I was setting up a simple task-board for myself when my boss started
griping. I wasn't doing anything fancy, just index cards organized
into basic status columns of to-do, in-progress, and done. Halfway
through I find myself getting grilled as to why I don't just use a
spreadsheet, iCal, or even a simple text-file. I honestly couldn't
answer. Why does a physical task-board seem so much better? Perhaps
it's just me, but my gut feeling is that it's easier to just look up
and see everything at a glance. But I honestly can't explain why a
text file that's only a double-click away is any worse. Hell, I could
be really lazy and keep the thing permanently open on another screen.

While this particular board is for one-person only, the question could
be extended to groups. What value does a physical task-board give a
team that some other method does not? What might the issues be with,
say, a computer with a large monitor in the center of the room
containing the same information? Why does a shared wiki seem more
cumbersome? Are a few extra clicks between you and a spreadsheet
really so much to ask?