Do you USE/HATE DM Management Software?

[kigmatzomat]

Laptops are too bulky, IMO, so I go for the Palm Pilot.

I've got 2 dozen plot and general world related files, a dozen fully-statted NPCs, twenty cities, and two dozen groups of NPCs. I've converted sections of the SRD to e-book format (mainly the spell indexes and the animals) and have a drawing program where I keep basic maps. I used to store maps as JPG or PDF but I stopped once I started using it as an e-book reader and needed the space (mmmm, www.baen.com)

The best thing about the PDA in-game is someone can ask me a question while I'm standing, drawing on the battlemat, and then tap-tap-tap I answer it without running back to the laptop.

Out of game the PDA is great for ideas since I can update my files whenever or wherever (at work, at dinner, everywhere). And with synching I can even lose the PDA and not suffer unduly.

Several players use PCGenView to manage their characters, though I generally prefer the feel of paper for actual character sheets. I've got a "real dice only" rule at the table. It's not enforced very hard (e.g. someone forgets their dice I won't shoot them for using a diceroller), but I believe in public dice rolling from players and like the ability to show my untouched dice when they do something freakish.

 

[WingOver]

Laptops are too bulky, IMO, so I go for the Palm Pilot.

The best thing about the PDA in-game is someone can ask me a question while I'm standing, drawing on the battlemat, and then tap-tap-tap I answer it without running back to the laptop.

Have you considered a tablet PC? If you had a light slate (like from HP or Motion Computing) you could carry that around the table instead of the PDA. It has a much larger screen, can be held in portrait mode so you can read e-books more naturally, and you can use a stylus pen as an input device. Also, you can write DM notes on what is essentially a paper-sized digital notepad.

The 3rd generation machines are out... but I'm waiting on the new Toshibas which will probably have the new wide-view-from-any-angle screens.

The biggest drawback is the price unfortunately.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Have you considered a tablet PC?
....
The biggest drawback is the price unfortunately.

Exactly.
Tablets are OK in theory but to me they are the example of design by committee.

• at ~$2000 they need to give me a big performance boost. My several year old Visor cost $175 new and when it dies I can get an 8MB Zire for ~$100.
• The tablet is on the big side of holding comfortably & safely in one hand while writing with the other (I often go walking during lunch at work and make game notes on my Palm)
• The screen is too small to replace a laptop
• The tablet is too big to fit in your pocket
• Without a keyboard most Windows apps are redundant and with one it might as well be a laptop
• The battery only lasts for one day's activity compared to my ~2weeks of life per NiMh AAA charge

Personally, I want a PalmOS tablet with an 8" screen, integrated Wi-Fi, 512MB onboard memory, a flip-over dedicated writing area/chicklet keyboard, flash memory slot, and a sizeable (and replaceable) LiOn battery good for 20ish hours of operation/charge so it can go 2-3 days between charges. I'm sure it'll get a 0.3MPixel camera added to it but I can live with that.

Sorry for going OT.

 

[Mystery Man]

• The screen is too small to replace a laptop

The tablet screen that I use is huge, as big or bigger than some laptops.

• The tablet is too big to fit in your pocket

Is that a tablet pc in your pocket or are you glad to see me?

• Without a keyboard most Windows apps are redundant and with one it might as well be a laptop

Hook a mic up to it with voice recognition software and never have to type again. Works for me.

Personally, I want a PalmOS tablet with an 8" screen, integrated Wi-Fi, 512MB onboard memory, a flip-over dedicated writing area/chicklet keyboard, flash memory slot, and a sizeable (and replaceable) LiOn battery good for 20ish hours of operation/charge so it can go 2-3 days between charges. I'm sure it'll get a 0.3MPixel camera added to it but I can live with that.

It doesn't matter in 5 years its all going to be on something about the size of a wristwatch with the screen projected on the wall and the infrared keyboard (if we'll need them by then) projected on the table so....

 

[Dagda]

I use DM's Familiar and have never regretted it. Primarily I use it as a combat manager, reference, and planner. But it also helps immensly at times when I need to throw out a monster I hadn't planned.

I think it helps speed up play a lot. I only have DMF roll for the monsters and NPCs, the players role their own (except for spot/hide/listen/etc) DMF lets you control how ever much you want.

I've had it for a few years and used it at least once every week for some task or another. I'm a very happy customer if you can't tell.