Read, Write & View: 6 Ways Evernote Fails and the 1 Reason I Don't Uninstall It
Herb
· 1 year ago
Aram - I think you may need a little more time with Evernote, but you have picked up on what I would consider its weak spot.
Evernote, IMO, is great for capturing "stream of consciousness"... the miscellaneous bits of data that are constantly coming our way. However, it doesn't do a great job of piecing them together. Still, I view it as much more than a toy.
I'm not a OneNote user so can't compare strengths and weaknesses between the two apps. However, here are some thoughts that might help you get more benefit from Evernote: * Create separate notebooks for each class. You can then easily drill down into a particular class to view your notes in a chronological fashion and/or use the Search feature to quickly find something. * Tag for even better filtering. Not sure why you didn't really like tagging. It's quick and easy with keystrokes. But if you know what you're searching for (e.g., have a specific term in mind), you don't need to rely on tags anyway. Just search. * Editing. Did you know you can double click on a note to pop out a window? When you do so, it shows a toolbar with editing functions such as bullets, indents, font, and other formatting options. These are also available via right click, but the full window might be an easy way to do data entry while you're in a class and taking dedicated notes. * Photos. I *love* this feature! I use it all the time. Examples: - Comparison shopping. Take pictures of items, descriptions, prices, etc. - See car for sale. Take picture of car and phone # in window. - I'm on the HOA in my neighborhood. When I'm out for walks and see something needing action, I take create an image note. When I get back, it's uploaded and I can click the email button and add some notes. - License codes and serial #s. Take pictures of software labels, serial #s on products, etc. - Business cards. Just snap a picture and throw away the card. Later, search on the person or company to bring up the card. - White board. You're in a meeting and capturing all sorts of great ideas on a white board. Just snap a picture and it becomes a searchable note.
Just a few top-of-mind thoughts, for what they're worth.
BTW, I'm a big PersonalBrain user and that is my "digital life partner." Something else you might want to check out when you have some time! :-)
AramZS
· 1 year ago
Herb I can do all that in OneNote but better, I don't need to pop out the window to edit, I know you can do it in Evernote, but all the extra clicks just seem like such a waste of time. One of the great things about OneNote is I can just hit Windows+N keys and pop up an instant window that I can do screen clips with, type in, and put text or images down on the page freeform.
When it comes to photos, what you are talking about seems like a lot of extra work, unless you have an iPhone I suppose, but even then, it would be easier for me to just write down that info, especially with a phone number, I'd have to type it in anyway. While OneNote can't take e-mails as well as Evernote can it can do text recognition in images too.
The business card idea is a good one, but it seems to be no different from what I can do with OneNote, unless I had an iPhone.
I'll take a look at PersonalBrain it looks very cool, right now I use MindJet's MindManager for brain mapping, but this looks like it might work even better.
As for tagging, it just seemed like so much more work than creating pages within note books for each class and sub-pages for projects. Evernote is just so hard to navigate once the notes get large.
You've put forward some good uses for Evernote's features that I hadn't thought of (particularly with the business cards) and I can see it as something other than a toy now, but I still can't see it coming anything close to OneNote when it comes to efficiency and functionality, it's only advantage is that it is free. While Evernote may be useful with Macs and iPhones I can't see Evernote really making a serious dent in the student market without some radical improvements. A note taking program that makes it difficult to take notes is going to have issues if they intend to make a business out of it.
Herb
· 1 year ago
Actually, I'm also a MndManager user... but have found that PersonalBrain is better for my daily needs. I see there's a new MM8 which has a cool player so you can publish to the Web and anyone can view your maps. If you've tried the new version, I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Oh, and PersonalBrain 5 (in beta) can import MM maps.
GypsyLaKat
· 1 year ago
I just started using OneNote and while it has some issues that I don't like quite as much as just using good ol' MS word (well the 2007 version) it has a lot of features that are wonderful, but I digress, OneNote 2007 actually does have the option to upload your stuff right to the web, I haven't experimented with it much, but it's there. Go to the MS OneNote page.
And OneNote does all of the things Herb said, pictures become searchable text, create separate notebooks and all that kinds of goodstuff
AramZS
· 1 year ago
GypsyLaKat, I saw the option in OneNote, but, to be honest, I just can't get it to work. If you can do so, drop by and tell me because I can't figure it out for the life of me.
What features in OneNote don't you like compared with MS Word? I mean, for creating end documents to be presentable you need Word, or something like it. But for notes I can't think of a reason you'd use Word instead of OneNote.
AramZS
· 1 year ago
By the way, thanks for pointing out the OneNote website, I'd never been there before but it is really cool.
GypsyLaKat
· 1 year ago
I haven't really played with the online update, I just knew you "could", I too lost my laptop recently (but I was able to back everything up first) so I've been a little bit obsessive with back ups.
Honestly I started using Word because I didn't know what OneNote was (originally I thought it was just extra software that came with my computer in case I had a tablet) I learn things better if they're in different colors and fonts for some reason and I had Word all set up to do different headers/ font styles, I'm very much a fan of Word 2007's ribbon, so for me it almost seems like extra work to change fonts and things like that. Also I haven't figured out how to create customized bullet lists yet, beyond the 12 or so in the bullets options...
Also I'm a big fan of including shapes and graphic organizers and MS Word is just very set up to use it.
With OneNote I'm just having to learn to use different organizational styles than what I'm used to.. It seems like they spent all their time updating MS Word and not OneNote
AramZS
· 1 year ago
Really? I would have thought that the ability to type anywhere would have made OneNote far easier to use graphic organizers with than Word.
Troy Malone
· 1 year ago
You are right in many respects. My thing was that I had a bunch of info in Evernote, but couldn't do anything with it. Check out how I solved that problem for me and Pelotonics users: http://www.vimeo.com/2024523
Don't know if it would apply to a student, but I think it would as I think back a few years! Let me know your thoughts.
Troy
AramZS
· 1 year ago
Troy, your system is very cool. I'm not sure how well it would work when I don't have an iPhone and Pelotonics seems a bit complex for regular student life, but I'm going to look into it. Thanks for the link!
William Stewart
· 1 year ago
Aram - I use Evernote to store journal entries (sent from my Blackberry), to-do lists (sent from Blackberry, and re-arranged in the desktop client), and to store bank statements and old bills (scanned using Image Capture - as PNG files - and FULLY SEARCHABLE).
The paperless office dream is actually a reality for me with Evernote. So much so, that I paid my $50 or so Premium fee for the year.
AramZS
· 1 year ago
The thing is... OneNote does it better as far as I can see. All the photos are searchable, journal entries get passworded, everything gets saved. To top it all off, OneNote has a far nicer interface and no monthly fee. I just don't see the advantage to Evernote being big enough.
William Stewart
· 1 year ago
Advantage - syncs across platforms (work computer, home computer), and more importantly, it works on my Mac
jbenson2
· 4 months ago
My Evernote program has crashed 4 times in the past 10 months. I have been forced to do a complete restore twice. The other two were solved by deleting specific notes identified by Evernote tech support.
Evernote wants to be your "external brain" and store everything.
I've tried to discuss my biggest fear with them, but they avoid the subject like the plague. If I hand over my data to them, my fear is they won't be able to scale up to increasing demand, then run out of cash and simply say:
"SORRY!"
Just like other software companies did in the last tech crash.
Kate O'
· 4 months ago
Hi Aram, I'm a fan of Evernote (well, practically an addict, really) and have only used OneNote a little in the past, so I'm not as prepared to compare as you are. But I can tell you that without starting from that that comparison, Evernote truly shines for me.
Sounds like OneNote has you covered for the more serious note-taking functions you're describing. I can see where it would be frustrating to not have everything together in one place, but I've read other people's descriptions of how they use both OneNote and Evernote in different ways, so I think you're not alone.
But maybe it's a case of allowing Evernote to be what it's really good for, which is a multi-platform repository of ideas and snippets -- and for that it is unparalleled, IMO.
All Comments
Evernote, IMO, is great for capturing "stream of consciousness"... the miscellaneous bits of data that are constantly coming our way. However, it doesn't do a great job of piecing them together. Still, I view it as much more than a toy.
I'm not a OneNote user so can't compare strengths and weaknesses between the two apps. However, here are some thoughts that might help you get more benefit from Evernote:
* Create separate notebooks for each class. You can then easily drill down into a particular class to view your notes in a chronological fashion and/or use the Search feature to quickly find something.
* Tag for even better filtering. Not sure why you didn't really like tagging. It's quick and easy with keystrokes. But if you know what you're searching for (e.g., have a specific term in mind), you don't need to rely on tags anyway. Just search.
* Editing. Did you know you can double click on a note to pop out a window? When you do so, it shows a toolbar with editing functions such as bullets, indents, font, and other formatting options. These are also available via right click, but the full window might be an easy way to do data entry while you're in a class and taking dedicated notes.
* Photos. I *love* this feature! I use it all the time. Examples:
- Comparison shopping. Take pictures of items, descriptions, prices, etc.
- See car for sale. Take picture of car and phone # in window.
- I'm on the HOA in my neighborhood. When I'm out for walks and see something needing action, I take create an image note. When I get back, it's uploaded and I can click the email button and add some notes.
- License codes and serial #s. Take pictures of software labels, serial #s on products, etc.
- Business cards. Just snap a picture and throw away the card. Later, search on the person or company to bring up the card.
- White board. You're in a meeting and capturing all sorts of great ideas on a white board. Just snap a picture and it becomes a searchable note.
Just a few top-of-mind thoughts, for what they're worth.
BTW, I'm a big PersonalBrain user and that is my "digital life partner." Something else you might want to check out when you have some time! :-)
When it comes to photos, what you are talking about seems like a lot of extra work, unless you have an iPhone I suppose, but even then, it would be easier for me to just write down that info, especially with a phone number, I'd have to type it in anyway. While OneNote can't take e-mails as well as Evernote can it can do text recognition in images too.
The business card idea is a good one, but it seems to be no different from what I can do with OneNote, unless I had an iPhone.
I'll take a look at PersonalBrain it looks very cool, right now I use MindJet's MindManager for brain mapping, but this looks like it might work even better.
As for tagging, it just seemed like so much more work than creating pages within note books for each class and sub-pages for projects. Evernote is just so hard to navigate once the notes get large.
You've put forward some good uses for Evernote's features that I hadn't thought of (particularly with the business cards) and I can see it as something other than a toy now, but I still can't see it coming anything close to OneNote when it comes to efficiency and functionality, it's only advantage is that it is free. While Evernote may be useful with Macs and iPhones I can't see Evernote really making a serious dent in the student market without some radical improvements. A note taking program that makes it difficult to take notes is going to have issues if they intend to make a business out of it.
Oh, and PersonalBrain 5 (in beta) can import MM maps.
And OneNote does all of the things Herb said, pictures become searchable text, create separate notebooks and all that kinds of goodstuff
What features in OneNote don't you like compared with MS Word? I mean, for creating end documents to be presentable you need Word, or something like it. But for notes I can't think of a reason you'd use Word instead of OneNote.
Honestly I started using Word because I didn't know what OneNote was (originally I thought it was just extra software that came with my computer in case I had a tablet) I learn things better if they're in different colors and fonts for some reason and I had Word all set up to do different headers/ font styles, I'm very much a fan of Word 2007's ribbon, so for me it almost seems like extra work to change fonts and things like that. Also I haven't figured out how to create customized bullet lists yet, beyond the 12 or so in the bullets options...
Also I'm a big fan of including shapes and graphic organizers and MS Word is just very set up to use it.
With OneNote I'm just having to learn to use different organizational styles than what I'm used to.. It seems like they spent all their time updating MS Word and not OneNote
Don't know if it would apply to a student, but I think it would as I think back a few years! Let me know your thoughts.
Troy
The paperless office dream is actually a reality for me with Evernote. So much so, that I paid my $50 or so Premium fee for the year.
Evernote wants to be your "external brain" and store everything.
I've tried to discuss my biggest fear with them, but they avoid the subject like the plague. If I hand over my data to them, my fear is they won't be able to scale up to increasing demand, then run out of cash and simply say:
"SORRY!"
Just like other software companies did in the last tech crash.
Sounds like OneNote has you covered for the more serious note-taking functions you're describing. I can see where it would be frustrating to not have everything together in one place, but I've read other people's descriptions of how they use both OneNote and Evernote in different ways, so I think you're not alone.
But maybe it's a case of allowing Evernote to be what it's really good for, which is a multi-platform repository of ideas and snippets -- and for that it is unparalleled, IMO.