User Reviews

  Awesome  

• Interface: 5
• Features: 5
• Ease of use: 5
• Value: 5
• Overall:

This Is The Best One Out There. You Can Password Protect Your Database From Prying Eyes. Also You Can Make Up More Than One Database. I Have Tried A Lot Of Personal Information Managers Out There,And This One Beats Them All. Thank You For A Great Program.

  The best I've found that runs on a thumbdrive  

• Interface: 5
• Features: 5
• Ease of use: 5
• Value: 5
• Overall:

Under the calendar you can assign an entry to a color coded category. I use the calendar as a journal. You can paste images in the notes section. It's simply easy to use yet has a lot of features.

  Almost a dream pim  

• Interface: 5
• Features: 4
• Ease of use: 5
• Value: 5
• Overall:

I've tried a lot of PIMs, task managers, and reminders through the years -- even built my own when I couldn't find one to do what I needed. Essential PIM is one of the best, with an intuitive interface, just the right features (calendar with useful views, to-do list, reminders with snooze, notes, contacts, password protection), a portable version, and no clunky add-ons that don't fit a PIM. If only it had the ability to limit events to specific days of the week and email reminders (pro only), it'd be perfect.

  Very disappointed  

• Interface: 3
• Features: 3
• Ease of use: 3
• Value: 1
• Overall:

I was very pleased with this program until I needed support. I had a database problem that effected my contacts. I sent the database twice ( they said they didn't get it the first time )and then silence for almost 2 weeks. If they are working on my database that means I cant add anything to my copy of the database or when I install the " fixed " database it will wipe out all my additions. Now I'm a paying client so I feel I have the right to expect at the very least some communication.

  Acts and feels like outlook  

• Interface: 5
• Features: 5
• Ease of use: 4
• Value: 5
• Overall:

Someone did a very good job creating an outlook replica minus the email portion. This program looks, acts and feels like outlook. Takes up about 21MB of ram when running so I would not allow it to start with windows. I really don't see the point in using this if you have outlook. It is, however, very very nice.

  The best pim  

• Interface: 5
• Features: 5
• Ease of use: 5
• Value: 5
• Overall:

At my work they use Outlook as a PIM. With this product I carry all my info on my USB drive and love the accessability. I tried many PIMs but this is great and free too. Thanks EPIM Ltd. I highly recommend it. Get version 1.8 !

  Well crafted and polished -an intuitive diamond  

• Interface: 5
• Features: 5
• Ease of use: 5
• Value: 5
• Overall:

I am a long-time programmer and obsessive PIM connoisseur. I have purchased and tested many PIMs since 1983 - Sidekick under DOS (thanks Paul) through all the versions of the ACT, Corel, Lotus/IBM and Microsoft calendars, the AnyTime and InfoSelect versions and scores of PIM trials on the net. I have also tested Mac/Linux PIM programs over the years. Never been totally happy until I found EssentialPIM Pro. I very much appreciate the thoughtful and comprehensive effort that created this program. Plus, this software has no subjective attitude (not stuck with TimesNewRoman, YEAH!). This program does what you want it to do quickly and easily. Other PIMs have some good parts and some really bad parts, EssentialPIM Pro is consistently very good - the colorful interface and views, contacts, reminders (TSR), searching (love the highlighting), outlining, icons and all the wonderful COLOR. The best part is it's totally FUN! The Pro price is right -- get it and stop looking.

  Consumes resources,too many features  

• Interface: 4
• Features: 4
• Ease of use: 4
• Value: 5
• Overall:

I used it, but then realized that it uses quite a bit of memory. Plus it's too bulky, too many features, which nobody will ever use even half of them. Generally it's good, but there are a few lighter alternatives with features just about right. One of the alternatives is UK Kalender and TaskPlus. Another kanaReminder, which does the same thing but in a much simpler way.

  I defy anyone to show me a better stand alone  

• Interface: 5
• Features: 5
• Ease of use: 5
• Value: 5
• Overall:

I defy anyone to show me a better free stand alone personal information/appointment manager. I have been using it for about a year and the updates improve the program (relatively regularly), especially evident in this 1.8 version. Google Calendar is not far away but it has some things to learn, possibly from Essential PIM. One feature I really enjoy is "contacts"; when I need one of my contact's address, phone number, birthday, e-mail address etc, I go here with a click - much faster than looking up my address book or diary. Reminders are excellent with the ability to personalise the wav sound which can be fun if you have the time. All in all top class software.

  Very good, easy to use  

• Interface: 5
• Features: 5
• Ease of use: 4
• Value: 5
• Overall:

I use the standalone "USB-PIM", and this is what I've been looking for all my life. Very nice. Now, I dont have to worry about forgetting birthdays or other important events. Absolutely recommendable. Albeit, I've had a couple of "strange" error messages, but have lost no data.

  Be careful with the "contacts" feature  

• Interface: 5
• Features: 5
• Ease of use: 3
• Value: 5
• Overall:

The CONTACTS feature invites the user to move the fields in any way preferred, implying that one can change the order of FNAME, LNAME, STREET, CITY, Home Phone, etc. Do not take the risk. It might be safe if done before entering any data; however, when I made changes in the order of fields after entering many contacts, the database was corrupted by the action, and I've found no way to restore or recover. Luckily, the data can still be brought up (with error messages), but PRINT is disabled. I assumed that my changes would affect only onscreen view. The "MOVE" option of the CONTACTS feature should be disabled after the first entry. it may be "common sense" to keep the default order of the fields. But it is also "common sense" to use features offered in the application, assuming that the developer would not include "MOVE" options in the GUI if using the options presents high risks to the users' databases.

  Response by software author  

Thank you for posting! This is a known bug in a 1.5.3 version, which will be fixed in the upcoming 1.6 version. Moreover, we are fixing any data files for our users (both free and paid), at first request, free of charge.

  Nice, easy, useful and... free  

• Interface: 4
• Features: 4
• Ease of use: 5
• Value: 4
• Overall:

EssentialPIM is an excellent stand alone alternative to the calendar of MS Outlook. All useful calendar functions are available, Address book, ToDo, Alarms, Contacts and editor included. I like the nice looking user interface. A pleasure to work with. On a daily basis, of course.

  What a pleasure...  

• Interface: 4
• Features: 5
• Ease of use: 5
• Value: 5
• Overall:

Essential PIM was easy to use from the first moment and has plenty of features for any user. The color codings make it easy to understand and give you a sense of what is upcoming for your day, week, etc. It is also a relief to find something that is freeware but has nothing hidden in the background or annoying you in any way. I also found the contact manager helpful and easy to use. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a no-nonsense, reliable, spy-ware and ad-ware free application.

  Essentialpim rating  

• Interface: 5
• Features: 5
• Ease of use: 5
• Value: 5
• Overall:

I was looking for a freeware PIM for a long time;i tried first with webattack, now snapfiles, then tucows, brothersoft,but never found a good product which matched with my requirements.At last the rare bird, try it, you will be flabbergasted.Why :because it is a true professional PIM not an "Ersatz" like the other freeware.