Just my thoughts, I have used MLO, Mind Manager and The Brain extensively for probably a decade now. I also used iMindMap for a while and I use evernote for filing.
There is no one tool that does it all. MLO is a great to do list - been my constant companion since I gave up my Palm Pilot years ago (I used to use Life Balance on the Palm which had a number of similar features if anyone remembers that) I use mind manager for planning, writing, projects etc. The biggest advantage is that it exports really well. If I use it to write a report, I can export to a saved word template with a few clicks and turn my mind map into a great document. I found iMindMap is not so good in this area. If planning a project, Mind Manager is good to brainstorm and get all the actions in the right order and dependencies. From there it can be put straight into MLO using MLO's import. If you drop down the file types, you will see Mind Manager on the list. The weakness for me with Mind Manager was that I could not get it to work with my Samsung Tablet. I fixed that with a Surface Pro 3 and now have the full version with my all the time. I used the brain for many years as my knowledgebase. It was extensive and I was able to link all areas of my life together. Capturing information, organising it and finding your way around on the screen is great, but you have already alluded to some of its shortcomings. For me, no ability to turn anything into a report ended it for me. I think the concept is great but there are too many shortcomings in use. I have always used evernote. Traditionally it was my paperless filing cabinet. Now it is also my knowledgebase and has taken over from the Brain. I do use note links in evernote but it is not as easy as linking thoughts in the brain. Last year I made a decision to simplify. I was using too many programs, trying to keep them in sync across multiple computers, phone and tablet. So I bought the surface pro 3 to keep everything together and portable, and also reduced the different software. Now I still use MLO as I did, I use mind manager for more complex planning and writing, and absolutely everything goes into evernote. If I have a mind map, it is stored in evernote, resources for projects, word documents as well as all my personal and work filing is also in there. I had to make some compromises, such as the Windows version of evernote is missing some features I loved in Android on my Samsung, but I am enjoying the simplicity. Regards Stephen J On Monday, 24 August 2015 20:08:08 UTC+10, J Smith wrote: > > > Yes without any user control of layout TheBrain is absolutely hopeless IMO. > > Obvious questions: > - How do you get data between iMindQ and MLO (or dont you) ? > - Are there any plugins for MLO that let you do mindmaps with MLO data? > > J > > > On Sunday, 23 August 2015 23:12:25 UTC+1, Majorbillion wrote: >> >> The Brain, for all the hype and smooth graphics is a disaster. I could >> rant all day about it. In the last version I used, I think in 2013 -- you >> could not change the order of topics and you couldn't see the full map, >> unless you totally turned offf all snap-to structure. Then it becomes >> chaos. >> >> I've complained to them about this. They claim to be the most advanced >> Mindmap out there, but in reality...its crude and inflexible. >> >> On Sun, Aug 23, 2015 at 1:56 PM, John Smith <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >>> Interesting, Eddie >>> >>> Yes, for more complex projects there is definitely a role for >>> mindmapping, because it allows you to see all the different areas of a >>> project on one screen in 2D rather than in effect in 1D (or 1.5D if you >>> include indentation!). >>> For one thing this let's you see what parts of the project you may not >>> have been paying enough attention to. >>> >>> HOWEVER for me it mindmapping didnt work well for actual *task >>> management* lists of such projects. I think it was just rather hard to >>> see things like Next Task (nor next 2 or 3 tasks) within all my projects on >>> a single screen. Somehow with larger projects and too many tasks (say over >>> 100 or so) the whole thing starts to melt down! >>> Possibly there is something clever one could do with filters in >>> MindManager but I never discovered it! >>> >>> Regarding hierachies yes, being forced to start in a central point is >>> exactly what I meant. >>> >>> What sounds brilliant on paper is https://www.thebrain.com. There is no >>> central point at all and you just feed in the relationship and a sort of >>> web / network / graph builds up. In many ways this is very much how the >>> human mind works... in theory. >>> >>> However personally I absolutely loathed it in practice. The reason is >>> that I, like many people I guess, actually work in a series of mental >>> pictures. And with TheBrain, every time you add something new, the whole >>> damned thing wobbles & spins around all over the place, and the last >>> photography your brain took is suddenly upside down/inside out/ all over >>> the place. Absolute nightmare! >>> >>> Interestingly enough part of the reason I *do* quite like Mindjet's >>> MindManager mindmapping tool is because as you add new things it only moves >>> things around when it more or less has to. i.e. Things by default snap into >>> intelligent positions, but without being in your face about it. And when it >>> all moves around it still pretty much looks like the previous layout. >>> >>> [By analogy, for anyone how has worked with HTML you will appreciate how >>> useful it is to be able to apply a tool to tidy out the code *when >>> required* - correct formatting & indenting etc - *and yet* it's useful >>> to be able stop the software from messing with your layouts unnecessarily. >>> i.e. Most of the time we want the new version to look as much as possible >>> like the old version so that we can find our way around! MindManager is >>> quite good like that] >>> >>> I'd be interested to hear how you get on with TheBrain. >>> >>> And please do let me know iof you think iMindQ is better than >>> MindManager. (I have invested too much money into MindManager already but I >>> see no long term future with them mainly because they are WAY too expensive >>> for the non-corporates SMEs like moi... so I am on the looking for new a >>> new tool of comparable power and sophistication.) >>> >>> J >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sunday, August 23, 2015 at 8:42:33 PM UTC+1, Majorbillion wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi John: >>>> >>>> To answer your question about strict hierarchy, iMindQ is set up for >>>> project management and ToDo lists, but I would find it cumbersome because >>>> within one Mindmap, there is only one central starting point. So, if I >>>> interpret your question correctly, the answer is "yes." >>>> >>>> That is why can't be a iMindQ or MLO purist -- for now at least. >>>> >>>> But with most big projects I do in MLO, I come to a point where there >>>> are many interelationships and scenarios. MLO becomes abstract and >>>> convoluted. Everything is suddenly crystal clear when I envision it in >>>> iMindQ. >>>> >>>> Eddie >>>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "MyLifeOrganized" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mylifeorganized. >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/8929009b-5e8f-4094-b02a-179b4962866d%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/8929009b-5e8f-4094-b02a-179b4962866d%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> On Monday, 24 August 2015 20:08:08 UTC+10, J Smith wrote: > > > Yes without any user control of layout TheBrain is absolutely hopeless IMO. > > Obvious questions: > - How do you get data between iMindQ and MLO (or dont you) ? > - Are there any plugins for MLO that let you do mindmaps with MLO data? > > J > > > On Sunday, 23 August 2015 23:12:25 UTC+1, Majorbillion wrote: >> >> The Brain, for all the hype and smooth graphics is a disaster. I could >> rant all day about it. In the last version I used, I think in 2013 -- you >> could not change the order of topics and you couldn't see the full map, >> unless you totally turned offf all snap-to structure. Then it becomes >> chaos. >> >> I've complained to them about this. They claim to be the most advanced >> Mindmap out there, but in reality...its crude and inflexible. >> >> On Sun, Aug 23, 2015 at 1:56 PM, John Smith <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >>> Interesting, Eddie >>> >>> Yes, for more complex projects there is definitely a role for >>> mindmapping, because it allows you to see all the different areas of a >>> project on one screen in 2D rather than in effect in 1D (or 1.5D if you >>> include indentation!). >>> For one thing this let's you see what parts of the project you may not >>> have been paying enough attention to. >>> >>> HOWEVER for me it mindmapping didnt work well for actual *task >>> management* lists of such projects. I think it was just rather hard to >>> see things like Next Task (nor next 2 or 3 tasks) within all my projects on >>> a single screen. Somehow with larger projects and too many tasks (say over >>> 100 or so) the whole thing starts to melt down! >>> Possibly there is something clever one could do with filters in >>> MindManager but I never discovered it! >>> >>> Regarding hierachies yes, being forced to start in a central point is >>> exactly what I meant. >>> >>> What sounds brilliant on paper is https://www.thebrain.com. There is no >>> central point at all and you just feed in the relationship and a sort of >>> web / network / graph builds up. In many ways this is very much how the >>> human mind works... in theory. >>> >>> However personally I absolutely loathed it in practice. The reason is >>> that I, like many people I guess, actually work in a series of mental >>> pictures. And with TheBrain, every time you add something new, the whole >>> damned thing wobbles & spins around all over the place, and the last >>> photography your brain took is suddenly upside down/inside out/ all over >>> the place. Absolute nightmare! >>> >>> Interestingly enough part of the reason I *do* quite like Mindjet's >>> MindManager mindmapping tool is because as you add new things it only moves >>> things around when it more or less has to. i.e. Things by default snap into >>> intelligent positions, but without being in your face about it. And when it >>> all moves around it still pretty much looks like the previous layout. >>> >>> [By analogy, for anyone how has worked with HTML you will appreciate how >>> useful it is to be able to apply a tool to tidy out the code *when >>> required* - correct formatting & indenting etc - *and yet* it's useful >>> to be able stop the software from messing with your layouts unnecessarily. >>> i.e. Most of the time we want the new version to look as much as possible >>> like the old version so that we can find our way around! MindManager is >>> quite good like that] >>> >>> I'd be interested to hear how you get on with TheBrain. >>> >>> And please do let me know iof you think iMindQ is better than >>> MindManager. (I have invested too much money into MindManager already but I >>> see no long term future with them mainly because they are WAY too expensive >>> for the non-corporates SMEs like moi... so I am on the looking for new a >>> new tool of comparable power and sophistication.) >>> >>> J >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sunday, August 23, 2015 at 8:42:33 PM UTC+1, Majorbillion wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi John: >>>> >>>> To answer your question about strict hierarchy, iMindQ is set up for >>>> project management and ToDo lists, but I would find it cumbersome because >>>> within one Mindmap, there is only one central starting point. So, if I >>>> interpret your question correctly, the answer is "yes." >>>> >>>> That is why can't be a iMindQ or MLO purist -- for now at least. >>>> >>>> But with most big projects I do in MLO, I come to a point where there >>>> are many interelationships and scenarios. MLO becomes abstract and >>>> convoluted. Everything is suddenly crystal clear when I envision it in >>>> iMindQ. >>>> >>>> Eddie >>>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "MyLifeOrganized" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mylifeorganized. >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/8929009b-5e8f-4094-b02a-179b4962866d%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/8929009b-5e8f-4094-b02a-179b4962866d%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MyLifeOrganized" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mylifeorganized. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mylifeorganized/9290d96b-34aa-4e33-a22f-1f1f35b6a8eb%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
