Up North ~ Life in Minnesota

The hunt begins

About this time last year, I began the hunt for a very elusive prey–the perfect online calendar. Weeks of fruitless Google searching returned the usual suspects, MSN and Yahoo, and a handful of raw, plucky newcomers. I was fairly intrigued with Kiko, Planzo, and CalendarHub, and I alloted them each a few days of dutiful consideration. While I’m pretty particular about features, I’m a real pain-in-the-ass when it comes to aesthetics. I want my online apps to be functional and attractive. Something that is lacking key features, is hard to use, or hard to look at, definitely won’t earn a more or less permanent place in my personal pantheon of Firefox tabs. Although I realized that I have some serious personality flaws, I couldn’t quite bring myself to continue using any of these promising, but inadequate options.

Along comes 30 Boxes

Sometime after resigning myself to a life without the joys and benefits of online calendaring, I stumbled across a little project with the all too appropriate name of 30 Boxes. 30 Boxes was refreshing. It was simple and beautiful, yet robust and powerful. Honestly, it was as close to perfection as any mortal (or triumvirate of mortals, in this case) should dare hope to achieve.

Google, as prophesied

Well into my second month of blissful enchantment with this Cinderella of calendar applications, Google decided to unveil its own, much anticipated offering. Since I’ve already illuminated a few of my character faults, I see no reason for dissembling this one. I love Google. Back in the day, when absolutely no one had heard of them, and everyone I knew used either AltaVista or Lycos for search, I was wild-eyed about Google. I rabidly advocated Google, proselytizing the eager, huddled masses sickened by increasingly complex interfaces and poor results. Google hit the mainstream, and I have smugly, silently muttered the requisite “told you so” after each of the company’s many triumphs. I fully expected their calendar to be better. I imagined they, with their infinite resources and top-notch talent, had crossed that infinitesimally fine line separating near-perfection and absolute sublimity. I was wrong.

My switch to Google’s calendar came with little fanfare. No fireworks followed my treacherous leap. I endured some gentle ribbing from colleagues who were still under 30 Boxes‘ sway, but I quickly learned the various idiosyncrasies this new calendar offered. I made myself at home, confident that I was fated to use Google products until the end of time. Months later, Google calendar was unchanged. Still the solid, reliable performer, but boring. 30 Boxes, however, had added innumerable features. Improving each week–each day–by responding to feedback from loyal fans. E-mail integration, to do lists, tags, themes, buddy updates… the list invariably continues. A vibrant, living community/calendar lovingly crafted by three dedicated people and a horde of admirers. What’s not to love?

Redemption at last

So, this Cinderella story closes with the befuddled, but well-meaning anti-hero switching back to 30 Boxes. Undiminished by his travails, he vows to steadfastly promote 30 Boxes with all the vim and vigor he once afforded Google. But this is still the beginning of the tale for 30 Boxes. If you need a beautiful, feature-rich online calendar, 30 Boxes is it. I’m sure they would appreciate your support.