Jan 15 2003
Fast Track Schedule 8
Here at MacMerc, when we think of professional Mac applications, we immediately think of Photoshop, Final Cut and the like. Well, it’s high time we considered our fellow Mac pros working on the other side of the office partition.
There are a growing number of Mac users out there in the corporate world, so today we’ll be taking a look at a project scheduling tool. Actually, it’s more like the project scheduling tool.
The first thing I will say about Fast Track is how useful it could be for anyone. We all work on projects and live by schedules. That said, Fast Track takes a little getting used to. While setting up a to-do list is simple, a Fast Track schedule is a little more complicated. Understanding how links work and finding your way around isn’t the easiest.
In this new version there is a whole new level of customization. You can import graphics from any QuickTime-supported format. You can also change icons and colors on your progress bars.
However, sadly lacking is the kind of slick graphics we Mac users have come to expect out of our platform. A few drop-shadows, bevel effects or transparency could vastly improve the interface. Solid color bars are so “late-nineties”.
Fast Track is a very robust and versatile application. It has its own scripting language and exports schedules as web pages. Importing and sharing schedules with Windows users is easy too. There are also some nice auto-formatting presets. Included are powerful work analysis tools and a resource manager.
Fast Track also comes in a Palm flavor that is surprisingly robust for a Palm program. Synching and working with schedules on your Palm is quick and easy.
For the serious professional, this program is a lifesaver. If you coordinate large projects or even small ones with others, this program is definitely for you. On the other hand, if you can barely handle your iCal to-do list, you’d better steer clear of this one.
Fast Track Schedule 8: $299, upgrade for $129
Fast Track Schedule 8 for Palm OS is $99, upgrade for $29
