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ConnectedText versus Ndxcards
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Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Oct 18, 2007 at 05:12 PM
Stephen R. Diamond wrote:
>Connected Text
>requires memorizing a set of conventions, a process that might lead me to use
>supermemo (mentioned in this thread) to learn CT’s conventions, if I wanted to use
>Connected Text. I’m skeptical of undirected connections as in Wikis, and I don’t
>understand how CT can produce an outline (which involves directed connections) from
>the undirected connections that CT allows. Maybe someone can explain.
From my quick examination of the CT outlining function, I believe it works similarly to ndxCards in that the outline is an entity somewhat independent of the database into which you can drag your notes in a certain, hierarchical order. I’m sure Manfred will be able to clarify this if I am incorrect.
>
>One caveat about
>programs that do require memorizing many conventions. I find these are forgotten
>very quickly. Even using very intuitive programs suffer when I don’t use them for a
>couple of weeks. It seems to me that to use something like CT very effectively, you
>would need to use it a lot.
I own a license for CT, but I do not use the program at this time for the reason you suggest. To me, it seems to require too much work. I have no doubt that users who spend a lot of time with the program develop a facility for the conventions and after time they begin to become transparent. But it felt to me like trying to swim through gelatin. However, I have downloaded the beta for version 3 and will once again endeavor to get my arms around CT… because I like the concept of wikis very much, and CT really is packed with a lot of power.
Steve Z.
Posted by Thomas
Oct 18, 2007 at 05:45 PM
I will not be using CT for the time being, but I liked the developer being impressively responsive, and that it is programmable (through Ruby, Python, and a few more).
Posted by Manfred
Oct 18, 2007 at 07:50 PM
I am not sure whether you saw this. Nor am I sure how helpful it will be:
http://www.connectedtext.com/manfred.html
I agree that there is a learning curve, and that the conventions of a wiki take getting used to ...
I am convinced that the usefulness of a Note-taking applications, no matter which one you choose, increases exponentially in relation to the time and effort you put into it. I know this must appear (and is) paradoxical, for you must commit before you really know. And after you have committed, you will never really know whether another one might have been better. Reminds me of marriage that way ;)
On Index Cards: I tried it, but it appears to me that it does not translate the index card method into an electronic equivalent and is too much of a copy of the paper-based model, but that is my very subjective view. (I also did not find it “intuitive” - again, a very subjective reaction that has to do with my prior experience.
Posted by Cassius
Oct 18, 2007 at 08:29 PM
Manfred wrote:
>... I am convinced that the usefulness of a Note-taking applications, no matter which one you choose, increases exponentially in relation to the time and effort you put into it. I know this must appear (and is) paradoxical, for you must commit before you really know. And after you have committed, you will never really know whether another one might have been better.
<
Agreed, but GV REALLY WAS WORTH THE EFFORT…I MISS it!
Manfred wrote:
>
... Reminds me of marriage that way ;) <
Re marriage—sorry about this: Like GV, it was worth it, including the visible interface: Everyone, upon seeing my wife’s photo on my desk exclaimed, “Oh! Is that your daughter?” [She is six years younger than I, but looks 26 years younger.] As someone said, “She’s a Keeper.”
Now, if only I could find a new “keeper” PIM ...
-c
Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Oct 18, 2007 at 08:32 PM
I read Manfred’s article and can definitely recommend it.
A question that always crops up for me is this: Is it better to jumble all your notes into one big database, or is it better to set up a separate database for each project or subject matter? With a program like Zoot, it doesn’t matter, because it will search through all databases, and it is easy to move material from database to database (or copy it). But with CT and ndxCards, for instance, I don’t think it is clear which approach is best. Certainly, if your notes are divided by project or subject, you are much less likely to have those “serendipitous” discoveries that have been discussed in a prior thread. But—especially with ndxCards—it seems that you could be overwhelmed by the volume of notes if you put everything into one database.
Does anyone have some thoughts on what this correct balance is? Thanks.
Steve Z.