.

Actually, I miss that even more in Nokia e series calendar (because on
phone
any extra data input and typing is more pain than on computer). Would be
interesting to find similar Nokia forum and ask there why reminders are
removed from calendar.

Post-its are not solution.
Very often note should be taken at one place and time, but carried out in
another place.

Simple example: “Bring that book from home to work†– at work I would
create
reminder in my phone with reminding moment at my breakfast time.
Can I use post-its for that? No, because I won’t take post-its with me.
Is that appointment? No.
Is that task? Hardly. At least in my opinion task is something what
requires
process, status, % completed etc.

Or another one – let’s say I met acquaintance today and we decided that in
the beginning of next year we perhaps could meet to discuss business.
Something rather uncertain. Is that appointment? Is it task? I doubt. But
I
would create very simple reminder which repeats perhaps even for a couple
of
weeks in the beginning of next year. If not after first, then after second
or
seventh reminder I would make a call after which already real appointment
or
task could be set.

Those are real situations where I miss simple reminders. And there are
many
more others.

Outlook offers tasks without a due date for that - if you use outlook
2007,
the to-do bar makes it easy to add them. I think the reason there isn't
a
different format was that few people would use outlook for such a list.
(that’s why nokia removed it - it wasn't because they needed to support
outlook sync.) Most people would use paper or postits for this type of
list - the calendar printout includes such a note space.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Our company recently migrated from Lotus Notes to Outlook 2003 and now
I
really miss the simple Reminder as it was in Lotus Notes (just three
fields
to fill in - subject, time, repeats).
Creating tasks or appointments (with 0 time) seems absurd for simple
reminders like “Call Peter…†, “Buy this and this…â€, “Take clothes from
laundry†etc.

Is there any explanation why such a simple Reminder is not included in
Outlook?

P.S. sadly that perhaps even Nokia has removed “Reminder†from their
smartphones calendars in order to provide synchronization with Outlook

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Simple example: “Bring that book from home to work†– at work I would create
reminder in my phone with reminding moment at my breakfast time.
Can I use post-its for that? No, because I won’t take post-its with me.
Is that appointment? No.
Is that task? Hardly. At least in my opinion task is something what requires
process, status, % completed etc.

But it is a task. A task is "something you must do". It doesn't have to
specify a completion time, you don't have to process it, and it certainly
doesn't need a percent complete. This is exactly how I use tasks exclusively.
It appears in Outlook (and in my Windows Mobile device on its Today screen) as
a reminder to myself that I must take action on something. It's very simple
to create in Outlook's "Simple List" view of the Tasks folder. All I need to
do is click the "Click here to add a new Task" field and type my reminder.
Pressing Enter when I've finished typing adds the task. All done.

 

[VanguardLH]

Is there any explanation why such a simple Reminder is not included in
Outlook?

Outlook is an e-mail client designed primarily for use in a corporate
environment. It was not designed as a personal e-mail client.

 

[VanguardLH]

Yes, but IMHO they are too complicated for simple reminders.

There is a slew of 3rd party reminder programs. Lots of the sticky
notes programs include an alarm on a sticky note. For example, 3M's
Post-it Software Notes Lite Version is free, leaves handy reminders on
your desktop, and you can set an alarm for each and elect if it repeats
or not. You could use EssentialPIM's sticky notes or their calendar
(aka scheduler) to keep those reminders separate of the ones listed in
Outlook. There are probably even Yahoo widgets you can have for
calendaring and reminders that appear as images on your desktop. My
aunt loves the calendar and weather widgets.

In addition, 1) tasks do not appear in calendar

If you want them to appear in your calendar then define appointments.
If you want a separate personal calendar folder then create one. Use
more than one calendar.

and 2) I don¢t want mess up task list with such immaterial entries.

So create another task-type folder where you keep your personal laundry
list.

 

[VanguardLH]

Very often note should be taken at one place and time, but carried out in
another place.

Simple example: ¡§Bring that book from home to work¡¨ ¡V at work I would create
reminder in my phone with reminding moment at my breakfast time.
Can I use post-its for that? No, because I won¡¦t take post-its with me.
Is that appointment? No.
Is that task? Hardly. At least in my opinion task is something what requires
process, status, % completed etc.

Or another one ¡V let¡¦s say I met acquaintance today and we decided that in
the beginning of next year we perhaps could meet to discuss business.
Something rather uncertain. Is that appointment? Is it task? I doubt. But I
would create very simple reminder which repeats perhaps even for a couple of
weeks in the beginning of next year. If not after first, then after second or
seventh reminder I would make a call after which already real appointment or
task could be set.

Sounds like you need a more robust featured "phone" so its software has
more features. Or you need to start using web apps or webtops as your
centralized data store. If you want multiple access points to the same
data, that data has to be up on a server that is accessible by the
devices you intend to use. Outlook is still a local or endpoint
program. If you want to use it anywhere then you need to provide access
to the server from anywhere (like VPN or OWA).