Whether you’re at the office, on the road, or at home, everyone can benefit from a to-do list. If you’re using Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, then you already have access to an integrated to-do list, which integrates with a calendar as well. Those who don’t have Outlook 2007 can use either the Google sidebar, or the Windows Vista Sidebar.

Google Sidebar

To add the to-do list gadget to the Google sidebar right-click the sidebar, and choose Add gadgets.

A nicely organized window pops-up. There is search feature to look for either todo or to-do. I found one created by Google.

The to-do list is very simple. Checking the box means the task has been completed. If you wanted to create a time stamped list, simply type a date or time before each item on the list. If an item is too long you either have to widen the sidebar, or hover your mouse over the item. I’d prefer it wrapped the text, and showed it on the next line.

Right clicking a gadget gives additional options.

Windows Vista Sidebar

To add the to-do list gadget to the Windows Vista sidebar right-click the sidebar, and choose Add Gadgets.

A window pops-up with only a few gadgets. Microsoft wants you to visit their gadget site, so click the Get more gadgets online in the bottom right corner of the window.

Once on the gadgets page type in either todo or to-do in the search box and click Gallery.

Once you’ve found the right gadget click Download, and follow the directions. You can easily remove installed gadgets later. One interesting to-do list gadget integrates with Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, and even lets you know if you don’t have it installed. This gadget may also allow you to organize tasks according to calendar dates for a nice appointment calendar, which none of the other to-do lists can, but I didn’t explore this gadget any further myself. If you search for appointment there are several Outlook gadgets available.

There are a couple of more to-do list gadgets which operate similar to the Google to-do list gadget, and do not require Outlook to be installed.

Both to-do list gadgets allow you to create a list, and have similar features to the Google to-list gadget, but the one on the left stood out. The to-list on the left allows long tasks to word wrap so you can see the whole thing, plus it crosses out completed tasks. Obviously whoever designed the gadget on the left was more concerned with making the gadget easy to use, as well as convenient.

In case there are prying eyes, such as when you are using your laptop at Starbucks, or some other Hotspot, the left to-do list gadget above has the option to change the opacity down to 20%.

Right click on the to-do list gadget, and choose 20%. Now it’s almost invisible. Too bad there isn’t an option to autocomplete tasks.