Mind Mapping

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cclancy

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Having seen several references to mind mapping software tools on davidco.com, wondering if anyone has had any/much experience with them?

If so, can you shortcut me to the one you think is the best and why you think that?

Am getting tired of getting a blank piece of paper or whiteboard, filling it with info and then wondering how I'm going to get it into my computer so I can continue to work with it electronically. Makes sense to pump it straight into software.

Thanks!
 
Oops! I'm new to this - just found the search button and found a few other posts! Duh..
 
cclancy said:
Having seen several references to mind mapping software tools on davidco.com, wondering if anyone has had any/much experience with them?

If so, can you shortcut me to the one you think is the best and why you think that?
Click to expand...

As it happens, I recently spent some time doing some investigation into this. As with so many other things, your choice is probably revolves around the answer to this question: "What are you willing to spend?"

There is, IMO, a clear freeware winner: Freemind. If you download the program, get the new beta. Its relatively new and I haven't tried it personally but I hear good things about it. They've apparently added some much needed features.

If you're looking for a Cadillac and you don't mind spending the money for one, IMO MindManager is the winner. Amazing piece of software.

If you are looking for something in between, it depends on your price and what features are important to you. I chose PersonalBrain but a Google search will literally come up with dozens of possibilites that land somewhere between the two above.

Good luck,
Tom S.
 
online mind mapping

Yesterday a friend who I brainstorm with a lot pointed me to this site. I haven't tried it but it might be worth exploring: http://www.mayomi.com/

I've tried Mind Jet's software and it was fun and flexible.

Susie
 
I have Mind Manager

I have Mind Manager, and I've looked at Freemind long enough to see that they very completely copied Mind Manager. Those tools are great, but I still prefer to go at it with a pencil and a piece of paper. I suggest getting unlined paper (graph paper can be okay) because the lines will make you want to think linearly. Oversized paper is better as well. I have one of those desktop blotters that has giant blank pages (18x24 I would guess) and I pull that out when I need to get down and draw myself a map.

I love software, but sometimes you get lost in the tool and lose track of the exercise. After you've done it on paper you can transcribe into your mind mapping tool, but the software, like the lined paper, will impose artificial limiters on you subliminally.
 
Vramin said:
I love software, but sometimes you get lost in the tool and lose track of the exercise. After you've done it on paper you can transcribe into your mind mapping tool, but the software...will impose artificial limiters on you subliminally.
Click to expand...
Hear, hear. (Boldface mine.)
 
Vramin said:
I have Mind Manager, and I've looked at Freemind long enough to see that they very completely copied Mind Manager.
Click to expand...

With respect, then you didn't look long enough at either one. FreeMind might have completely copied all of the features that you need. This will be true of many people. Its developing into a very good concept mapper. But FreeMind doesn't even come close to having all of the features that MindManager does.

Tom S.
 
Tom Shannon said:
With respect, then you didn't look long enough at either one. FreeMind might have completely copied all of the features that you need. This will be true of many people. Its developing into a very good concept mapper. But FreeMind doesn't even come close to having all of the features that MindManager does.
Click to expand...
Like I said, I tend to go for a pencil and a piece of paper since all of the "features" tend to drag me away from what I'm trying to do: Capture ideas. It's been a long time since I used either, so they might have changed from when I last compared them. My point is that Freemind unapologetically copied the look and interface of Mindmanager as opposed to offering a "similar" product.

It's neither here nor there. When I get stuck and need to brainstorm I walk away from the computer.
 
MindManager is great!

Thanks for the tips people, here's what I did...

Figured I'd go for Mindmapper as the general consensus through the forums was a) it's good, b) others are copying what Mindmapper offers already and c) that it's easy and intuitive to use (time is money, right)?

So, I checked out the demos and stuff on www.mindjet.com to confirm my observation and then downloaded the 21 day demo. It downloaded with no hitches and installed in a snap.

I was actually quite surprised how smooth and fast the install went. The demos I watched before downloading made it look as if it's as rich a product as Microsoft Office so I expected it to take ages to install.

It started after installing and I did the basic tutorial lesson from the welcome page and 1 hour later I've done a brain dump of everything I could think of for the redesign of an existing web site on overcoming sales objections(http://www.salesobjectiondictionary.com). Then, on a roller, I did the same for another project I'm helping out on.

The speed at which I did this amazed me because I could never have been able to get so much from my brain into a diagram/project plan in the time I did. I certainly couldn't have done it this quick using pen and paper and I have been adding and moving stuff around since.

Admittedly I can type faster than I can write, but leaving that out, the ability to move stuff around quickly without having to rub out and it still look neat is the best part.

And check this, I still haven't opened the help files and I can definitely vouch for the fact that it is intuitive, easy, logical and, well, I love it and I'm going to buy a copy.
 
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