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Learning How To Use IdeaMason
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Posted by Gary Carson
May 22, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Thanks for all the comments. If I ever figure this thing out, I’ll post some reactions. My impression at the moment from reading various reviews is that IM needs better high-level documentation designed to get raw beginners like me started. The program looks sophisticated and powerful—it probably is—but most people seem to be completely baffled as to how to use it. I can see a long learning curve in order to learn all the different features of a program, but it shouldn’t take weeks or months to grasp the basics. With most applications, you can more or less figure it out just by playing around with the interface, but at this point, I’m not even sure what IM is supposed to do. It’s like a cryptogram or something. Maybe I should send my copy to the NSA for deciphering.
I’ve got a Computer Science degree and worked in corporate IT for twelve years as a programmer, systems administrator, database administrator, web developer, etc., etc., but sometimes I think the Unibomber was right about technology. For example, I still like using manual typewriters. Just got a new one today—an Olympia SM3 in perfect condition. You can’t get more basic than that. Fountain pens are good, too. There’s no learning curve involved. You just sit down and write. Need to organize your material? Get a filing cabinet. I’m starting to lean in that direction…
Posted by Hugh
May 23, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Gary
Have you contacted the developers? In my quest to find a decent drafting programme, I spent some time with IM after its first major upgrade. The application forum was canned about then because of spam, but a direct approach to the developers elicited useful help.
H
[As an aside not useful to Gary: my experience with IM - at that time it was in my view quite a good programme, but it wasn’t exactly right for me - was partly what led me to the Mac, via Scrivener. Scrivener operates in IM territory, and does it very well.]
Posted by Dominik Holenstein
May 23, 2008 at 09:01 AM
Gary,
“I’ve got a Computer Science degree and worked in corporate IT for twelve years as a programmer, systems administrator, database administrator, web developer, etc., etc., but sometimes I think the Unibomber was right about technology. For example, I still like using manual typewriters. Just got a new one today—an Olympia SM3 in perfect condition. You can’t get more basic than that. Fountain pens are good, too. There’s no learning curve involved. You just sit down and write. Need to organize your material? Get a filing cabinet. I’m starting to lean in that direction…”
This is an insight I do fully agree to! I like tools like UltraRecall, IdeaMason, MindManager, PersonalBrain etc. but in the end when I have to write an article or prepare a PowerPoint presentation then I quite often sit down with a blank sheet (no lines, no squares ...) and a wooden pencil to sribble and write. Later, when the outline is finalized I start writing in on the Computer (mostly in UltraRecall or in MindManager). Yes, and cards are a very powerful tool as well.
Dominik
Posted by Gary Carson
May 23, 2008 at 01:03 PM
I’m with you, Dominick. Writing first drafts longhand or on a typewriter forces you to focus. No distractions at all. Later, you enter the copy onto the computer, editing as you go. It’s a great, two-step system. I use it all the time.
Don’t like writing in pencil, though. Too scratchy or something. Fountain pens are the smoothest, in my opinion. Mostly I use manual typewriters, but you have to get a good one that was maintained and shipped by a professional typewriter mechanic and those guys are a vanishing breed. Most of them are around 1000 years old now.