Last Spring I wrote about Studiometry vs. Basecamp, at the time using both but mostly Studiometry. After awhile I leaned back toward Basecamp because the web-based action was far too alluring for me. However, I’ve also been using Backpack for even longer than I’ve used Basecamp and though I was using it only for personal use, I recently found the value of Backpack to be much higher in the long term for what I do.
I’m not a big agency (I freelance) so I may only have 3-5 active projects going on at once and maybe another 20-30 ongoing. What I found with Basecamp was that I kept clicking from tab to tab to find what I need and it was cutting into my billable time. And trying to find a client’s contact information was often too many clicks away to bother with a quick question. With Backpack I have everything I need all on one page and the bonus… it’s less than half what I was paying for Basecamp.
Comparing the two: my pro-con list
| Pro/Con | Basecamp | Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Single v Multiple Pages | Too many clicks to simply check off a list item | Client has a single page for each project |
| Image Browsing | Basecamp has none. Files, but no images. I can’t see what an image looks like, only an icon. | Nice square thumbs of images (clickable to full size), snapshots of typefaces client likes, comps we’ve gone over, etc. |
| Client access | Full access and customizable permissions, complete with all the professionalism that comes with | Sufficient access to read and make changes without making a page public |
The details: how a typical project looks
This is a very small sample project so the page could be a whole lot longer and full of more information but I’m finding it so much easier already to find what I need. The important stuff (tasks) is right on top and everything else is right there below so I don’t have to go digging around to find things. The exception to that is with the calendar (notice there are no “milestones”), and writeboards are a page away, but all-in-all, for my small scale work, it just makes more sense to pay $5/mo (or $9 if I’m really busy) instead of the $24 I was paying at Basecamp.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love Basecamp and will always keep my account there; it’s just that right now for what I need, Backpack works better.
Natalie Jost left a comment on January 24, 2007 at 8:42 am | #
Oh yeah, I forgot this one too: GROCERIES! I’m constantly thinking of things I need at the store and forgetting to write them down so I use to-dos now because you know why? The items stay on the list after I check them off and just push down to the bottom, smaller, out of sight. If I need milk or bread again next time I go to the store I just un-check it and it’s back up on my list. SOOOOO easy, cheesy!
rapture left a comment on January 24, 2007 at 10:11 am | #
Thanks, Natalie. You plainly laid out the differences. Just getting my feet wet with the whole project management software and you’ve help me make a decision.
Josh Byers left a comment on January 24, 2007 at 10:57 am | #
About a year ago I started to look into project management software. I tried out the free version of Backpack and it was okay, but it only let you manage one project at a time. Being somewhat of a cheapskate I wanted to avoid paying a monthly fee if possible… Enter activeCollab
I’ve been very happy with this software as it is a free, open source, and is able to reside on your own server. Now if I could find some software as great as Blinksale…
Natalie Jost left a comment on January 24, 2007 at 1:06 pm | #
Josh, thanks! That looks worth checking out. I may need something bigger again and free is clearly cool. :)
Michael Montgomery left a comment on January 24, 2007 at 3:09 pm | #
Natalie, this Backpack technique looks great. So good, I’m tempted to try it with a project or two…
One thought about the Basecamp distinction is that it allows collaboration among teams/clients. In contrast, it seems like Backpack works because you’re mostly working on your own(?)
So far on my projects, I also use activeCollab. Free and open source, powerful enough for me, it’s on my server so I control it. All good stuff.
@Josh, have you tried SideJobTrack ?
Ben left a comment on January 24, 2007 at 4:36 pm | #
the thing i like a lot about basecamp is the time tracking integration. If activecollab had the time tracking I’d customize it and run with it. Then again, they both could (activecollab & basecamp) could both incorporate the time tracking tool on the form assembly time tracker.
I may try the backpack idea though.
Natalie Jost left a comment on January 24, 2007 at 5:23 pm | #
Michael the team aspect is important. In fact I’m testing it with a client on a current project. I clicked “sharing” and input his email. This gives him equal privileges for his page(s). You can set up as many people as you like as far as I know, so it could work the same as basecamp on a smaller scale (no company/user set up or permissions). I’m trying it out, so we’ll see how it works.
I always thought I would use that part of basecamp but 99% of my clients got confused with how to get around basecamp (particularly in replying to the emails sent from basecamp instead of going to the site to reply – common mistake and easy to make). I think those clients would be able to get around a single backpack page much easier.
Ben I thought the same thing but when I realized I was paying twice the price for just the timer, I didn’t think it was worth it, not with something like Time Tracker out there. I use Studiometry for billing, invoicing, money stuff and time tracking. But for day-to-day (minute-to-minute) projects Backpack works. Sometimes I still use time tracker for a quickie and input it into studiometry later.
Brian Zollinhofer left a comment on January 25, 2007 at 10:00 am | #
I really like Backpack for the to do list/email combo. I use Quicksilver on the Mac as an app launcher. All you have to do is add the email address of the page with your to do list to your address book and then you can send an email to the page. It updates so quickly and easily. And since I use two computers, it is the best way to keep up to date for what I have to do during the day.
Josh Byers left a comment on January 25, 2007 at 10:14 am | #
On the issue of time-tracking activeCollab is planning on implementing that feature and others in version 1.0. When will that be released? Nobody knows…
Michael – Thanks for reminding me about SideJobTrack – When I first heard of it the program was still in the pre-release phase. I’ll have to check it out. Have you been using it? How does it compare to Blinksale? Thanks.
Natalie Jost left a comment on January 25, 2007 at 7:00 pm | #
Hey Josh & Michael, thanks for reminding me about Side Job Track. I had forgotten all about it. I took a look through it today and there are just two things that would keep me from using it full-time. It’s a really good service, so let me get that out there. There’s SO much about it that I love, particularly custom invoices, which I’ve already made a custom template for myself. The two things holding me back, though, I just can’t get past them. I’ll probably check the forums or send a note to the staff about this, but I’ll comment here for others who may be seeking these features.
# flat discount: When I do mark discounts on invoices it’s not always a % value but is sometimes a flat amount, like maybe a free hour or two of work for a church or something. I really would want the ability to give a flat discount amount. # deposit or amt received: This is the most important for me because most all of my work requires a deposit but there’s no way that I could see to put in a partial amount without making an entirely separate invoice for that amount. Often too, people will make partial payments as we go, not really a deposit since I’ve long begun to work on their project, but it works the same way. I’d like the ability to deduct money from an invoice total.
With Studiometry I can input payments on a project and not a specific invoice. A payment can be attached to an invoice but it’s separate. A client can rack up a positive balance and then when it’s time to invoice, the invoice reflects the amount already paid on the balance of the invoice, including the new amount now owed. Very clean.
Blinksale, I’ve never sat down to go through. Does it have those features? Is there anything they’re missing?
Josh Byers left a comment on January 26, 2007 at 2:00 am | #
Blinksale does not have those features. It’s selling point is its simplicity. Consequently its also the thing that has me actively searching for a new solution. Today I came across another web based solution that has come out of beta since I first heard of it.
Freshbooks.com is a simple project and invoice manager like backpack with all the features Blinksale seems to be missing. I won’t go into detail, but I am pretty excited about it. So excited that I actually signed up for an account.
I guess the more options we have the better.
Mike Rohde left a comment on January 27, 2007 at 11:36 am | #
Natalie, thanks so much for this alternate idea for using Backpack! I appreciate especially your sharing the layout of the project page with notes “” good stuff. :-)
Chris L left a comment on January 27, 2007 at 1:25 pm | #
The aspect of BaseCamp that makes it a bit better for me is the team aspect when you have a team on YOUR side… so a team of designers and developers working on a project can more easily manage and work together with BC than Backpack… but Backpack is cool and I keep my account there too for many things!