I have a similar setup as well but I miss the possibility to group one clients tasks together. Sometimes I have so many tasks in the Timer Window that I have to scroll and keep looking for the right task a long time. But I see that the task grouping feature is at the top spot among user suggestions!

I have another tag that I use all the time as well as billable: invoiced. That way I know if I have invoiced the billable time or not…

billable, [client name], [project name], [co-workers I am sharing the task with]

And I typically precede a task name with the client name:

Client name: Task name

From what I understand some sort of project grouping functionality will be implemented in SlimTimer at some point. I’m not sure how this will differ from just tagging task with the client/project name, but perhaps it will make it easier to run reports for a specific client, or hide/show tasks based on the client/project they belong to.

I use Backpack in the same way as you do but never thought of using the Calendar as a basic Gantt Chart, great idea! I use Google Calendar as my calendar app but subscribe to it in Backpack. And I do also use SlimTimer for my time tracking.
It would be interesting to hear how you tag your tasks. I still scratch my head trying to find the optimal tagging and naming of tasks…

Jonathon – firstly, sorry for butchering the spelling of your name!

Closer, but still no banana! It’s “an” at the end not “on”! I think my spelling is the most unusual variation, it is normally spelled “Johnathon”. But I am in good company!

I think the fewer technologies and processes that go into it, the better!

Quite right. Whenever I look for a time saving technology, I aim to find the simplest software that I can. Too many software developers try and make their product all things to all people, rather than trying to excel in just one area. 37signals may have a reputation as being stubborn or arrogant when it comes to deciding what features make it into their software, but you can’t fault them for their commitment to keeping things simple.

I remember reading Getting Things Done, (by David Allen, if I remember correctly) and realising that I was spending too much time learning about someone else’s processes and preferred tools, and that I was simply side-tracking my real goals, whilst doing so. Many of the people whom promote GTD and extensive project management applications are those people who make money out of it. Everyone else tends to freestyle with an adhoc setup, as life often necessitates, subsequently concentrating their time on the tasks that generate their income!

Simplicity all the way!

@Kelvin: I looked at Intervals, but didn’t trial the software because it looked like it was geared more towards time tracking. I use SlimTimer for tracking billable time, so I was focussed on simple task/project management, but for an all-in-one tool Intervals does look good. Once I ‘regroup’ I think I’ll give it a spin…

Since time tracking was a priority for me it limited my choices. I liked GOplan but vague promises of updates in the future just didn’t cut it. Basecamp would do the job if I was willing to pay $49 a month plus I would still need an invoicing application.
Copper Project looked promising but no subtasks on the basic account ruled it out.
I finally settled on myintervals which doesn’t have the fanciest user interface but does do tasks, time tracking and invoicing. Honorable mention to Cashboard.

I’m still dependent on a text document, titled ‘ToDo’, sat on my desktop. I’ll soon need to make a migration to solution with a little more Web-harnessed power, but it sounds like BackPack may just do the trick. I’ve tried out Basecamp several times, but I just don’t need much of the functionality.