Thing 14 - Online productivity tools

1. I've had a customized iGoogle page for a while, but, honestly, I find it more distracting than a time saver. I have webpage design skills, so when I have needed multiple links on a start-up page, I have created it myself and set it as the home page in my browser. Although I appreciate the variety and the visuals iGoogle has to offer, I end up spending MORE time looking at all the goodies and this cuts into my productivity. I like the idea of a basic list of links and this is what I have done in the past... now I seldom bookmark or need links as much as I used to, but for the media center I am constantly updating the web page and the links to students who visit have the most current links to use.
2. We have been using the Google calendar at work for a while, but not consistently. Usually shared to plan a specific event or long-term project, once the event is over the calendar stops being used. We are trying to get the teachers to use a shared calendar to book the computer labs, but this is a slow process for some of our veteran teachers. I do believe it is a powerful tool for planning and booking computer labs, media center and other common areas online is ten thousand times more efficient in a large campus like hours - the alternative is for the teachers to email or walk in to see "if the place is available tonight". As with everything else, training becomes a necessity. Scrybe looks like an awesome entry into the calendaring field; some of these features I understand are also going to be tested by Google...
3. I downloaded Remember the milk into my iPhone a while back ago. But... really... I am not a "list" person mostly because my memory seems to be functioning well.. still.. The iPhone has other options for lists, so I keep going to the notepad because it is as easy to use. I take notes in my phone, make lists, write lists of passwords I may need to use one day... I guess I better not lose my phone!
Zamzar is the application I need in my life. I wish it had an easier name to remember, because I am almost sure I have used it in the past, yet when I really need it I can't think of the name. Maybe it IS one of those things that needs to go on my webpage... Ok, done!
The amount of online tools available is akin to the shareware boom of the 80s, where every programmer felt their program was THE one to have, the next Lotus Notes or Office suite that was going to make them rich. Of course, nobody has the time to explore all these and as organizations like Google, with plenty of resources available, buy out the most promising apps, we'll all benefit and hopefully Cyberspace will become less cluttered.