MISTERSQUID  A Java-based freehand sketch tool that cannot mark up other items, presenting disconnected freehand "notes"? 1998 called and they want their widget back.

You also sorely need arbitrarily assignable due dates. Seriously, a "To Do" page that appears every day a file is opened as opposed to one that can be constructed in advance?

Silly me, wanting to plan my days in advance of their arrival!  
(Version 2.3.1)

SAMPLER  I've used Notetaker for over five years, and every year I try out the latest edition of Circus Ponies NB. The functionality is nearly identical, as they share a common origin. I've never found a reason to switch to NB.

I use NT to manage large scientific projects, and link folders, programs, output logs, contact information, web sites, and Fetch droplets which link to remote Unix workstations. So, linking is important to me, and NT's linking capabilities are far superior to those of NB.

For example, in NT one can link files by copying (ctrl-c) in the Finder and pasting (ctrl-v) onto a page. This is measurably faster than dragging and dropping, which is NB's only way. In NT one can insert multiple links on the same line and mix them with text; one can drag an attachment to any spot on a page. NB did not have these capabilities the last time I looked at it.

NB now has the ability to tear off one page so that one can write in two portions of the notebook at one time; NT cannot do this--I wish it did (one can keep a copy open). Thus I give it four stars.

Over the years I've had a number of questions and suggestions for NT support; they've always answered promptly and helpfully. I would guess that one reason that AquaMinds chose not to have a forum is that their audience is very wide --ranging from school children who used shared notebooks (via the NoteShare product) to single-users like me. Also, I've seen small companies overwhelmed by

trying to maintain their forums. I'd rather they spent time on improving their products.  
(Version 2.2.4)

VIVIAN  I have used this program for a little over a year. It is a feature rich program--the clipping and annotation feature is excellent and I really like the toolbar. Like others there are features that I would really like to see included in future updates--ical integration is high on the list as is a better table features. I use this along with circus ponies notebook. I use notetaker for teaching, it is offers far superior website and slideshow possibilities than notebook. But for my research, I use notebook, it is far easier to use when you are in an archive and taking 6-8 hours worth of notes at a time. I too agree that outliner features would be improved if it were more like omnioutliner. One major drawback is the absence of a user forum. I find it an annoyance to have rely on contacting the company every time there is a problem or I have a question. That approach seems wrong for a mac product.   
(Version 2.2.3)

MABELLE  I've been using NoteTaker for quite a while now, and although it could use some improvement, I haven't found anything that does all that this app does. I teach, so I especially love the slideshow feature and the ability to post my notebooks to my website. It's clumsy on features (styles, fonts, multi-line), it needs tagging instead of (or in addition to) categories, but it's still very useful. I store documents so they're together with notes, thoughts, to-dos, mail (which i paste in). I've looked at Circus Ponies' Notebook. It's so much a clone of NoteTaker (which came first?) that I wonder why they don't marry their efforts. CP is marketing more aggressively and their website is better looking. Their product has a few features I like (more options in text features, different wallpapers) but not enough to make me switch away from Notetaker. Here's what's missing in both these programs: (1) better outlining - they should match some of the features of Omni Outliner (columns, notes) but leave off the complicated styling features, (2) calendar integration, (3) email integration. %80 of what comes across my desk is in email form. Why do I have to copy and paste emails between programs to keep mail, docs, notes, and calendar item in the same place. Yes, yes, I know: Entourage project. Hate it.   
(Version 2.2.3)

JOI  I agree the price point is a bit high...  
(Version 2.1)

WOLFEATSWORLD  Charge much?

(unbelievable..what is it you think you have here: the cure for Cancer?)  
(Version 2.0.2)

JUMP420  Great to keep track of all my speeches and notes. Good app.

Chris Wolfe  
(Version 1.9.11)

TOMEM  I've been looking at NoteTaker, NoteBook, VoodooPad, Journler, viJournal. NoteTaker could use some tweaks, but if you want all these things in one tool, it can't be beat:

* Daily Journaling (not in Notebook, VoodooPad)

* Daily To Do list management (not in VoodooPad, viJournal, Journler)

* Light database note storage, categorizatoin, hyperlinking, report generaton. (not in Journler, viJournal)

* A clipping service for gathering notes from other apps. (not in VoodooPad, Journler, viJournal)

The tweaks I would like to see are a switch to Apple's toolbar configuration tool, a way to generate non-ToDos in a ToDo section (journal entries), and a link interface that defaults to generating a new page titled according to the link text.   
(Version 1.9.11)

POKONYAN  I now try this lovely NoteTaker. This includes almost all what I expected. However, one problem I face now. I have some outliner documents. All of them include some copies of images from PDF files. When I try to copy and paste the documents, the pages become messy, because the whole page (not only an image, but the whole page!) of the PDF pages showed up, If it works well, I'll get the license key. Does somebody tell me the resolution?   
(Version 1.9.11)

POOP1  Macjournal can do anything Note Taker can for the most part. Macjournal rocks and is far more useful and faster then Note Taker. Macjournal makes Note Taker obsolete, there's no comparison really MJ is way better and it cost alot less. (12/21/2005, Version: 1.9.9)   
(Version 1.9.9)

ANONYMOUS  I've used NT, not terribly extensively, and it I've been happy with it. It seems to fit the way I think. It's not infinitely flexible and I'm not using to design websites. It is nice that your work can become a website. That's not the same thing really. I like it.  
(Version 1.9.6)

ANONYMOUS  Had a glitch with using an old license and tech support responded effectively within 12 hours! ANd on a weekend. Excellent!

One limitation: 1.9 still does not seem to have the ability to add more than two levels (e.g Section and Page) on the Contents Page. NoteBook by Circus Ponies does. This matters greatly if you hope to output your notebook to a website or for longer documents.  
(Version 1.9.1)

ANONYMOUS  The first line of the NoteTaker Product Description mentioned organizing your information lifestyle, your digital workstyle.

It is a bit of hyperbole to claim that any one application can do this. It would even be hyperbole to claim that any existing computer system on the planet can do this or even comes close, but that's another story.

I have relevant MAC OS X licenses for: NoteTaker, Circus Ponies NoteBook, Hog Bay Notebook, Alepin, DEVONthink, OmniOutliner, OmniGraffle, Inspiration 7.5, NovaMind, BBEdit, CopyPaste, QuicKeys, Microsoft Word, iBlog plus OS 9 licenses for MORE, IN CONTROL, InfoDepot and others SO I can choose the application that fits what I need to do. Over a period of time users acquire "experience" with what they do and don't do.

All work-people have a toolbox containing multiple tools that should somehow relate to some desired end result or purpose.

See

http://homepage.mac.com/bobembry/studio/biz/life_areas/computer_ideas/writing_tools.html

or Google: bobembry "writing tools" with the quotes

MY APPLICATION USES:

ORGANIZING THOUGHT FRAGMENTS: I use Hog Bay Notebook. Best overview. Easiest reorganization. A replacement for post-its, notes, legal pads.

Still use plain copy paper for thinking canvases which are sometimes harvested to Hog Bay Notebook. Haven't had the time to figure out which application could be used for keeping track of the structure of these canvases but maybe NovaMind visual with its document linking or Circus Ponies NoteBook. Individual thinking canvases could be either scanned or voice recognition could be used to recreate the illustration in OmniGraffle or NovaMind.

CLIPPING WEB ARTICLES: URL clipped to CopyPaste-X clip set palette. Locate print page link. Select ALL. Copy and paste in BBEdit. Run an AppleScript to clean up page. Remove excess lines. Copy into DEVONthink. I can't see any of the "notebooks" or outliners being used for large (thousands) page collections.

Moving text fragments from a source document to another document for further manipulation: QuicKeys toolbar for sending Clipping Service Keystrokes to NoteTaker or Circus Ponies NoteBook.

MANAGING DAILY WORK PLAN: Still using OS 9 IN CONTROL for master action list. Items with today's date are exported to either OmniOutliner or Hog Bay Notebook

LIFE DESIGN IDEAS: Right now I'm using Circus Ponies NoteBook may move to Hog Bay Notebook. Depending on what version 2 of Circus Ponies NoteBook adds.

WEBSITE DESIGN AND CREATION: Inspiration 7 (initial structure) and Circus Ponies NoteBook. Notebook is structured to match the site directory structure. One notebook page for each page on the site.

http://homepage.mac.com/bobembry/studio/biz/site_map_studio.html

or Google: "bobembry studio html files" with the quotes

Other pages are added for a to do list, overall design thoughts etc

NoteTaker's section and page structure cannot be easily used here. Also its limited category system doesn't allow multiple tags. However I have used NoteTaker for site concept analysis. Copy the text for site page to a NoteTaker page then find repeated use of words or phrases.

Since this a project, Circus Ponies NoteBook works well as a project notebook.

BBEdit, Dreamweaver, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner (for a few web pages) etc were also used.

QUICK WEB PUBLICATIONS: I have exported a couple of Circus Ponies NoteBooks to my .Mac account successfully. Tried once with an early version of NoteTaker and it didn't work, but I assume it now works.

WEBSITE EXPLORATION AND DOCUMENTATION: I've used NoteTaker for a major state university and a state's economic and community development efforts. NT worked well in this situation.

CONCEPT ANALYSIS AND CALENDARIZING: For me this initially involved typing notes into MORE and then exporting to InfoDepot for action identification. OmniOutliner could be used here.

Example: The Essential Drucker

homepage.mac.com/bobembry/studio/biz/ conceptual_resources/authors/peter_drucker/essential/ted.pdf

or Google: bobembry "the essential drucker" with quotes

In later years I've scanned some books into text documents then imported individual chapters into Circus Ponies NoteBook for searching purposes. I read that Google is scanning 5 entire libraries and Amazon has search within.

------------------------------------------

In deciding which tools to use, the question of notebook vs. individual documents stored in an appropriate folder structure is worth considering.

Since almost all of mentioned applications have demos, why not give them a test drive

FOR YOUR INFO RADAR: Google: drucker "information challenges" with quotes

Adventures in time: http://homepage.mac.com/bobembry/free/  
(Version 1.9.1)

TRIED TO LIKE IT  I've been using NoteTaker on and off for about a year and half, and have finally retired it - probably for good. With every version it resembles a Microsoft program, in that it's bloated with features that are not terribly well implemented/integrated, and the program simply looks ugly - from the UI to the way pages are laid out.

I thought it was going to be great, but as time went on I felt it was just too time-consuming to be efficient. As more features were added, it just got more unwieldy. A UI overhaul and greater focus would make me reconsider using the program, but I doubt that will happen.  
(Version 1.8.9)

CHRIS FROM WALES  I have talked to the dev team about plug-ins for NoteTaker in the form of 'special pages' - simple spreadsheet functions for quickly pricing projects, simple calendar for scheduling your week/month etc, gantt charts for project management. Nothing too fancy, just simple little enhancements to make this product a more complete solution.

I use it every day to run my business and these little additions would save jumping into Excel, etc.  
(Version 1.8.9)

ANONYMOUS  It's the best one i've ever used....... but it still sucks. Crashes when i try to playback voice memos. Scaling down images doesnt work right (instead it only displays a smaller piece of the same sized original)... quits other times too.  
(Version 1.8.9)

ANONYMOUS  love the product BUT

was quite disappointed and frustrated when I kept on not being able to make the notebook work in Explorer.

Turns out there is a bug.

"We have found a bug that causes web notebook display to break in Internet Explorer. We have fixed the bug and will be releasing a bug fix update very soon. Until then we appreciate your patience."

it would have been nice to know prior to purchasing and using the software.

Can't wait for the fix update...it is a great product...  
(Version 1.8)

DAVID C. MENGES  NoteTaker is my favorite outliner.

It is better than OmniOutliner, which I used to use on Mac.

It is better than NoteMap on Windows, which I'm using at work until NoteTaker for Windows ships.

It is better than Microsoft's OneNote on Windows, if they are even competitors (I have no use for whatever OneNote does).  
(Version 1.8)

NCIANCA  This new release is the best yet. A number of things had been addressed that make the usability even more fluid then previous versions, such as the automatic page titles when adding clippings, backups to a specific folder, automatic index compacting, to name a few. On of the most notable things, is that text editing is superfast now. A lot of operations have obviously been optimized, because NT is faster in almost every area.

There are also several new features that are really useful, like the X-Ray "vision" (try option-shift over the drawer or library or index items - wow).

Webkit (safari) integration is really smooth. I really like being able to add html to an entry and render it in the webkit container. Adding multiple webkit containers on different entries is a really handy feature that lets you put information in context with your notes. I integrate my web based tasks and ticket tracking right into my notes. There is now a useful web search that works with many engines. And the web publishing aspect has gotten even better. I can go to clients, and publish my notebooks on my laptop so they have instant access to my notes.

I also like the ability to import and export word documents.

Notetaker is one of the most useful applications I use.  
(Version 1.8)

ANONYMOUS  Notetaker is the best organizational app to come along in a long time. I'm a teacher and researcher and I use notebooks for just about everything these days. After giving up on that monster Powerpoint, I now write my quizzes and lectures on it and use the slideshow feature to project in class. I love this app!   
(Version 1.6.6)

ANONYMOUS  this program is just way too sloooooow to be useful. I have been using this on my 800 mhz iBook G3 for 6 months or so and it is unusable to me. too bad, too, as it has so many features that would be cool to use if i didn't just get the spinning beach ball all of the time  
(Version 1.6.6)

NCIANCA  I've been using the latest 1.6 series for a few weeks now and it's been working very well, The latest version is the best yet and I haven't had any problems using NT with Panther. One of my favorite new features is the built in scanner support and I like some of the refined features for creating entries in the outliner. The integration of WebKit (Safari) is great. This version of NT is faster then prior versions. Great update!  
(Version 1.6.6)

ANONYMOUS  I bought NoteTaker to help me with thesis research. It has been more helpful than I could have imagined. Using the template feature, I was able to create electronic notecards and then arrange them by subject on each page. Overall this program has greatly enhanced my research and has made writing my thesis much easier. This program is great for anyone dealing with research.  
(Version 1.6.2)

ANONYMOUS   This is a great program for a consultant or researcher trying to run a business from his powerbook. I keep notebooks for each of my clients, another for general company info, another for background/research info relating to projects. They are easy to use and update.

The indexing feature is extremely powerful. It can help you find anything, which can be very important as your notebooks become quite large.

I am using this program more every day.  
(Version 1.6.1)

JCHRYSS  This is by far the best way to organize your thoughts and present them. The look of the program is great, the way it all works is intuitive and the list of high powered features and customizable attributes is voluminous. You can put anything in here and organize it. You can easily output to a webpage. Etc Etc great program. How can it get better?   
(Version 1.5.4)

DAVID FOSTER  Fabulous program that can be be configured to perform a wide variety of functions that include storing, accessing, sharing and presenting data -- as text, multimedia, outlines, and lists. Chances are, there are several other capabilities I haven't yet discovered yet. The trial period has been considerably extended over the relatively short span at the program's introduction. Don't take my word for how great and useful it is; try it out yourself!  
(Version 1.5)

NCIANCA  I really like this program. It's become part of my daily life and helps keep all kinds of information together. I have notebooks to keep technical notes, project and client notes, home information and even an aquarium log. The metaphor works really well. Some people compare NoteTaker to programs that are what I call Scrapbook programs such as DevonThink or MacJournal (which I also use for miscellanous things), but this is beyond what those programs do. A great way to keep projects organized.  
(Version 1.1.3)