defense of Maxthink

Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Nov 18, 2007 at 04:23 AM

First of all, I would call MaxThink a two-pane outliner, at least not in the same category as, say, Treepad or Jot. In those programs, you create your outline headers within the tree itself… the editor pane is for the content for each topic header. In MT, the editor window is merely the place you edit the headers… perhaps a subtle difference, but a significant one, I think.

Also, MT is not a PIM… that is, it is not the place to capture and store information. It does not have strong tools for capturing this information, nor does it have features for cataloging that information.

MaxThink is far more like Brainstorm than it is like Notemap. Both MT and Brainstorm are list-building programs. That is, their main function is the capture of ideas from your head. They both force focus on the topic at hand. They both facilitate the quick addition of new list items. Then they both provide several powerful methods for categorizing and organizing these items.

In this regard, MT has some advantages over Brainstorm. For one, it allows you to view your entire outline. For another, it provides some basic text formatting. And MaxThink has some additional, powerful organizing tools. Brainstorm, on the otherhand, allows for cloning (namesakes), captures information from other sources more effectively, and, as Stephen has pointed out, has an extensive undo function, while MT has none.

Which is more effective? I don’t know. I do know that Brainstorm sometimes gives me a feeling of claustrophobia because it is so relentless at focusing on one level at a time. Editing text in MT feels easier. Brainstorm is more versatile, I think… it can be used as a PIM or a journal, where I wouldn’t use MaxThink for anything but jump starting a project. Still, I think for this purpose, it seems remarkable nimble and powerful. And for $29 worth a go.

Steve Z.