Comments on: ACT and Mac, 2008 http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/ Stuff I've Written Down Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:52:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Oakbridge http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2629 Oakbridge Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:02:50 +0000 http://tj.tntluoma.com/?p=898#comment-2629 <p>I don't know your business, and you may have a legitimate reply to what I'm about to suggest. I'm curious as to why you have over 3000+ contacts that you feel are important enough to need to sync. (not sure what device you're synching these to)<br><br>I do run into this often, and it seems to be the attic approach to saving data. Continue to store as much as possible until we run out of space. Even if you worked 6 days a week, in order to have contact with all 3000+ contacts that would mean that you're speaking with 10 different contacts each and every day, for a year. My guess is that a large percentage of those contacts are not people that you need to sync. Having that many will just slow you down when you are attempting to find those contacts that you do need to find. Using SmartLists, you're able to filter contacts into what I would consider to be a manageable list.<br><br>I'm nut suggesting that you delete the ones that aren't current. Use them for a marketing campaign. Find out why you haven't contacted them in over 6 months or a year or whatever it is. <br><br>Again without knowing your business, I'm just guessing here but rarely have I found someone who needs to have 3000+ active contacts synched.</p> I don't know your business, and you may have a legitimate reply to what I'm about to suggest. I'm curious as to why you have over 3000+ contacts that you feel are important enough to need to sync. (not sure what device you're synching these to)

I do run into this often, and it seems to be the attic approach to saving data. Continue to store as much as possible until we run out of space. Even if you worked 6 days a week, in order to have contact with all 3000+ contacts that would mean that you're speaking with 10 different contacts each and every day, for a year. My guess is that a large percentage of those contacts are not people that you need to sync. Having that many will just slow you down when you are attempting to find those contacts that you do need to find. Using SmartLists, you're able to filter contacts into what I would consider to be a manageable list.

I'm nut suggesting that you delete the ones that aren't current. Use them for a marketing campaign. Find out why you haven't contacted them in over 6 months or a year or whatever it is.

Again without knowing your business, I'm just guessing here but rarely have I found someone who needs to have 3000+ active contacts synched.

]]> By: Oakbridge http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2628 Oakbridge Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:54:27 +0000 http://tj.tntluoma.com/?p=898#comment-2628 <p>First I'll put a disclaimer in, I am one of the Master Daylite Partners. <br><br>However I'm also a user, and previously to finding Daylite, I had been on the search for that one great application. I go back to the days of ACT! on the Mac platform. I've tried Now Contact/Now Up-to-Date, Claris Organizer (anyone remember that?), Outlook, Entourage, and I've even tried to build one on my own. (I'm also a FileMaker developer)<br><br>Nothing, and I repeat Nothing has ever come close to Daylite. <br><br>But, and this is a big But... No two businesses work the same way. No two individuals work the same way. Daylite offers multiple ways of doing most functions. I get asked all the time "What's the best way of doing this in Daylite?" and the answer is: there is no 'best' way. Depending on the way you work, there is a 'best' way for you. <br><br>To be very honest, whenever I tried using ACT!, I hated it. I found it confusing to use. Now at the very first, I found Daylite confusing to use as well. But as I worked my way through the application, it quickly began to make sense. Much more sense than anything else I've ever worked with. Since Daylite Touch, it has gone to a new level. Finally we get all of the powerful linking that we've had in Daylite but we get it on our iPhones. <br><br>My first suggestion, to any new client. Don't attempt to learn Daylite all at once. The best success I have had training new Daylite users is to work in a phased approach. I will only train basics first, then after a user has worked with the basics, we will move on to what I consider some of the more advanced features such as Projects and Sales Opportunities. Too often I've seen users who have attempted to absorb the entire program all at once and it is a recipe for failure.<br><br>Also, remember that like most applications today, there are loads of features. You won't need all of them. Find out which will be important to you, and which you can ignore. I've been using the product for over 5 years now and I probably only use 55-60% of the features. <br><br>Finally: Daylite is not ACT! It is a different application that in my opinion, provides the same functionality as ACT! and more. But you cannot expect that Daylite will do things in the same manner. You've got to cut the apron strings to ACT! and move on if you want to be a Mac user.</p> First I'll put a disclaimer in, I am one of the Master Daylite Partners.

However I'm also a user, and previously to finding Daylite, I had been on the search for that one great application. I go back to the days of ACT! on the Mac platform. I've tried Now Contact/Now Up-to-Date, Claris Organizer (anyone remember that?), Outlook, Entourage, and I've even tried to build one on my own. (I'm also a FileMaker developer)

Nothing, and I repeat Nothing has ever come close to Daylite.

But, and this is a big But… No two businesses work the same way. No two individuals work the same way. Daylite offers multiple ways of doing most functions. I get asked all the time “What's the best way of doing this in Daylite?” and the answer is: there is no 'best' way. Depending on the way you work, there is a 'best' way for you.

To be very honest, whenever I tried using ACT!, I hated it. I found it confusing to use. Now at the very first, I found Daylite confusing to use as well. But as I worked my way through the application, it quickly began to make sense. Much more sense than anything else I've ever worked with. Since Daylite Touch, it has gone to a new level. Finally we get all of the powerful linking that we've had in Daylite but we get it on our iPhones.

My first suggestion, to any new client. Don't attempt to learn Daylite all at once. The best success I have had training new Daylite users is to work in a phased approach. I will only train basics first, then after a user has worked with the basics, we will move on to what I consider some of the more advanced features such as Projects and Sales Opportunities. Too often I've seen users who have attempted to absorb the entire program all at once and it is a recipe for failure.

Also, remember that like most applications today, there are loads of features. You won't need all of them. Find out which will be important to you, and which you can ignore. I've been using the product for over 5 years now and I probably only use 55-60% of the features.

Finally: Daylite is not ACT! It is a different application that in my opinion, provides the same functionality as ACT! and more. But you cannot expect that Daylite will do things in the same manner. You've got to cut the apron strings to ACT! and move on if you want to be a Mac user.

]]> By: Oakbridge http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2623 Oakbridge Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:02:50 +0000 http://tj.tntluoma.com/?p=898#comment-2623 <p>I don't know your business, and you may have a legitimate reply to what I'm about to suggest. I'm curious as to why you have over 3000+ contacts that you feel are important enough to need to sync. (not sure what device you're synching these to)<br><br>I do run into this often, and it seems to be the attic approach to saving data. Continue to store as much as possible until we run out of space. Even if you worked 6 days a week, in order to have contact with all 3000+ contacts that would mean that you're speaking with 10 different contacts each and every day, for a year. My guess is that a large percentage of those contacts are not people that you need to sync. Having that many will just slow you down when you are attempting to find those contacts that you do need to find. Using SmartLists, you're able to filter contacts into what I would consider to be a manageable list.<br><br>I'm nut suggesting that you delete the ones that aren't current. Use them for a marketing campaign. Find out why you haven't contacted them in over 6 months or a year or whatever it is. <br><br>Again without knowing your business, I'm just guessing here but rarely have I found someone who needs to have 3000+ active contacts synched.</p> I don't know your business, and you may have a legitimate reply to what I'm about to suggest. I'm curious as to why you have over 3000+ contacts that you feel are important enough to need to sync. (not sure what device you're synching these to)

I do run into this often, and it seems to be the attic approach to saving data. Continue to store as much as possible until we run out of space. Even if you worked 6 days a week, in order to have contact with all 3000+ contacts that would mean that you're speaking with 10 different contacts each and every day, for a year. My guess is that a large percentage of those contacts are not people that you need to sync. Having that many will just slow you down when you are attempting to find those contacts that you do need to find. Using SmartLists, you're able to filter contacts into what I would consider to be a manageable list.

I'm nut suggesting that you delete the ones that aren't current. Use them for a marketing campaign. Find out why you haven't contacted them in over 6 months or a year or whatever it is.

Again without knowing your business, I'm just guessing here but rarely have I found someone who needs to have 3000+ active contacts synched.

]]> By: Oakbridge http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2622 Oakbridge Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:54:27 +0000 http://tj.tntluoma.com/?p=898#comment-2622 <p>First I'll put a disclaimer in, I am one of the Master Daylite Partners. <br><br>However I'm also a user, and previously to finding Daylite, I had been on the search for that one great application. I go back to the days of ACT! on the Mac platform. I've tried Now Contact/Now Up-to-Date, Claris Organizer (anyone remember that?), Outlook, Entourage, and I've even tried to build one on my own. (I'm also a FileMaker developer)<br><br>Nothing, and I repeat Nothing has ever come close to Daylite. <br><br>But, and this is a big But... No two businesses work the same way. No two individuals work the same way. Daylite offers multiple ways of doing most functions. I get asked all the time "What's the best way of doing this in Daylite?" and the answer is: there is no 'best' way. Depending on the way you work, there is a 'best' way for you. <br><br>To be very honest, whenever I tried using ACT!, I hated it. I found it confusing to use. Now at the very first, I found Daylite confusing to use as well. But as I worked my way through the application, it quickly began to make sense. Much more sense than anything else I've ever worked with. Since Daylite Touch, it has gone to a new level. Finally we get all of the powerful linking that we've had in Daylite but we get it on our iPhones. <br><br>My first suggestion, to any new client. Don't attempt to learn Daylite all at once. The best success I have had training new Daylite users is to work in a phased approach. I will only train basics first, then after a user has worked with the basics, we will move on to what I consider some of the more advanced features such as Projects and Sales Opportunities. Too often I've seen users who have attempted to absorb the entire program all at once and it is a recipe for failure.<br><br>Also, remember that like most applications today, there are loads of features. You won't need all of them. Find out which will be important to you, and which you can ignore. I've been using the product for over 5 years now and I probably only use 55-60% of the features. <br><br>Finally: Daylite is not ACT! It is a different application that in my opinion, provides the same functionality as ACT! and more. But you cannot expect that Daylite will do things in the same manner. You've got to cut the apron strings to ACT! and move on if you want to be a Mac user.</p> First I'll put a disclaimer in, I am one of the Master Daylite Partners.

However I'm also a user, and previously to finding Daylite, I had been on the search for that one great application. I go back to the days of ACT! on the Mac platform. I've tried Now Contact/Now Up-to-Date, Claris Organizer (anyone remember that?), Outlook, Entourage, and I've even tried to build one on my own. (I'm also a FileMaker developer)

Nothing, and I repeat Nothing has ever come close to Daylite.

But, and this is a big But… No two businesses work the same way. No two individuals work the same way. Daylite offers multiple ways of doing most functions. I get asked all the time “What's the best way of doing this in Daylite?” and the answer is: there is no 'best' way. Depending on the way you work, there is a 'best' way for you.

To be very honest, whenever I tried using ACT!, I hated it. I found it confusing to use. Now at the very first, I found Daylite confusing to use as well. But as I worked my way through the application, it quickly began to make sense. Much more sense than anything else I've ever worked with. Since Daylite Touch, it has gone to a new level. Finally we get all of the powerful linking that we've had in Daylite but we get it on our iPhones.

My first suggestion, to any new client. Don't attempt to learn Daylite all at once. The best success I have had training new Daylite users is to work in a phased approach. I will only train basics first, then after a user has worked with the basics, we will move on to what I consider some of the more advanced features such as Projects and Sales Opportunities. Too often I've seen users who have attempted to absorb the entire program all at once and it is a recipe for failure.

Also, remember that like most applications today, there are loads of features. You won't need all of them. Find out which will be important to you, and which you can ignore. I've been using the product for over 5 years now and I probably only use 55-60% of the features.

Finally: Daylite is not ACT! It is a different application that in my opinion, provides the same functionality as ACT! and more. But you cannot expect that Daylite will do things in the same manner. You've got to cut the apron strings to ACT! and move on if you want to be a Mac user.

]]> By: Bruce http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2618 Bruce Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:50:27 +0000 http://tj.tntluoma.com/?p=898#comment-2618 <p>I used ACT on a PC for years and was disappointed that it was not an option when I switched to a Mac 4 years ago. I have been looking for a replacement application ever since. I have tried Entourage, Contactizer, Chronos SOHO 8, and Daylite.</p> <p>Unfortunately, none of them performed up to my expectations. That being said, in my opinion, Daylite was the best of the bunch with the most robust feature set (complicated reporting function, though). However, 0ne note for anyone contemplating Daylite: I kept running into serious sync problems. Upon contacting their support folks, I was told by them that this was due to the fact that Daylite can only handle 1,000 contacts (I have 3,100). So it's a no-go for me, unfortunately. If I had a smaller database it is the one that I would use, though.</p> <p>It is very surprising to me that no enterprising programmers have come up with an appropriate solution for what appears to be a gaping hole in the Mac world. Seems like an opportunity for someone -</p> I used ACT on a PC for years and was disappointed that it was not an option when I switched to a Mac 4 years ago. I have been looking for a replacement application ever since. I have tried Entourage, Contactizer, Chronos SOHO 8, and Daylite.

Unfortunately, none of them performed up to my expectations. That being said, in my opinion, Daylite was the best of the bunch with the most robust feature set (complicated reporting function, though). However, 0ne note for anyone contemplating Daylite: I kept running into serious sync problems. Upon contacting their support folks, I was told by them that this was due to the fact that Daylite can only handle 1,000 contacts (I have 3,100). So it’s a no-go for me, unfortunately. If I had a smaller database it is the one that I would use, though.

It is very surprising to me that no enterprising programmers have come up with an appropriate solution for what appears to be a gaping hole in the Mac world. Seems like an opportunity for someone -

]]> By: John http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2597 John Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:27:32 +0000 http://tj.tntluoma.com/?p=898#comment-2597 <p>O.K... Daylite is a nightmare. Maybe it's just me but I am going crazy with this thing. This is literally the second time that I have purchased the program. I did it because of the new Daylite Touch feature. Well, I've had both since April and still can't figure out how to get Daylite Touch to run using my Mac as the server. I have hired a top line consultant and she couldn't do it either! I've purchased tutorials, whatever.. You can do almost anything on Daylite if: 1. You are a computer programmer 2. You are a very strategic thinker who is willing to create a whole new world of thinking. 3. You are willing to completely change your concept of contact tracking ala ACT and go with a drastically different approach. Oh, yes it will integrate your email. After 2 purchases, months of work, hundreds of dollars and constant failure.. I have become just a little pessimistic. I hope that answers that.</p> <p>Tomorrow, Mac releases Snow Leopard. I am hoping that somehow, based on the new OS we have a new platform that is effective and efficient in running virtual windows...or something!</p> <p>Thanks to all of the comments on this site, I have saved myself the problems of other fixes. Does anyone have a line on how we can use the new OS to make our dream of ACT! on a Mac a reality?</p> O.K… Daylite is a nightmare. Maybe it’s just me but I am going crazy with this thing. This is literally the second time that I have purchased the program. I did it because of the new Daylite Touch feature. Well, I’ve had both since April and still can’t figure out how to get Daylite Touch to run using my Mac as the server. I have hired a top line consultant and she couldn’t do it either! I’ve purchased tutorials, whatever.. You can do almost anything on Daylite if: 1. You are a computer programmer 2. You are a very strategic thinker who is willing to create a whole new world of thinking. 3. You are willing to completely change your concept of contact tracking ala ACT and go with a drastically different approach. Oh, yes it will integrate your email. After 2 purchases, months of work, hundreds of dollars and constant failure.. I have become just a little pessimistic. I hope that answers that.

Tomorrow, Mac releases Snow Leopard. I am hoping that somehow, based on the new OS we have a new platform that is effective and efficient in running virtual windows…or something!

Thanks to all of the comments on this site, I have saved myself the problems of other fixes. Does anyone have a line on how we can use the new OS to make our dream of ACT! on a Mac a reality?

]]> By: cynthia http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2580 cynthia Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:07:58 +0000 http://tj.tntluoma.com/?p=898#comment-2580 <p>OK--I read all the posts, and some are a bit old.</p> <p>HAS ANYONE FOUND A DECENT ALTERNATIVE TO ACT BUT RUNNING ON THE MAC??</p> <p>I have my client list and also have all my christmas and party lists on ACT (Started using ACTin 1993?) and have never moved over to the MAC. In my family I am the last PC holdout but am finally totally sick of XP/Microsoft and all the virus problems that come along with it. The new windows 7 scares me too. :-)</p> <p>I'm moving to a MAC sometime before the end of the year ( but probably will print my christmas card list from my PC one last time!).</p> <p>I'd like to hear from people who have used Daylite...as it seems that this is the one program that people say kind of comes close to ACT, but runs on the MAC. The one functionality that I really can't live without is the e-mail integration function. Can you run e-mail through Daylite and have it save to your history automatically? My business uses email A LOT and that is the one thing that I bought ACT for in the first place. I need to be able to go back and see what I sent and what I said in prior conversations (notes) when I am talking to someone on the phone. Anybody???</p> <p>If anything other than Daylite is out there these days, I would love to hear about that too.</p> <p>No $ in the business budget for anything that needs customization...I need something to work "out of the box." Thank you! Cynthia</p> OK—I read all the posts, and some are a bit old.

HAS ANYONE FOUND A DECENT ALTERNATIVE TO ACT BUT RUNNING ON THE MAC??

I have my client list and also have all my christmas and party lists on ACT (Started using ACTin 1993?) and have never moved over to the MAC. In my family I am the last PC holdout but am finally totally sick of XP/Microsoft and all the virus problems that come along with it. The new windows 7 scares me too. :-)

I’m moving to a MAC sometime before the end of the year ( but probably will print my christmas card list from my PC one last time!).

I’d like to hear from people who have used Daylite…as it seems that this is the one program that people say kind of comes close to ACT, but runs on the MAC. The one functionality that I really can’t live without is the e-mail integration function. Can you run e-mail through Daylite and have it save to your history automatically? My business uses email A LOT and that is the one thing that I bought ACT for in the first place. I need to be able to go back and see what I sent and what I said in prior conversations (notes) when I am talking to someone on the phone. Anybody???

If anything other than Daylite is out there these days, I would love to hear about that too.

No $ in the business budget for anything that needs customization…I need something to work “out of the box.” Thank you! Cynthia

]]> By: Mike Nelson http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2579 Mike Nelson Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:16:45 +0000 http://tj.tntluoma.com/?p=898#comment-2579 <p>This forum has been very helpful. I have used ACT for years but our small business would very much like to go all Mac. I just looked at Wired Contact that Tim Drake mentioned above and if they have someone in Kansas that can work with us, I believe it will be the best solution for us. Frankly, we are only interested in the client contact page and the historical notes data that time stamp all entries and lists the person making the entry automatically. If we could find just those two very important features in a Contact Management Software that would work with Mac's and would transfer over all our data, I'd buy it. We came close to purchasing Daylite, but it's overkill for us and we have been unable to find anyone available in Kansas to convert our data on site (due to security issues). Thanks for all your comments!</p> This forum has been very helpful. I have used ACT for years but our small business would very much like to go all Mac. I just looked at Wired Contact that Tim Drake mentioned above and if they have someone in Kansas that can work with us, I believe it will be the best solution for us. Frankly, we are only interested in the client contact page and the historical notes data that time stamp all entries and lists the person making the entry automatically. If we could find just those two very important features in a Contact Management Software that would work with Mac’s and would transfer over all our data, I’d buy it. We came close to purchasing Daylite, but it’s overkill for us and we have been unable to find anyone available in Kansas to convert our data on site (due to security issues). Thanks for all your comments!

]]> By: Ellen Breiten http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2578 Ellen Breiten Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:10:53 +0000 http://tj.tntluoma.com/?p=898#comment-2578 <p>Appreciated the conversation on ACT! I too have been a devoted user. Started with Act for Mac which was wonderful. I have kept my G4 Powerbook for those databases... my Christmas card list is still there. It runs only in OS 9, and I also have OS 10 on the G4 , however didn't upgrade to Tiger and now am having a difficult time trying to find an upgrade CD. (Didn't get the DVD when I could have, ouch) Because I'm in 10.2, I can't use a lot of the websites well and I can't upgrade to Leopard because it will wipe off OS 9 and my beloved ACT!.</p> <p>Meanwhile I also have a PC with XP and have ACT for Windows. I've gone through a number of versions and I must say it is not a very user friendly program, at least not for me. I have struggled for years to get it running properly. Part of my problem is that I know what it should do, but it does it differently from the Mac version. It looks different, the notes are different. Just trying to add people to a group is crazy. Nothing seems to be where I think it should be. I would love to have the ACT for Mac back in a version that worked on the current system. I mourn it's loss.</p> Appreciated the conversation on ACT! I too have been a devoted user. Started with Act for Mac which was wonderful. I have kept my G4 Powerbook for those databases… my Christmas card list is still there. It runs only in OS 9, and I also have OS 10 on the G4 , however didn’t upgrade to Tiger and now am having a difficult time trying to find an upgrade CD. (Didn’t get the DVD when I could have, ouch) Because I’m in 10.2, I can’t use a lot of the websites well and I can’t upgrade to Leopard because it will wipe off OS 9 and my beloved ACT!.

Meanwhile I also have a PC with XP and have ACT for Windows. I’ve gone through a number of versions and I must say it is not a very user friendly program, at least not for me. I have struggled for years to get it running properly. Part of my problem is that I know what it should do, but it does it differently from the Mac version. It looks different, the notes are different. Just trying to add people to a group is crazy. Nothing seems to be where I think it should be. I would love to have the ACT for Mac back in a version that worked on the current system. I mourn it’s loss.

]]> By: Andy http://tntluoma.com/apple/act-and-mac-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2556 Andy Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:55:04 +0000 http://tj.tntluoma.com/?p=898#comment-2556 <p>Great forum! I am opening a new business and it will be running on a Mac. I have been a 15 year ACT guy, and have just started exporing my Mac options... and so far so disappointed! I'll have to check out Bento.. I have not looked into that one yet.</p> Great forum! I am opening a new business and it will be running on a Mac. I have been a 15 year ACT guy, and have just started exporing my Mac options… and so far so disappointed! I’ll have to check out Bento.. I have not looked into that one yet.

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