Some personal information managers are so complicated and convoluted that getting organized hardly seems worth the effort. C-Organizer Pro is so easy to use that you will probably never even need to refer to the built-in Help files, although you should check them out at some point, just to be sure you're not missing any useful features. The Help files are extensive and well written, but we found the gray (rather than black) text to be a little difficult to read.

The user interface is well organized and easy to navigate. The left side of the main screen holds a monthly calendar and a list of the main program functions (Appointments, Tasks, Address Book, Passwords, Notes, Events). The right side of the main screen displays information about the function you choose from the list.

Double-clicking a date on the calendar brings up the Add New Appointment window. You can enter notes about an appointment, as well as set an alarm to remind you a set amount of time (from x minutes to x days) ahead of the appointment. You can also assign a priority to each appointment, as well as set recurring appointments or events, such as weekly meetings.

The Tasks section has separate folders for Home and Office, to make it easier to keep things organized. The Address Book has folders for Family and Friends. You can add other categories to either section, as needed.

You can use the Passwords section to keep track of your passwords for various accounts and services, and also set a password for C-Organizer Pro, to protect all of your information.

The Notes section is a freeform area that you can use for any purpose you choose.

The Events area is a customizable list of events that are important to you, such as birthdays and anniversaries.

A 30-day trial version of C-Organizer Pro is available for downloading from the CSoftLab web site.

C-Organizer Pro doesn't offer some of the advanced features of high-end PIMs, but it is easy to use, and offers most of the features that home and small business users need.


Pros: Easy to use, can sync with Palm OS and Pocket PC PDAs
Cons: A little pricey for home use, the text in the built-in Help files is a little difficult to read