Microsoft project planner is a common term used to describe software products designed and maintained by Microsoft Corporation. That software package includes such products as MS Outlook and MS Project. Basically, these products help project managers and business owners to easily plan and manage their projects, exchange information, collaborate with project teams, and communicate project status to stakeholders. For example, MS Outlook allows using templates to create project plans and to-do lists. It also lets send tasks by email. MS Project planner allows using Gantt Charts and network diagrams to plan projects and design schedules.

The MS solutions enable managers and business owners to efficiently do the following:

• Create and follow an optimized project implementation plan by using special templates
• Calculate and manage costs and track budget spending
• Review and analyze project progress and compare actual results to desired ones
• Communicate and discuss project issues

 The Microsoft office project planner products are good solutions if considering their features they give to users. But there are several factors that do not allow these solutions to be the best ones. First of all, the price for either MS Outlook or MS Project planner is rather high and requires users to pay for licenses, maintenance & administration, and MS Server. If you want to use a licensed copy of any MS software, you need to be ready to pay a considerable amount of money. Meanwhile, many alternative solutions for project planning and management have similar functionality yet are less expensive.

 The next factor is about complexity. Both MS Outlook and MS Project are powerful solutions but they are also complex products that may be not applicable to managing daily tasks and simple projects.  Often users feel confused when trying to plan their to-do lists and agendas by using one of the Microsoft project planner products. Meanwhile, alternative solutions for project planning and management are simple giving flexibility in managing daily tasks and projects.

 That’s why, it is reasonable to look for software products that give alternatives to download solutions. Some people prefer using Google project planner but this solution is web based and requires Internet connection. Probably, the most flexible and convenient solution will be a desktop project management application for group collaboration, such as VIP Task Manager.

 VIP Task Manager shows good functionality and features comparing with MS products. VIP Task Manager can be used to plan, perform, track, measure and report projects. You can use this software to design to-do lists, schedules, project hierarchies, templates and checklists. VIP Task Manager will help you follow the best practices of project planning and management.