GA is possibly not the best forum for this type of question, but I
like it here so I?ll give it a shot.  (Lurkers beware: this is quite
possibly the most boring question you will run across today.)

The company I work for uses Microsoft Outlook for email, scheduling,
etc.  It?s not horrible, I guess, but I hate how user-unfriendly it is
to create task lists and move tasks back and forth between the
calendar and the task list.  I end up doing a lot of my task planning
in Excel or with pencil and paper and copying it to Outlook, but this
is unsatisfactory too.

I?m usually juggling 2 to 6 projects at once.  For each new project I
need to be able to quickly create a to-do list, and give preliminary
start dates, due dates, and priorities.  I need to be able to view
these as simple to-do lists (each organized in order) or as a timeline
(showing start date and end date).  Outlook sort of does these things,
but the real problem is I have to be able to be very flexible with
priorities, scheduling, due dates, etc. as new projects are constantly
coming in that have higher priority, or a low-priority project
suddenly becomes critical.  I waste a lot of time because Outlook is
so time-intensive to change.  The best simple examples I can think of
are: (1) If I need to change all due dates by one day, I have to
change each task independently by hand.  (2) If I need to insert a
task between tasks 2 and 3, I have to renumber the remaining tasks
myself.  I end up wasting time I should be spending on the actual
projects typing and editing and copying and pasting to-do lists as
things change.

Assuming I?m stuck with Outlook, I think what I need is an add-in, or
companion program, or something.  I?d like a list of 2 (minimum) to 6
(maximum, so I?m not overwhelmed with info) suggestions. 
Requirements:

1. Interoperability with Outlook Calendar and Tasks. The more seamless, the better.
2. It will be out of my poscket, so less than $30 (preferably) and
less than $100 (absolutely), and even better would be if there?s a
trial period before I have to buy it, so I can see if it does what I
want.
3. Ability to do the things I?ve murkily described above.
4. I need to be able to install it on my work computer and my home
computer (I use Outlook on both for work).
5. Optional bonus requirement: It would be wonderful if the Answerer
actually had experience with some of the recommended programs and
could give me their opinion.

Thanks.

-cab

I have 2 add-on applications in mind for Outlook. One I've used and
the other I've not, but heard things about. Keep in mind that BOTH
add-ons are built around the Getting Things Done workflow/productivity
system designed by David Allen.  If you are a big fan of lists, and
using lists/inbox to prioritize/track projects in work and life, then
this is a good system to check out. You can take a look at the wiki
entry on GTD here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_things_done

So - although both the add-ons that I'm suggesting works along the
principles of GTD, the fact doesn't change that these are simply
workflow tools. Even if you do not subscribe to the GTD workflow
process, you can still use these two tools to sort/manage todo
lists/prioritize/, etc, etc tasks in your life. Both are add ons to
Outlook. You can definitely use these add-ons for your own workflow
process.

1) http://gtdsupport.netcentrics.com/buy/indexd.php Price = $69.95

The addon designed by NetCentrics is the one that I use. It allows me
to "overlay" fields in outlook to clear my inbox, create associated
reminders and tasks with projects and incoming emails/files. Though
instead of "tasks", this add-on calls those items, "action" items.
Heh.

2) http://www.clearcontext.com/ Price = $69.95

The second add-on system is designed by Clear Context. This one have
very similar functionality that I had looked at, but in the end I went
with the NetCentrics version simply because it uses terminology and
stuff that I was already familiar with through the GTD book. This
software also allows you to process/sort/prioritize tasks/emails by
projects and such.

BOTH software comes with quite a bit of functionality that's simply
too length to post here. (I feel like i'm already being very wordy.
Heh). And both of them comes with free trials. Hence - I highly
recommend that you simpy trial them - and see which you prefer.

Thanks and I hope these help.

eins, thank you very much for taking the time to comment.  a brief
review of the two websites you mentioned seem like one of these might
be just the ticket.  i'll give them both a try and see if they do what
i want them to do.

i'm not familiar with gtd, but i am definitely a very list-oriented
person, so it may work out well.

again, thanks much for the input.

-cab

No problem. Glad I could help.