So, my home computer crashes and I have to buy a new one. Disaster, yes. But also opportunity. An opportunity to bring my CRIMP under control. My challenge to myself is to only install two information management programs and see if I can live. I've decided to make them Zoot and OneNote.

Of course, I am also going to add my favorite writing and thinking software: Brainstorm.

But then I also need something that can handle web page captures... UltraRecall, perhaps... I could go with Surfulater, but I already own a license for UR... and, of course, I also own a license for MyBase and AskSam, which each can also suck in web pages...

What about structured data. Well, I own a license for Alpha Five (and they are having a sale on the new version!!!). Of course, I can also use AskSam for this, though not as effectively.

And I've been intrigued by The Personal Brain, which I first wrote off as a gimick, but now I see that it is pretty clever. It functions like a hoist, but leaving the hoisted topic in context. That could be quite handy...

Oh, yes, I'll need QuickBooks Customer Manager to handle my mailing list, and ListPro which has several databases that I use frequently...

I've come to fancy NeoMem too. It's free and loaded with features. I'd hate to give that up. Or Notebox Disorganizer, which is pretty cool, though I have really found a use for it yet...

But how about mindmapping? Well, fortunately I don't own a license for any mind mapper; then again, Freemind is free. And I do have a license for Inspiration, and since that's like two programs in one, I've got to include that.

Let's see then, I won't be installing MyInfo, NoteMap, InfoSelect, Treepad, ECCO Pro, HyperClip (which is defunct, anyway), Personal Knowbase, TreeDBNotes, or InfoStore... but I do own licenses for each of these...

Oh, I give up! CRIMP ME!

Steve Z.

Steve,

I can offer absolutely no help with this except to say that I go through this with every new computer or hard drive, and you have my sympathy :-(

Graham