Has anyone had a look at the new version of Personal Brain yet? Version is 4.5.8, I think. I watched a demo video and it looks like it has the ability to import and export outlines, which could be pretty useful. I'm still thinking about buying this thing, but can't bring myself to fork out the cash for the professional version.

Hi Gary,

I use Personal Brain Pro and update automatically, so I'm using the new version. I tested the new import outline feature once, and it does work, but I don't regularly use it.

Graham

Gary,

The price for the full version is steep and I needed nearly one year to decide to by the pro version. As I had the licence for v3 I could upgrade to v4 for USD 170.00.

I am using PB 4.5 on a daily basis in the meantime. It is very powerful and fast. The built in calendar and reminder feature is very helpful and something I have requested for v3 years ago.

Because the company is supporting and developing PersonalBrain with a lot of effort and resources I can highly recomend it. Further, the user forum is very actively used by the community.

What I am using PB for:
- File management
- Project and Todo Management
- Ideas / Notes
- Concept mapping and development
- Contact Management
- Knowledge Management

The features I like most:
- Instant Search (very fast, results are shown while you type)
- Advanced Search
- Tagging / Keywords
- Types for thoughts and Links
- Notes are stored as HTML files
- Export to SiteBrain (was only available for the Enterprise version so far and very expensive)
- Outline Import/Export to Word or Excel (I miss the option to export the notes as well)
- UI customization


I know that PersonalBrain is not suitable for everybody. So make your own decision whether it suports your way of thinking, writing and working. If so, it is worth the money.

Kind regards,
Dominik

Thanks for all the feedback. I've been playing around with PB for a couple of months now and I'm really impressed with it. Very solid program. Haven't found any bugs of any kind so far. I particularly like the ability to create "webs of documents," so to speak--thoughts with attachments and associated notes and so on. This is good stuff. When I was evaluating the earlier version, I started to assemble all the research material, drafts and notes I've been putting together for a nonfiction book project, just as a test, and the next thing I knew I had a huge collection of thoughts. I'll probably get the pro version, but I keep putting it off. After all, $250 will buy ten gallons of gas these days.

If there wasn't UR, PB would be my first choice. It's visual representation is superior to all other mind-mapping software (IMHO). I wish UR had something like that, I use it's free version to do simple mind-maps that I store in UR.

Edit: it's = its ;-)

quant,

It has been a hard decision for me: UR or PB?
That's perhaps the wrong question. It's more UR and PB.
But since I have the pro version of PB the order is this way:
1. PersonalBrain
2. UltraRecall

Both applications are very useful but they have a completely different approach on how to represent the data visualy. A merge of both coulb be a killer application.

Dominik

Does anyone know if the license agreement for Personal Brain allows one to install both a Mac version and a Windows version? That is, I could see a real benefit for using Personal Brain if I could install a copy on my MacBook and on my Windows PC at work.

The chances are that they do NOT allow this, but I thought I'd ask. I'll check the web site, too.

Steve

Steve,
I don't own PB, I just surfed their website following your post and spent about 5 minutes staring helplessly at the price tag on PB Pro.
I think they might let you install it on a Mac though, check out this table:
http://www.thebrain.com/#-111
Under "PersonalBrain Pro Edition" it says, "Multiple OS Support - license is valid for use by a single user on any two computers."
ANY 2 computers? MULTIPLE OS support?
Hmm...

Michali,

You are right. That does sound as if one can use it on two different OS's. I just might be able to rationalize buying it under those conditions!

Thank you.

Steve

Michali wrote:

Steve,
I don't own PB, I just surfed their website following your post and spent about
5 minutes staring helplessly at the price tag on PB Pro.
I think they might let you
install it on a Mac though, check out this
table:
http://www.thebrain.com/#-111
Under "PersonalBrain Pro Edition" it
says, "Multiple OS Support - license is valid for use by a single user on any two
computers."
ANY 2 computers? MULTIPLE OS support?
Hmm...