Project KickStart for Windows

Used Project KickStart for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffMarch 27, 2013

Judging by functionality, Project KickStart is as much a project-planning tool as a full-blown project manager. Its simple interface lets you define step-by-step all details, such as goals, obstacles, people, tasks, and assignments. To facilitate entry, you can save items in libraries for later use and borrow tasks from past projects. Project KickStart can link its entries to a number of project and planner programs, including Microsoft Project, Outlook, SureTask, and Milestones. Although the program doesn't provide any functionality for tracking finances, it does link to Excel, where you can create budgets. The program seems to lend itself best to planning projects that depend mostly on human resources, such as software development.

What’s new in version 4

Version 4.0 updated interface, adds new Gantt charts, cost and percent done columns added to Gantt chart, allows changing color of Gantt bars, adds project calendar, attach files and hyperlinks to tasks, improved printed reports including 3 styles of Gantt charts.

Project KickStart for Windows

Used Project KickStart for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: January 4, 2008

Latest update: March 27, 2013

Version: 4

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows Vista
Windows NT
Windows 10
Windows XP
Windows 2000
Windows ME

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 121,558

Downloads Last Week: 16

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Last Updated

User Reviews

4/5

15 User Votes

Wizard style and library helped eliminate gaps
purtlenOctober 1, 2010
Pros
Wizard, make progress simple with ability to rearrange later - good structure, useful library and suggestions
Cons
couldn't save as pdf or graphical format for use by others. In the end I had to duplicate the plan in excel to share with the other team members
Summary
very functional, would use again for complex projects
Excellent & easy to use. I LOVE it!
tjtrautmanSeptember 7, 2010
Pros
Simple, fast, intuitive and priced right!
Cons
It's not MS Project (thanks god!)
Summary
If you are not a corporate project manager (you lucky dog) or are not a project management guru consider this application, I love it's intuitive use! Fast & easy, yet quite powerful. Most people either hate MS Project or at least hate buying it (for several great reasons). If you are not required to use it, you should certainly check our Kick Start & get control of your project(s) without all the headache, heartache and complete frustration of MS Project!
Outstanding software - wish I had found this years ago
tallandlankyOctober 31, 2008
Pros
n college I took a PM class which required we use MS Project - what a pain in the ass! What they say about Project Kickstart really is true. Install it, let the little "Planning Wizard" help you to flesh-out a project and you are up and running!
Cons
The user-interface looks a little dated. This is something which should be addressed in the future bit really has no bearing on the quality/functionality of the product.
Summary
Sorry. I could not download any of my requests. Can't review.
Capricorn182December 20, 2007
Pros
Cons
Summary
Easy to use, yet powerful, and a great price
mYSOFTWAREREVIEWERJune 11, 2007
Pros
I've tried a lot of project management programs over the years. Unlike MS Project, Project KickStart is super easy to use, and it really walked me through the planning of the project. <p> <p>With a great project plan in place, it's super easy to manage it. It has bells and whistles, too, like Gantt charts, and costing, etc. <p> <p>I really liked the export to PowerPoint feature - and I made a great impression on my boss.
Cons
Summary
Lives up to its name by kickstartin your project but doesn't go much further
Fatima HJuly 9, 2005
Pros
Quick to install. Good for amateurs, looking for a one time presentation tool
Cons
no dependencies in the gantt chart. These are an essential part of any gantt chart. <p>Time entries allow no flexibility of display e.g. For legibility I had wanted the dates to read in this forma "dd_Sep_yy" but there is absolutely no option for changing the date.
Summary
Intuitive process for developing project goals, obstacles, phases and tasks.
ProjectKickStart.comMay 12, 2005
Pros
I have used Project KickStart for years and recommend it to my clients. I find it the best product available for most organizations and businesses. It uses a very intuitive process for developing project goals, obstacles, phases and tasks. One of the features that I like the best is the ability to forward a Project KickStart file in various formats (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc)K. Alessandro,Professional Organizer, Energized Solutions LLC
Cons
Summary
Project KickStart for nonprofits-great tool
Community Development DirectorFebruary 8, 2005
Pros
As an agency that provides member services for community health centers, <p>our staff at the Association for Utah Community Health must manage <p>multiple projects throughout the year. With the assistance of Project <p>Kickstart, we have been able to streamline our work processes, gain the <p>assurance that tasks are appropriately assigned, and visualize project <p>timelines from start to finish. PKS allows us to keep on top of the <p>Federal, state, and membership demands under which our team operates.
Cons
Summary
An objective review...
January 17, 2005
Pros
Cons
Summary
I downloaded the trial and installed the product. I tried to launch it and I got a notice that said that my trial had expired. I uninstalled it, wiped my registry, went to the manufacturer's web site and downloaded another trial. Same scenario. Also, during the install from the trial donwloaded here, the install Wizard defaults to 'Repair' and not install. Weird. Would be really confusing to non-techies. I called tech support and to their credit, they were working on a holiday. The first time I called, my call was disconnected so, I had to call again and wait on hold again. Five minutes later a tech support person gave me a trial extender code and I was off and running. The tech support guy said that he had heard of this problem happening...funny...if the manufacturer knows about the problem...why don't they put out a trial that works???? It's an easy set-up and the interface is intuitive. The things that peeved me: 1) You have to put all your tasks in order starting from the phase stage. For instance, if you input a task that's due in Feb AFTER you input a task that's due in Jan, the software doesn't sort it by date automatically for you. Annoying. 2) It doesn't give you a master calendar view. All you can do is input projects and view them one at a time. There's no such thing as a show-me-all-tasks-due-today function. 3) When adding start dates and end dates, you have to add each date...even if you want to chose the same dates as the task before it. Overall, this program is very labor intensive and if you don't have task assignments and obstacles for your project...I wouldn't suggest buying it. Try it out for yourself (if the trial version works) but, you'll really end up with a project outline that you could have created in Excel. This program really could use built-in calendar and reporting functions - even if limited.
Just what I needed
December 9, 2004
Pros
Cons
Summary
Project Kickstart is an essential weapon for our encounters with the big boys. We are a very small company so bloated software is not an option. Project Kickstart has the powerful functionality we need, easily accessible without wading knee deep through a morass 'features' we don't use, don't want and don't want to pay for. We consider software and technology to be our 'equalizer' that keeps us competitive with larger organizations. In that role, Project Kickstart stands tall. We are a small advertising agency and use Project Kickstart for campaign planning. Our clients are usually very impressed.

Developer’s Description

By Experience In Software

Manage, plan, and schedule any project in only 30 minutes.

Project KickStart is the fastest, easiest way to plan projects. Its wizard-like interface guides you through 6 quick steps for developing a thought-out plan. You'll consider project phases, goals, resources, obstacles and other big picture issues. Schedule tasks with Project KickStart's Gantt chart and print a wide variety of reports including HTML. Hot link option transfers project data to PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, Microsoft Project, ACT!

Version 4.0 updated interface, adds new Gantt charts, cost and percent done columns added to Gantt chart, allows changing color of Gantt bars, adds project calendar, attach files and hyperlinks to tasks, improved printed reports including 3 styles of Gantt charts.