ActiveCollab – The Fab Four Review

Do you feel a little feverish when a deadline draws near? Does the prospect of coordinating a big project cause your heart to beat like a jungle drum? Don’t run to the doctor for Prozac! Area 51 Development has produced a project management tool that will certainly cure what ails you. ActiveCollab is an easy to use app that has a lot going for it. The Web Squeeze had four top reviewers test drive this app and they agree it is definitely worth your consideration.

First of all, the application does what it claims! It is a true lifesaver to a busy designer who needs a good management tool.

Luke Dingle looked at ActiveCollab and had this to say:

“ActiveCollab, throughout, is a very slick system. The dashboard incorporates AJAX and JavaScript in a way that enhances overall usability and makes navigation and sourcing of information a breeze. The initial data displayed is a synopsis of your projects but clicking on a link triggers a pleasant AJAX request that fetches more information on a given area.

As projects can become more detailed and information-rich, ActiveCollab features a nice breadcrumb system that means you are only one click away from the higher levels of the project hierarchy.”

Developer Jason Stanley, pointed out,

“The key to project management software is that it is easy to use and learn. You will be exposing your clients to this software and the software should facilitate the project management. It shouldn’t act as a barrier. In short, if a client has to ask questions about the project management software and how it works the software is failing…

From the client side it is all [simple]. The navigation is simple and clear. Dare I say that once a project is set up and milestones created, the software is pretty much idiot proof.”

A winning feature of ActiveCollab is its uncluttered design. Jason also says,

“What this software has going in its favor is how clean, concise and simple the application is. It has a good range of features, which certainly made my project management easier. The potential to create your own modules is also pretty exciting. Instead of hoping that the developers create it for you, you can make it yourself. This greatly increases the usefulness and lifespan of the tool.”

Luke Dingle, who reviewed ActiveCollab from a client’s perspective, agreed.

“Thankfully, ActiveCollab’s dashboard is a clutter-free haven for information.  The first thing I noticed with ActiveCollab was the relatively modest styling and layout. This is something to praise as it steers away from the information overload sometimes found in project management tools. Instead this program goes for a neat and clean layout that presents my information in an easy to read manner. Rather than placing me on the trading room floor of the New York Stock Exchange– with information, updates and numbers buzzing all around –, ActiveCollab sits me down in a pleasant waiting room. It focuses my eyes on new work I have to perform, work that is approaching its deadline, and what the rest of my team has been up to.

The dashboard of ActiveCollab shows the projects I am involved in and the feeds on this page amount to a sum-total of the work I need to perform. Following a link down to a lower level can give me a similar display on a per-project basis. The project page sees the introduction of “tabs” at the top of the display; these generally filter the information displayed down to:

• ‘Project Name’ — Project Overview
• ‘Milestones’ — What needs to be done on this project
• ‘Discussions’ — What is my team talking about?
• ‘People’ — Who is my team?

Therefore, when it comes to ActiveCollab addressing the needs of me, a client contributor, there is not much missing. Check, check, check and check to my simple, but sometimes overlooked, needs as a pawn on a project.”

Finally, there’s another big plus for ActiveCollab. Jason Stanley points out that this application is much cheaper in the long run, because there is no monthly charge.

“I also like that you are paying for it “up front.” You do not have to incur a monthly charge… If you want to be free from the shackles of Basecamp’s monthly fee, then you should certainly consider this product.”

Designers like Mark Poppen think ActiveCollab is worth the money. Even though Mark admits he is basically “cheap” he sang a different song once he tested this application.

“ActiveCollab is a real time-saver, it looks professional, it’s easy to navigate and I’m going to spend $199 to get the Small-biz version. I should have done this a long time ago!

As a (freelance or single) web designer, half my time is spent communicating with clients. That’s what I like about the job, but I thought there had to be a way to communicate more efficiently. It would be great it I could skip the extra 10 minutes of chit chat you have to do in a phone conversation, because, whether you like it or not, time is money.

That’s where ActiveCollab comes in. It’s a very powerful application you run on your own web server, and it’s installed in minutes. It allows you to create a “to do” list for yourself, set clear deadlines and keep your client(s) informed in a very professional way.”

Rich Komatz reviewed ActiveCollab from an accessibility standpoint. Being the obsessive list maker that he is, Rich did have some suggestions for improvements. But overall’ he rates the application 4.5 out of 5.

“You have to understand that this is how accessibility people think. We strive to make good things better and great things exceptional. ActiveCollab is a great application overall, and I feel like the developers have really spent some time putting the app together. It’s good to see a decent new competitor in the project management market.”

I have to agree. Be sure to read the detailed reports from our four experts below. ActiveCollab is a winning product that may be just what the doctor ordered.

Check out ActiveCollab’s website here.

http://www.activecollab.com/

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5!

Full Reviews

• Jacob Haug (Multimedia Specialist)
• Mark Poppen (Designer)
• Jason Stanley (Developer)
• Rich Komatz (Accessibility Professional)
• Luke Dingle (Client Prospective)