Your choice of mind mapping software

Posted by Stephen R. Diamond
Oct 18, 2006 at 09:34 PM

Graham Smith wrote:
>Although I have several different mind mapping programs (Mind Manager, Mind Genius,
>Inspiration, FreeMind and Axon) I don’t feel that any of them really what I am looking
>for. All of them are excellent in their own way, but I none have found a place in “my
>comfort zone”
> >Any one got suggestions of what else I should look

In subsequent posts you clarify what you are looking for. I see why the programs you mention are unsatisfactory. I agree they try to do too much, at least for my purposes too. The program I had been using is Visual-Mind. I think it is faster in its approach to entry than the programs you list, certainly the ones that require an additional use of the Enter key to create a branch. (MindManager and FreeMind.) Axon would be downright cumbersome. In fairness, it is intended for greater things.

I have recently started using Visi-Map. I am still uncertain if it is undergoing development. They do collect crash data, so fixes for any bugs discovered could be fortchcoming. Version 4 has had 3 updates directed to that purpose. My best guess is it on a slow development path. I see various programs that have not been updated for a couple of years and it is unclear whether they will be updated further. They talk as if they intend to, but maybe it is more like they hope funds will be available for that purpose. Perhaps BrainStorm is an example of a program that now fits that description.

The sharp drop in price of VisiMap (it now goes for $35 for non-business use) is probably not a good sign for future development. But unlike the program Visual Concept that I’ve tried, VisiMap seems to me to be a mature program, better thought out in its details than any of the competing programs I have seen. It also seems quite stable, unlike Visual Mind.

I think Buzan was onto something when he noticed the particular usability of radial outlines for core outlining. On the other hand, some of the factors he emphasized have struck me as pure distraction. I do not think the use of color automatically interests the brain to justify gratuitous coloration. Color can help when used for some classificatory end. The plain diagrams in Visi-Map have been more conducive to thought than gaudier displays. I have the sense that Visi-Map was intended for users more like me than the other programs. This, it has to be admitted, creates an artificial element of sympathy with the program, going outside actual usability.

Since you know Visi-Map, I would suggest you check out Visual-Mind.