One of the most common complaints levelled at applications such as DayChaser (see below) and even Apple's iCal is that while they might be useful for single users, most people do not work alone. In the Windows world, businesses are usually built around so-called groupware applications, in which users share not just calendars, but contacts and a range of other information.
Such software is rare on the Mac, a fact that has allowed Marketcircle's Daylite to build something of a niche. Daylite 3 will be both welcome and frustrating for existing users: welcome because of the myriad improvements and new features; frustrating because this software has a relatively steep learning curve. Version 3 does behave more like you'd expect information management software to behave, but it's packed with so many features that it could still be more than a little daunting for inexperienced users.
Daylite has been built on top of OpenBase, a robust SQL database system, which means that calendars, contacts, notes, projects and opportunities are instantly available to up to 50 users on your local network as well as over the Internet via TCP/IP or VPN. For mobile workers, you can transfer an offline version of your data to your laptop and then sync it when you get back to the office, or sync data to a PDA.
You don't have to have a large amount of staff to benefit from Daylite. Even as a single user, Daylite handles project and business opportunity management in a relatively straightforward way not found in any other mainstream Mac software. For example, you can produce charts and reports so that you can see revenue potential or project status at a glance.
At the heart of Daylite is its contact management functionality, which has been dramatically updated and improved in this version. You can track the detailed history of a particular contact, and quickly link contacts to opportunities, projects and activities, or attach personalised communications using Daylite's report writer. Contacts can also be synced with Apple's Address Book.
One feature that users of the old version of Daylite will quickly come to wonder how they managed without is Smart Lists. Much like Smart Playlists in iTunes, these are containers for your data that automatically update depending on one or more predefined criteria, such as all contacts based in London. You can also have 'manual' (non-smart) source lists, and even these are a useful way to manage data.
Another valuable feature is the Activity Set, which allows you to create a series of repetitive time-based activities. So for example, a film company may have a certain set of milestones that need to be reached in each project, such as shooting, audio-dubbing and post-production. Using an activity set, you can add each stage to your calendar for every project in one easy step.
Daylite does have its flaws - namely its relative complexity and steep learning curve - but it simply wouldn't be as powerful and versatile if it were as easy to use as iCal. Even so, it is the best information management tool for the Mac we've seen, and there's no better solution for the Mac-based small business.
Verdict
It is the best information management tool for the Mac we've seen, and there's no better solution for the Mac-based small business
Author: Mike Hirschkorn
MacUser Online