Got Notes?

Okay, maybe that’s a less than descriptive title, but that’s basically the crux of it: we all have information that we need to organize, move, protect, share, etc. OneNote is just the ticket for this.

I judge software by asking myself (after using it for about a month): “Would you go out and buy a full price replacement if you had to?” Some software is a resounding NO, some I’d replace just because it was a necessary tool, but some I’d run out and buy because I LOVE it. This last mentioned type is in the very slim minority.

Microsoft OneNote is just such a software. In fact, I love it so much I’d have to judge it by how many multiples of full retail I’d be willing to pay!

As a Web developer and business person, I’ve got loads of information that I must keep organized and accessible: stuff like client passwords and log-in credentials, notes about all sorts of things, bugs and line numbers, projects past, upcoming projects; it’s dizzying when you consider the breadth of disparate information that we need to organize and preserve.

OneNote is like a digital five subject binder (remember those from school?). But it’s so much better. You can arrange tabs and folders for major sections of information, arrange pages within the folders and tabs, record voice, video, stuff copied from Web pages, and digital ink (if you’re using a PDA or have a graphics tablet).

After I used it for about a week I was totally hooked. I have mine all laid out the way I need it, and when a new project comes along, I’ll start a tab for that and arrange research and the like on pages within the tab.

It’s excellent when you’re doing research for a client because, as you arrange your notes and research, you can just send the pages nicely arranged and formatted for your client to peruse even if they don?t have OneNote themselves.

If you use the system for a little while, you’ll start to get a feeling that it was developed with tablet PCs in mind. I don?t have a tablet yet, but I like OneNote so much that it just may be the thing to push me into getting one sooner rather than later.

Try it out yourself!

*** UPDATE ***
Lockergnome reader Vicki Brown wrote to tell me: For those using Mac OS X, try Circus Ponies NoteBook for the same effect.

Chris Leeds, MVP, WPD
Chris Leeds is a longtime digital photographer and Web enthusiast.

Chris has recently developed and released a software product that allows Webmasters to create Web sites that can be edited by their clients with just a browser.

Chris also maintains and operates Northeast Digital Photo.

Chris has additionally had “Tips and Tricks” and numerous articles published, on Microsoft’s site and other locations, regarding various facets of FrontPage and recently served as a technical reviewer for the O’Reilly Press “FrontPage 2003 the Missing Manual.”

[tags]chris leeds,information,onenote,web developer,free download,organization,notes[/tags]