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General Software Discussion / Re: General brainstorming for Note-taking software
« on: December 01, 2012, 02:51 PM »
From a thread on a RightNote discount:
So, I'll emphasise that I won't be trying to review the good and bad points about each program, simply why I use each one as I do rather than one of the others.
TreeDBNotes
I use this for writing anything from small notes up to something the length of a chapter, and generally have it open all the time. I also use it for things that I will be adding to over time. I don't use it to collect information from elsewhere, although it says it is an information manager. I use other programs for longer and more complex writing - where generally I will just be working on one project at a time. I don't like using word processors for the creative part of writing; it has always felt that the program is getting in the way, good for final editing into the printable state and for reviewing and making notes but not the original writing.
The reason I use TreeDBNotes for writing, is simply that it suits the way I work and is very mouse friendly (
). The toolbars contain all the buttons I use most often, and there is an extensive right-click menu. If I want a simpler screen, I can maximise the current note in an external window. Organisation of what I do is with the tabs across the top and hierarchical trees on the left. External files can be linked or attached. There is a scratch pad and alarms/reminders. Easy to set up and use templates. Can be portable and you can choose which folders/trees you want encrypted. Good import and export. Can set the colour schemes to suit yourself (though you can't set individual tab colours).The clipping is quite good, but I don't see it as a web clipper at all. There are keyboard shortcuts, but I don't use them. Virtually all these features are there in the free version of the program.
Development has been proceeding much more slowly recently, really irritating those who want to see the PIM functionality extended, but not really bothering me.
Ultra Recall
I use this mostly for gathering information, in the way of files, emails etc. It is a good webclipper, especially if you use Internet Explorer or Firefox, or you can use its integrated browser, but I found I didn't use this because I prefer to use Opera. I like it's flexibility of use and the ability to chose how many panels are visible, and its searching is good across everything that has been brought in to the program. More integrated with Microsoft programs than I like, but that can be useful too.
Was temporarily discontinued a while ago and development appears now to be very limited, although new versions still emerge.
I don't use it as much as I did, but that might always change because it remains very functional for what it does.
Evernote
I originally had this in v2 form; IIRC, what attracted me originally was the OCR, search speed, timeline and ability to organise what was in it.
Like most users then I was rather disconcerted when v3 came out with fewer features and an emphasis on the cloud. But I never stopped using it as it always clipped from Opera.
Over time my usage has steadily increased in frequency, though I haven't yet put a lot of information in it. I am likely to do so in the near future mostly because the cloudiness that many dislike has become a major attraction in itself. Being able to make or read notes on my phone has proved really useful. I can chose which notebooks I sync over the net, so I don't really worry about privacy. It still has OCR and will now convert speech into text, which saves me a lot of time. Organisation is quite flexible; there are no folders, but there are notebooks and hierarchical tags which have the same overall functionality that I remember from before.
I'm not sure how interested I would be if I didn't use a smartphone, but with one it is a pretty compelling package. Free too, up to a 60MB a month upload (unlimited data limit means you can buy a premium service for a month or two and revert to free once you have uploaded all the data you want); quite a nifty pricing scheme, it seems to me.
Development and marketing and general buzz seem very positive. There's a clear vision for the product, and everything seems to be going in the direction they anticipated when they switched to the new focus for the product. More than can be said for nearly all of its competitors in the notes or clipping arena.
OneNote
I always liked this more than the other MS Office programs, but it always felt rather heavy and without the flexibility of use that would have made me use it more. Seems rather unloved by MS and irritations (such as the number of levels in the hierarchy) have never been tackled, though others have produced workarounds/scripts. I alwasy thought I'd use it if I had a really big project, but I have never needed too.
Too integrated with the other MS programs for me to really like it and with MS moving towards a walled garden, I have no intention of putting info into it.
RightNote
I've only just started using it. It is good that it works with Opera, but I can't say I love its UI. Doesn't seem to be as configurable as I would like (or expected) and have come across a few irritations; maybe I willbe able to find ways around them, I don't know. The lack of a forum makes communication about issues rather limited and probably does not help the developer know which way his user base would like him to go.
Surfulater
I've looked at this a few times, and am always slightly tempted when there is a BdJ offer - but the fact that it doesn't have good clipping from Opera has always stopped me testing it out in detail or making a purchase.
GemX/Harmony PIM
Given that development appeared well stalled when I got it (and has hardly gone forward much since), I still use this surprisingly often. It's the one program I use that does a lot of different things (and is probably best at none of them - in fact, I have better programs for everything it does, I think) and so I use it. There is usually a reason for me to open it, and then I can use it to do stuff that comes up when I don't fancy deciding what program to use. Of course, it is not really a Notes program, although it contains one. And I still really like being able to have a very extended calendar view.
InfoQube
I download and look at this semi-regularly. I am always very impressed with the idea of the things it can do, but put off by the fact that I can't easily see how to do almost any of them myself. And never feel an urgent need to have to do so, as I feel I have adequate programs I already use. Maybe in the future.
Others
Like, it seems, virtually everyone here, I have tried huge numbers of these programs, but don't really remember the details of why I don't use the others.
Bought it yesterday, and very pleased to find that it clips from Opera; also like the Evernote linking. Haven't properly explored it yet, but think I will probably use it extensively. Doesn't replace TreeDBNotes, which I prefer for writing, or Ultra Recall, better for email etc, or Evernote, better for stuff that doesn't need to be organised & web availability, but it looks as if it might be my be my main app for info heavy uses.-Dormouse (November 27, 2012, 03:47 PM)
@Dormouse:
I'd be interested to hear more detailed comments on why you prefer your different apps for different things, perhaps in the General brainstorming for Note-taking software thread?-rjbull (November 28, 2012, 02:43 PM)
So, I'll emphasise that I won't be trying to review the good and bad points about each program, simply why I use each one as I do rather than one of the others.
TreeDBNotes
I use this for writing anything from small notes up to something the length of a chapter, and generally have it open all the time. I also use it for things that I will be adding to over time. I don't use it to collect information from elsewhere, although it says it is an information manager. I use other programs for longer and more complex writing - where generally I will just be working on one project at a time. I don't like using word processors for the creative part of writing; it has always felt that the program is getting in the way, good for final editing into the printable state and for reviewing and making notes but not the original writing.
The reason I use TreeDBNotes for writing, is simply that it suits the way I work and is very mouse friendly (
). The toolbars contain all the buttons I use most often, and there is an extensive right-click menu. If I want a simpler screen, I can maximise the current note in an external window. Organisation of what I do is with the tabs across the top and hierarchical trees on the left. External files can be linked or attached. There is a scratch pad and alarms/reminders. Easy to set up and use templates. Can be portable and you can choose which folders/trees you want encrypted. Good import and export. Can set the colour schemes to suit yourself (though you can't set individual tab colours).The clipping is quite good, but I don't see it as a web clipper at all. There are keyboard shortcuts, but I don't use them. Virtually all these features are there in the free version of the program.Development has been proceeding much more slowly recently, really irritating those who want to see the PIM functionality extended, but not really bothering me.
Ultra Recall
I use this mostly for gathering information, in the way of files, emails etc. It is a good webclipper, especially if you use Internet Explorer or Firefox, or you can use its integrated browser, but I found I didn't use this because I prefer to use Opera. I like it's flexibility of use and the ability to chose how many panels are visible, and its searching is good across everything that has been brought in to the program. More integrated with Microsoft programs than I like, but that can be useful too.
Was temporarily discontinued a while ago and development appears now to be very limited, although new versions still emerge.
I don't use it as much as I did, but that might always change because it remains very functional for what it does.
Evernote
I originally had this in v2 form; IIRC, what attracted me originally was the OCR, search speed, timeline and ability to organise what was in it.
Like most users then I was rather disconcerted when v3 came out with fewer features and an emphasis on the cloud. But I never stopped using it as it always clipped from Opera.
Over time my usage has steadily increased in frequency, though I haven't yet put a lot of information in it. I am likely to do so in the near future mostly because the cloudiness that many dislike has become a major attraction in itself. Being able to make or read notes on my phone has proved really useful. I can chose which notebooks I sync over the net, so I don't really worry about privacy. It still has OCR and will now convert speech into text, which saves me a lot of time. Organisation is quite flexible; there are no folders, but there are notebooks and hierarchical tags which have the same overall functionality that I remember from before.
I'm not sure how interested I would be if I didn't use a smartphone, but with one it is a pretty compelling package. Free too, up to a 60MB a month upload (unlimited data limit means you can buy a premium service for a month or two and revert to free once you have uploaded all the data you want); quite a nifty pricing scheme, it seems to me.
Development and marketing and general buzz seem very positive. There's a clear vision for the product, and everything seems to be going in the direction they anticipated when they switched to the new focus for the product. More than can be said for nearly all of its competitors in the notes or clipping arena.
OneNote
I always liked this more than the other MS Office programs, but it always felt rather heavy and without the flexibility of use that would have made me use it more. Seems rather unloved by MS and irritations (such as the number of levels in the hierarchy) have never been tackled, though others have produced workarounds/scripts. I alwasy thought I'd use it if I had a really big project, but I have never needed too.
Too integrated with the other MS programs for me to really like it and with MS moving towards a walled garden, I have no intention of putting info into it.
RightNote
I've only just started using it. It is good that it works with Opera, but I can't say I love its UI. Doesn't seem to be as configurable as I would like (or expected) and have come across a few irritations; maybe I willbe able to find ways around them, I don't know. The lack of a forum makes communication about issues rather limited and probably does not help the developer know which way his user base would like him to go.
Surfulater
I've looked at this a few times, and am always slightly tempted when there is a BdJ offer - but the fact that it doesn't have good clipping from Opera has always stopped me testing it out in detail or making a purchase.
GemX/Harmony PIM
Given that development appeared well stalled when I got it (and has hardly gone forward much since), I still use this surprisingly often. It's the one program I use that does a lot of different things (and is probably best at none of them - in fact, I have better programs for everything it does, I think) and so I use it. There is usually a reason for me to open it, and then I can use it to do stuff that comes up when I don't fancy deciding what program to use. Of course, it is not really a Notes program, although it contains one. And I still really like being able to have a very extended calendar view.
InfoQube
I download and look at this semi-regularly. I am always very impressed with the idea of the things it can do, but put off by the fact that I can't easily see how to do almost any of them myself. And never feel an urgent need to have to do so, as I feel I have adequate programs I already use. Maybe in the future.
Others
Like, it seems, virtually everyone here, I have tried huge numbers of these programs, but don't really remember the details of why I don't use the others.
. I also noticed a warmer tone, but equally that is usually just about boosting certain frequencies. Since the trial only gives you a few minutes to listen without stopping and nagging, I don't really want to spend more time trying to hear what other differences there might be myself.
) Might be worth trying if a really large discount comes up on BdJ, but probably not if you only want a web clipper (it does do a lot of other things).
.