Talk:Comparison of note-taking software/Archive 1

debian package column
The removal of the debian package was a cock-up, leaving incorrect answers in following columns. For example it said "via third party" for printing in jarnall, which was originally in the debian column. I have reverted the deletion of this column and re-applied subsequent changes. I would not object to the removal of this column (though I don't have time to do it), but it should be done carefully and the matrix checked afterwards column-by-column. -- Q Chris 07:52, 2 October 2007 (UTC)

gjournal

 * qjornal multi-platform application located at sourceforge.net http://qorganizer.sourceforge.net/index.php?link=2 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.164.10.187 (talk) 05:04, 20 June 2008 (UTC)

Add ink support column
Because note taking is a very important factor for any tablet PC user and some of those programs support ink, wouldn't it be wise to add a further column which contains informations about ink support, like Title: Ink/Pen support Options: No and Yes with more informations in brackets like (searchable, pressure sensitive)--Fraenky (talk) 17:25, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

COI but relevant question on wiki helpful note taking.
Any of these particularly helpful for researching wiki articles while on a smart phone? For example, if I have dead time and want to take notes from references in a form easy to put on a talk page later? I am working on something like this but hadn't seem much besides evernote that may be useful. Anyone here look for references while on a phone? Thanks. Nerdseeksblonde (talk) 01:51, 11 October 2009 (UTC)

Add sharing column
A great feature of google notebook is/was the sharing with others to build a collaborative notebook. Also, the tagging then became much more useful as a way of organizing. Drlazer (talk) 16:21, 18 October 2009 (UTC)

tags
Shouldn't there be a column about whether there is tagging? I'm not adding it because I don't know much about notetaking software, but one blog I ran into definitely thought that feature could make or break a note-taking program. :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dranorter (talk • contribs) 02:10, 20 June 2009 (UTC)

Tagging definitely useful in a shared notebook or even large notebooks. Drlazer (talk) 16:23, 18 October 2009 (UTC)

How about adding formatted text & insertable objects columns
if it's acceptable i can take 5 softwares to fill their features. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Logiphile (talk • contribs) 17:10, 9 November 2009 (UTC)
 * to compare ability of softwares to have rich text ability as font face, size, color, effects, style, indentation, alignment,..
 * ability to insert image, table, hyperlink, line, bullets, swf, files attachment, ...

PDF Annotator
I tried PDF Annotator 3 trial version today (26.05.2010). The trial version is time-limited but fully functional. It definitively supports NO export function other than saving as pdf.

Inside "PDF Annotator" the annotation can be handled even permanently as vector graphics. But any other external PDF-Software will show the annotations as a bitmap layer (pixel oriented).

That's why I changed the format section from "save as SVG, export to many including PNG, JPG, BMP" to  "save as pdf only, no export function; supports vector-graphical annotating internally only" —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.178.152.30 (talk) 22:16, 25 May 2010 (UTC)

Using something like ghostscript, distiller or another good pdf-printer-software, will let you export annotated pdf-file with the annotations as vector-graphics readable in any other PDF Reader. But the annotations in these "distilled" files cannot be edited by PDF Annotator as it would be easy to do with the originally by PDF Annotator created file.

Looks like PDF Annotator creates two "layers": vector grapics for itself and simultaneously pixel graphics for compatibility. The latter one is bloating the file size. 'Distilled' files are much smaller. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.53.76.112 (talk • contribs) 26 May 2010

Encryption
If someone has the time could you please add an encryption column to this list. Some software offers client-side, some offers server encryption. etc I think it's a more salient feature than white-boarding as more and more note-takers move towards synchronisation features. 220.239.200.118 (talk) 02:22, 3 June 2010 (UTC)

Adobe Reader
Please change the name of 'Adobe Reader' to 'Adobe Acrobat Professional'. 'Adobe Reader' does not allow annotations, period. Thank you.76.10.147.95 (talk) 05:03, 5 June 2010 (UTC)

PerfectNotes
This software is not mentioned at all, and is certainly unique enough to be included in this list. The unique aspect of it is that the user can record an entire lecture or business meeting, and simply flag certain portions, emphasize locations on the recording they want to rehear, take notes and make their own notations where they matter, etc. The entire thing is recorded, but the important places can be found instantly after the fact. Seems worthy of a look and a mention, here. Catwoman07076 (talk) 10:04, 19 November 2010 (UTC)

DEVONthink
Why is DEVONthink not included in these tables? The DEVONthink page links to this one, but the info on it is not here. I see no reason it shouldn't, as it has been an established player in this area for a very long time. 210.164.1.72 (talk) 04:55, 7 June 2011 (UTC)

Handwriting recognition
I added a handwriting recognition column because I would like to know which apps let the user create searchable handwritten notes. So, for example, I would like the column to have a "yes" entry when the software tags a handwritten note with OCR data. Those apps that only allow plaintext entry using the windows input panel would have a "No" in that column. Orthografer (talk) 02:50, 30 July 2011 (UTC)

YouMinds Composer
A pretty noteable notetaking software is YouMinds Composer. It is a notetaker, mindmapping, diagram, slideshow all in one. I would very much like to see it on the list as it represents a new generation of notetaking and mindmapping software. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 178.10.120.250 (talk) 23:49, 7 January 2012 (UTC)
 * And I would very much like to be the king of the entire universe. Notability requires verifiable evidence. Fleet Command (talk) 07:17, 8 January 2012 (UTC)

Please expand the tables
As much as I am happy as a OneNote user, Jarnal, to mention one, has special features - yet OneNote is distinctively "GREEN" across the tables.

But there are significant differences between OneNote 2003 and later - with many non-corporate users still on 2003.

As I say, OneNote is excellent, but this is a worrisome kind of graphical result.

G. Robert Shiplett 19:37, 18 February 2012 (UTC)

EasyJot.com
EasyJot.com is a web based note taking software. It provides users with unlimited note storage as well as a free mobile app for a low monthly rate. EasyJot users can take notes, share notes privately with one another, share notes publicly, make check lists, schedule events and much more. EasyJot is very simple to use and very user friendly. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.215.132.50 (talk) 21:55, 7 June 2012 (UTC)

PCWorld Review of YouMinds Composer
Notetaking software "YouMinds Composer" was reviewed by PCWorld in April

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,205499-order,4/description.html#tk.nl_bdx_h_misc

Does anybody care to write about it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 188.110.2.61 (talk) 20:02, 26 June 2012 (UTC)

Annotate and save PDF
What does a Yes in the column "Annotate and save PDF" mean? a) annotate PDF (save in custom format) b) annotate PDF and save annotations back to PDF. c) save or export notes to PDF? --78.49.80.103 (talk) 11:59, 4 February 2011 (UTC)


 * Good question. - dcljr (talk) 09:32, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

FreeNote
Im not good with wikipedia table markup, but there are a bunch of good options in the android market now which are missing from here. For example, FreeNote, Note Everything, Handrite. They kind of put evernote to shame (You draw letters/symbols etc and they are instantly turned into little mini-drawings/figures and included in the text) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.101.220.229 (talk) 19:02, 26 September 2011 (UTC)
 * Please post your messages at the bottom of talk page. Also please take note that standalone lists in Wikipedia may only list Wikipedia articles. If the items in your mind do not have an article, then they might be deleted. Thanks. Fleet Command (talk) 10:04, 27 September 2011 (UTC)
 * [Readers, note that I have rearranged the talk page into chronological order since the message above was posted. dcljr (talk) 09:32, 21 August 2014 (UTC)]

Please keep tables in sync
If you add or remove a row from one table, please do the same for the other table to keep them in sync. Mjsteiner (talk) 01:38, 21 March 2012 (UTC)
 * I have added an HTML-comment to that effect at the top of each table. - dcljr (talk) 09:32, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Keyboard text entry
This column is redundant, as quite understandably ALL of the software feature a keyboard text entry method, so this just obscures the view. If some kind of software comes up with no such support, the column could be added, but I seriously doubt whether any notetaking app can make do without keyboards, at least for the next 10 years.

Mgielda (talk) 15:48, 12 December 2012 (UTC)


 * I have removed that column. - dcljr (talk) 09:32, 21 August 2014 (UTC)

Description of the different features
Is it OK to include a section describing the different features? Some of the table headings are a bit cryptic and it would be good to expand on what kinds of features are possible.

Slightly on an aside, I have not quite found a note taking system that I really like. I tend to use a pdf editor (PDF exchange viewer) to add text box annotations. Then, I also want to use ink on the pdf too. And I'd like my notes to be searchable by my document library (Zotero). I'd like something that is as close to a piece of paper as possible that I can file and search on my computer. Even the hardware isn't quite where I'd like it to be yet. My bamboo stylus doesn't give smooth writing capabilities yet.

There is nothing quite like this on the market that I have been able to find unfortunately. In a couple of years, hopefully there will be.

Sorry to chatter off topic, but I thought there might be people here who would have something useful to say on the topic.

Chogg (talk) 21:37, 3 January 2013 (UTC)


 * I agree that some of the columns are somewhat useless without a clear indication of what they mean. I am loathe to add such descriptions, however, since (a) I am not familiar with any of these software programs, (b) there's no telling whether all of the entries in the column were added thinking the same thing, and most crucially (c) I don't really want to take the time to research all the relevant features of all the programs. I'm not even sure how to tag the problem, since using the clarify template, for example, would greatly increase the width of the table. - dcljr (talk) 09:32, 21 August 2014 (UTC)
 * As a kind of stop-gap measure, I've added roll-your-own "unclear" tags (modeled after the output of the official clarify template) to the "PDF annotate and save" column in the Basic features table and the "Drawing atop text", "Text box, flow diagram", "Insert hyperlink", and "Attachment" columns of the Advanced formatting and content table. Those are the columns I'm not really sure the meanings of. - dcljr (talk) 10:42, 21 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Could anybody tell me what "Outline bulleting with indent" means? And optimally add that as an explanation to the wiki page, please. - TomasPospisek (talk) 20:04, 26 September 2014 (UTC)

privacy / security
Hi! What astonishes me is, that the words privacy and security are not even mentioned. Where is the data stored, has the software/service provider or any other party access to the data? Is the data encrypted during transport and while being at rest? Which cryptographic functions are implemented and which policies are buried deep in the end user license agreement. Actually I would like to find the information about what degree of privacy a user can expect from the software. Kind regards — Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.136.9.228 (talk) 12:10, 6 December 2014 (UTC)


 * Org-Mode does have encryption features. Maybe those fit your use-case. --188.25.252.62 (talk) 17:17, 20 March 2015 (UTC)


 * QOwnNotes and MyTetra also provide support for encrypted notes. -- Lrq3000 (talk) 12:25, 20 March 2016 (UTC)

AskSam
AskSam should be added. Seeing that somebody mentioned I could add it myself, I just might do that, but not today. One concern I have is that AskSam Systems may have gone out of business, and I'm not sure how (or if) it is still being distributed. Rhkramer (talk) 22:08, 9 July 2016 (UTC)

Other alternatives
Other software you might want to consider. This list includes some programs written for Windows, Linux, and Java. Biram (talk) 15:15, 31 December 2007 (UTC)
 * Onenote
 * Wikidpad
 * Tomboy
 * Tiddlywiki
 * Freemind
 * Semantik
 * Compendium

Also: --Karnesky (talk) 00:21, 30 January 2008 (UTC)
 * ConnectedText
 * EverNote
 * GoBinder
 * Google Notebook
 * Keynote (notetaking software)
 * StoneNotes
 * Tinderbox (application software)
 * XMIND
 * Zotero

Also RedNotebook. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.219.212.102 (talk) 16:37, 12 April 2012 (UTC)


 * Keeppy — Preceding unsigned comment added by 152.135.235.188 (talk) 21:01, 15 May 2012 (UTC)

Another alternative: VYM Lrq3000 (talk) 12:22, 20 March 2016 (UTC)

Also xournal — Preceding unsigned comment added by 149.149.128.88 (talk) 13:53, 30 August 2016 (UTC)

Also MeshNotes — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:ED0:5907:5800:F12C:CC19:33C9:DC26 (talk) 08:50, 28 April 2019 (UTC)

Linked Notes
I noticed this was not on the list. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 73.98.179.49 (talk) 05:40, 30 June 2018 (UTC)

https://itsfoss.com/5-evernote-alternatives-linux/

1. Joplin 2. Laverna 3. Simplenote 4. RedNotebook 5. TagSpaces 6. Boostnote Ladnerg310 (talk) 08:12, 3 November 2019 (UTC)

CherryTree
Hello! Please fix the link for this note-taking program because at the moment it leads to something completely different, I mean, to a real cherry fruit. 128.74.82.64 (talk) 00:33, 9 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Fixed, thank you for noticing this (only software with a sourced stand-alone article should be listed). GermanJoe (talk) 12:31, 9 February 2020 (UTC)

Should we remove Okular?
I don't think Okular can really be classified as note-taking software. Rather, it's a document viewer that happens to enable one to make annotations. (But only on PDF files, if I'm not mistaken.) The key difference between annotating a PDF and what I'd consider true note-taking is that while in the latter case you can take as many notes as you like, in Okular you can only place annotations on pages that were already part of the PDF when you started.

(Of course, you could employ some Zeno tricks (do the first half-page in 16pt font, the next quarter-page in 8pt, the next eighth in 4pt, etc.) to net an infinite note canvas, but I think this would be stretching the intended functionality beyond breaking.)

Removing Okular would remove many red table cells, and many gray question marks, and increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the page. Ametheus (talk) 11:00, 15 June 2020 (UTC)

Inconsistency in listing of note-taking software
This page is inconsistent. Many applications listed are now defunct. They also do not qualify uniformly under Notable Software category. Many have zero external reference other than their own websites. Some have only one external review. Someone at admin level should go thru all the apps and remove irrelevant apps and add more relevant lists.

Some columns (attributes) to list features of the software no longer relevant in modern times. A lot of notes app now relies on ecosystem and are cross platform. This is one of the major criteria choosing an application. This feature is not listed clearly in the grids. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Movilogo (talk • contribs) 13:09, 22 July 2020(UTC)

I agree with above comment. Currently this page is circa 10 years out of date. This is how Wikipedia should list the products. https://www.g2.com/categories/note-taking-management — Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.36.230.100 (talk) 07:44, 24 July 2020 (UTC)

I also add that the list is out of date, though I don't necessarily agree with adding all of those listed in the g2 site. I do advocate adding the following 3: Notion, Remnote , and Roam Research   — Preceding unsigned comment added by Plachert (talk • contribs) 03:49, 1 October 2020 (UTC)


 * Of the three apps you mentioned, only one has a Wikipedia article: Notion (app). That one could be added to this list article. If the other two apps are notable per Wikipedia's notability guideline, you could write articles about them and then add them to this list article. Biogeographist (talk) 04:27, 1 October 2020 (UTC)

Potential solutions to complaints of outdatedness
Here are a couple of potential solutions to the general complaints mentioned above: But keep in mind that even with these improvements Wikipedia may never be as helpful for researching software as a specialized website like G2 Crowd mentioned in the comment above. Biogeographist (talk) 04:27, 1 October 2020 (UTC)
 * 1) The very complex tables in this article may make the article difficult to keep up-to-date; if so, to simplify the article by listing fewer features may make it easier for our volunteer editors to keep it updated.
 * 2) Another good way to address the complaint of outdatedness would be to add date information about each software, commonly found in the infobox in software articles: initial release date and latest stable release date. An example of this can be seen at.

Zim
What about Zim (software)? Ben T/C 15:42, 20 March 2012 (UTC)
 * Well, if it has an article, it can be here. What stops your from adding it? Fleet Command (talk) 20:03, 20 March 2012 (UTC)
 * I added a row for it Mjsteiner (talk) 00:28, 21 March 2012 (UTC)
 * I think Zim has no tabs for multi-documents 181.12.78.221 (talk) 04:35, 11 November 2020 (UTC)