myBase Desktop v6 released

Posted by Pavi
Sep 21, 2011 at 08:42 AM

Hi, just wanted to give my quick impressions of myBase 6. I tried a lot of the betas until the one prior to release (17?), but didn’t purchase a license, although I was tempted by the Bitsdujour offer. I just downloaded the v6 release to refresh my memory and see if any new features were implemented. I may have missed or misinterpreted some features due to the short time I spent with the program.

In the end I chose UltraRecall, and here is a quick rundown of what I thought of myBase 6:

Pros:
- Fast, simple interface, low learning curve
- Attach files to window without being child nodes (one drawback to UR), high compression
- Labels tree removes the need to multiple link items
- Can view files within main window
- WebCollect functions from Chrome (I didn’t test this)
- Can edit web pages
- Can have multiple windows, BUT it seems like it is impossible to have different nodes open (they both change to current item!)
- Quite a few more that were in 5.5.1 and standard for this category

Cons:
- Search is still lacking, can’t make multiple Boolean constraints
- File viewing within main window takes an extra step
- Attachments, Item links, Symbolic Links and Labels are tabs in the same pane (relationship pane). This is very annoying, as in 5.5.1 item links were in a separate window under the tree. Having to click tabs constantly reduces the strength of information overview
- No “Notes” pane: this is pretty handy to write a quick synopsis of a PDF, for example
- The look is very 1990s, and the calender is particularly old school
- No forms or attributes as in UR, this limits the type of data one might enter
- View changes based on action, but doesn’t reset to default. ie, after a search

I chose UR due to several factors: better search, forms/attributes allows for more types of data, 2-way Outlook sync (e-mail archival, GTD tasks), saved searches, better support including forums, and just more power and flexibility. I wanted all my main data to be cross-referenced, and cross-database search is on their near-future road map. Of course, there is a lot more learning curve!

MyBase 6 would be idea for research projects where you dump in data and a lot of files that might need compression, using the standard tree structure/linking. For me, though, the extra benefits of UR for GTD, mail archiving, file search, and customized forms make it the better solution.

Best, Pavi

Cassius wrote:
>I’ve just started looking at myBase 6 and already THINK I have some concerns. I’ll post
>my comments on this thread after I’ve looked at it a bit more. Perhaps other users might
>wish to do the same?