Here are all my technology tools as of June, 2021.
Hardware
I am solid in the Apple ecosystem.
- iMac 27″ as my main desktop computer
- MacBook Pro 2015 as laptop
- iPad Pro 2021 11-inch for remote work
- Fujitsu ScanSnap for document and bulk scanning
- Epson V600 flatbed scanner for photographs
- iPhone 12 for most photography
Software
- TNG (The Next Generation) Data Manager – Instead of Family Tree Maker, Legacy, etc., I am using a self-hosted open-source product called TNG. I used to upload GEDCOM files from Legacy to on online version of TNG, but now I also use TNG on my local desktop.
- Zotero – I use this to catalog useful links and citations for online research. It’s sort of a cross between a research log and a link manager.
- OneNote – I am using this to keep track of upcoming research ideas, where and why I’m brick-walled on various family lines, etc.
- Photo Mechanic – using this to enter detailed metadata on photos that I scan
- Office 365 – prefer to use this environment over Google Drive because I’ve burned a couple times by Google dropping functionality
- Agenda – this is a new (to me) tool that I’m using for note-taking, journaling, etc. Not sure (yet) how or if it fits into my genealogy workflows.
Seeking:
- A more robust workflow for research logging. Not sure if I’m looking for a new and different product or just committing to a more disciplined process with tool(s) I already have.
- I sure wish Legacy Family Tree was more compatible with the Mac environment. I loved that program but it was Windows-centric and built on an outdated platform. Concerned about the long-term viability of the product…
