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Curio 5.0
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Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Aug 17, 2008 at 07:49 PM
Back in April I bought a MacBook for my personal use. I had been a long time PC user, but some of the applications I had seen recently for Mac OS had made me envious—particularly DevonThink and Scrivener. So I took the plunge, and have bought several applications—a whole new domain for my CRIMP fever. And I have tested many more.
Overall I am very happy and impressed with my MacBook. It starts up fast and turns off even faster. It returns from sleep mode in a snap. I also like the integration of many of the applications. The fact that I can print a PDF into many of the information managers is very advantageous.
So, as an environment, the MacBook is great. However, I haven’t been as impressed with the software as I expected to be. They are all competent, but I really haven’t seen much that is not available in the PC world.
That is, until now. Curio 5.0 is a really exceptional application. In its “idea space” approach it is a little like OneNote—that is, you have a page on which you can combine several different types of elements. However, one of the item types that you can insert into any page is a pretty sophisticated mind map, also incorporated full-fledged project management functions.
The other important element type you can add to an idea space is an outline box. You can also add a text box or URL or even live web pages.
I’m still exploring the features of Curio, but I feel I’ve finally found the perfect planning application for me—no, it isn’t a database, and can’t serve that function. But Curio is the perfect place for brainstorming, then expending on those ideas with whatever material you need! At $149 for the pro version, Curio isn’t cheap, but it is less expensive than most mind mappers in the PC realm, and it does more.
It’s definitely worth a look, even if it is just to nurse your CRIMP desire.
Steve Z.
Posted by Hugh
Aug 18, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Beat me to it, Steve!
I endorse all you’ve written. In the period of little over a year since I bought my MacBook, Curio has come a long way. By the nature of things, some of the tools it’s provided for the manipulation of data in its “idea space” - such as the mind map - have previously been quite basic. (Perhaps that’s why it seems to have lacked profile.) But they’re progressing to the point where they may start to challenge the specialist tools that, as you say, can cost a lot more.
For me, trying to see how the paid-for mind-mappers for the Mac stack up, an upgrade to from Curio 4 to to Curio 5 looks much the better-value option, now its mind-maps and outline lists are expandable and collapsible (they also import and export OPML).
Database-wise, files can be dragged and dropped into Curio from a recognised database with a non-proprietary format such as Eaglefiler or (I hope) the impending DevonThink 2.
H
Posted by quant
Aug 18, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Could you please explain, why are you so excited about those “mind maps”?
Every and any notetaking software that has a tree has basically “mind maps”. The only difference is that instead of all children being below its parent, half of them are on the right and another half on the left.
Posted by Hugh
Aug 18, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Not excited as such, but I do think they can be a useful tool.
Two reasons. One, with many mind-map programmes but not all, initially you can just splat the screen with ideas, before you start drawing the relationships between them. This accords with my understanding of the recommended ways to brain-storm - first think of all possibilities, then arrange and critique them. (Right-brain/left-brain theories?) Making a list when outlining, even if unindented, immediately implies a hierarchy, which you may not want at that stage.
Two, some people visualise and understand pictures better than text, at least in the early stages. I think I’m one of those.
The ideal mind-map application IMO is one where an easily-manipulable map can be transformed quickly into an easily-manipulable outline, and back again. So you get the best of both worlds.
H
Posted by quant
Aug 18, 2008 at 10:50 AM
1. Simple, just create directory “Screen”, which would hold your not yet assigned relationships, and then drag drop to another directory creating relationships ...
2. those coloured ovals with text inside are not much different from the text in the tree alone ;-)