https://www.thebrain.com/products/thebrain/thebrain10

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

https://www.thebrain.com/products/thebrain/thebrain10

How well does the web version work? Is it identical with the client?

Wondering what it would be like to use the web version only on a Chromebook.

Thank you for the notification, Alexander.

Dr Andus, the web brain works pretty much like the desktop version, although I have no doubt that there are some missing features. If you go to TheBrain website, you can use the live chat feature to ask about this. I've used it and gotten help immediately. The only caveat is TheBrain group is located on the west coast of the U.S., so you'll probably need to do this later in the day in order to get someone.

Steve Z

My own experience is similar; I tested the web version on my Linux notebook before committing to the annual subscription as, since abandoning Java, a Linux desktop application is not available anymore. My main environment remains Windows desktop.


Stephen Zeoli wrote:

Dr Andus, the web brain works pretty much like the desktop version,
although I have no doubt that there are some missing features.

I just posed this question to the chat person at TheBrain and here is what she said:

"The cloud interface does have all of the main features such as ability to add/modify Thoughts, add attachments, Notes, Tags, Thoughts Types, Pin Thoughts and instant activate (search Thoughts) but the desktop application does have more advanced features and menus, including calendar, reports, preferences and more."

Steve Z.

Alexander, thanks for sharing your experience, and Steve, many thanks for going into the trouble to find out that info for me.

It sounds like it's time for me to trial TheBrain again, for the tenth time :)

If my crappy maths skills are not failing me, have I got it right that it would make more financial sense to go for the "service only" option, as I would get exactly the same thing as the "licence + service" version and it would take 5.67 years for the latter to break even with the former anyway [(299-180) = 119 divided by (180-159 = 21) = 5.67], by which time I imagine the "perpetual licence" might become meaningless, if for instance technology changes to the extent that the concept of a "desktop" may not even exist or I may no longer have a Windows laptop?

Just trying to make sense of the licensing options...

The service option means _no_ desktop license, i.e. accessing TheBrain only through the browser.

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

The service option means _no_ desktop license, i.e. accessing TheBrain
only through the browser.

While I understand that "service only" doesn't include a "perpetual license," the following suggests that you still get to use the desktop clients during the subscription:

"If subscription expires, cloud services end and the desktop client reverts to the Free edition without Pro features."

Right you are, I just confirmed this with TheBrain's friendly chat service.

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

Right you are, I just confirmed this with TheBrain's friendly chat
service.

Many thanks for checking that.

So, here's my question to TheBrain afficionados here:

How easy or cumbersome would TheBrain be for the purpose of an online reading notes database?

I'm wondering if I could replicate some sort of personal wiki / Zettelkasten scenario, where I could enter reading notes quickly, and then connect them with each other, when there are things to connect (as in a wiki).

In a way I'm wondering to what extent TheBrain (online) could substitute for the kind of things I use ConnectedText for.

I would of course use TheBrain for other things as well, such as managing my various academic projects and organisational projects at my university and for personal organising.

Dr Andus wrote:

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
How easy or cumbersome would TheBrain be for the purpose of an online
reading notes database?

In a way I'm wondering to what extent TheBrain (online) could substitute
for the kind of things I use ConnectedText for.

Looks like Steve has already answered that back in 2012:

"You’ll notice that I didn’t mention note-taking as a use for any of those Brains. I don’t think TheBrain is a good note-taking environment. If you read my previous blog article, you’ll know that I’ve started using ConnectedText for managing my day notes at my day job."

https://welcometosherwood.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/somethoughtsonthebrain/

Steve, has anything changed in this regard since 2012?

https://welcometosherwood.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/somethoughtsonthebrain/

Personally, I'd as soon use WriteMapper to do what you've described (https://writemapper.com It's available for macOS, Windows and iOS, and costs a small fraction of TheBrain. Of course it's only got a small fraction of the functionality! But what it does, it appears to do well.

;-)

Beginning with version 9, the note tool in TheBrain did improve. For example, previously you had to assign a check box to each item in a list, whereas now checkboxes persist from line to line as you hit the enter key. Built in styles make formatting some of the text easier. There are other standard tools now that are more accessible. It is still far from the best note-taking environment, but it is useable now.

Another advantage is that you can assign tags and types to your notes, and it is very nice how you can use those categorizing tools to locate your information.

Alexander, I'm not sure you'd be satisfied with the web version of TheBrain for notes. I like the online access simply for reference, but the experience of creating and working with thoughts (notes) is so much better with the desktop versions.


Dr Andus wrote:

Dr Andus wrote:
Alexander Deliyannis wrote:
>How easy or cumbersome would TheBrain be for the purpose of an online
>reading notes database?

>In a way I'm wondering to what extent TheBrain (online) could
substitute
>for the kind of things I use ConnectedText for.

Looks like Steve has already answered that back in 2012:

"You’ll notice that I didn’t mention note-taking as a use
for any of those Brains. I don’t think TheBrain is a good
note-taking environment. If you read my previous blog article,
you’ll know that I’ve started using ConnectedText for
managing my day notes at my day job."

https://welcometosherwood.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/somethoughtsonthebrain/

Steve, has anything changed in this regard since 2012?

https://welcometosherwood.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/somethoughtsonthebrain/

The way that Dr Andus quoted his own question, with my name in between, made me wonder if I had been sleepwriting, as I never remember having typed that--nor wondering about the issue for that matter. Thankfully I found his original post and relaxed :)

For me note taking is primarily a matter of collecting. In this regard, the BrainBox now available in TheBrain 10 should make things easier.

That said, my main platform does remain Windows, so I would turn to the web version only when this is not available.

Stephen Zeoli wrote:

Alexander, I'm not sure you'd be satisfied with the web version of
TheBrain for notes.

MadaboutDana wrote:

Personally, I'd as soon use WriteMapper to do what you've described
(https://writemapper.com

The dev uses a 20th century style license that's only good on individual computers. I consider that to be a deal-killer today. I don't want to have my apps phone home for unlock and limit me to one computer for $40. (Or even $50 for two.)

I'm not sure what (and whom) you are referring to. Looking at WriteMapper it seems to be focused on structuring texts, so I wonder whether you wanted to suggest this to Stephen Diamond for his book.

In any case it looks very interesting, particularly the export options. A bit too colourful and bright for me, but could well appeal to some of my collaborators.

MadaboutDana wrote:

Personally, I'd as soon use WriteMapper to do what you've described

.. to continue abusing the Brain 10 topic ...
I have had good success with WordX for MindManager by Olympic-limited.co.uk.
This add-in allows you to tag MindManager topic with styles from a user defined Word template (Heading 1, Quote, ... - all set up in Word).
Although it needs a couple of mouse clicks here and there, style assignment works across selected topics and you retain the full power of MindManager ...

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

I'm not sure what (and whom) you are referring to. Looking at
WriteMapper it seems to be focused on structuring texts, so I wonder
whether you wanted to suggest this to Stephen Diamond for his book.

In any case it looks very interesting, particularly the export options.
A bit too colourful and bright for me, but could well appeal to some of
my collaborators.

MadaboutDana wrote:
>Personally, I'd as soon use WriteMapper to do what you've described

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

The way that Dr Andus quoted his own question, with my name in between,
made me wonder if I had been sleepwriting, as I never remember having
typed that

Sorry, Alexander, it was me who was half asleep when I did that :)

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

For me note taking is primarily a matter of collecting. In this regard,
the BrainBox now available in TheBrain 10 should make things easier.

Isn't that only for collecting URLs and files though?

I'd want to copy and paste in fragments of texts (e.g. from a web page or a PDF file) or type my own notes in.

Actually being able to do it in Chrome would be perfect for me.

Dr Andus wrote:

Isn't that only for collecting URLs and files though?

For the moment, yes. "Additional ways of adding information are coming soon."
https://www.thebrain.com/docs/brainbox

I'd want to copy and paste in fragments of texts (e.g. from a web page
or a PDF file) or type my own notes in.

Me too. Evernote will probably remain my main collection box for quite some time. TheBrain represents my action-oriented overview of things.

Actually being able to do it in Chrome would be perfect for me.

BrainBox does not appear in the web version as far as I can see.

Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

BrainBox does not appear in the web version as far as I can see.

There is a Chrome extension:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/thebrain-brainbox/ijepbhiglhdinkklggdeelopcjfnhfhd

Indeed, also for Firefox. But these appear to be only for capturing information, not for accessing it and doing something with it. As far as I can see, this can only be done through the BrainBox icon in the desktop programme.


Alexander Deliyannis wrote:

>BrainBox does not appear in the web version as far as I can see.

Dr Andus wrote:

There is a Chrome extension:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/thebrain-brainbox/ijepbhiglhdinkklggdeelopcjfnhfhd

Because of this news I installed TheBrain again. I paid twice before but never feel safe to continue to use it because of the price and the fear of locking myself in a special format.

It still has a special spot in my mind because the uniqueness of its ability to connect dots. Honestly, the concept is not hard to implement but I can not think of other apps do this.

I have a lot to complain: I don't like the note function (prefer Markdown always); the desktop still feels too heavy though it's better than the Java version; the mobile app is usable but still feel not polished; I don't like all the themes and still using the classic dark blue one.

However, every time I get back to my "abandoned brain" and wander around, I still feel it lights up my thoughts because it's so easy to jump across nodes to remember things and how they are connected… it's still the same amazing experience I had on day 1.

Using the basic plan may be well enough for me, though if I continue to use it, it's likely I will want the advanced features. (I definitely meet the CRIMP bar…)

I have started to trial TheBrain 10: the Windows version, the web version (in Chrome on a Chromebook), and the Android (v. 9) version (on a Chromebook).

The initial experience has been very disappointing, even though I love the concept and I’m in desperate need of a tool like this one.

I’m having major problems with the Windows version. I’m running it on a 3-yr old Windows 7 mobile workstation with a core i7 processor and 16GB RAM. In the three years I have not come across a software that I wasn’t able to run due to resource constraints.

Just last week I upgraded my Dragon Naturallyspeaking from Pro v. 14 to v.15, and it’s running perfectly.

Yet TheBrain 10 is running so slowly that it is practically unusable. After every click on anything I have to wait 4-5 seconds for anything to happen, often wondering if my click was even registered. At the same time the fans are spinning at full speed non-stop while TheBrain is running, suggesting that it’s a major drain on resources.

The installation itself was painfully slow. When I tried to update the software the next day (as a new version came out), I waited 6 hrs for the “Updating TheBrain” dialog box to finish before giving up and cancelling. I tried three times, it’s impossible to update the software from within itself. I may have to uninstall it and then reinstall the new version.

I haven’t had this sort of trouble installing a software for over a decade. It felt like time travel into the past. The interface also feels dated.

Is this primarily a Mac software and the Windows version an afterthought?

The web version worked a bit better, but it’s missing some essential features, and even the ones it has don’t always work. It also takes a long time for some of the features to kick in sometimes (and I have a decent broadband connection).

For a while I didn’t think I was able to add any notes because the interface just wouldn’t activate. Or there seems to be an option to set a link type, but when you set it up, it is not saved and disappears.

The sync between the various clients also feels archaic and seems to be rather slow. Having gotten used to working in web apps in recent years, this one just feels like an unfinished beta from some years ago.

Interestingly the Android app was the most responsive one of the lot, but unfortunately it has even fewer features than the web version.

This has been a very frustrating experience, especially considering how much money they are asking for this. Having seen what this software could do in theory, I would be willing to consider paying for it. But how can I do that when the performance is so poor and there are such gaps in features among the various platforms?

As I was trialling the software, I was thinking that there is a good concept here, but terrible execution, in terms of product quality (I ran across some bugs in the web version as well).

My next thought was: how come no one has tried to emulate this idea but producing it better, with leaner code, using faster servers etc., in a package that would actually work?

Then I came across this post, so other people have also asked this question. It seems that there is some kind of a patent preventing the replication of this idea:

http://forums.thebrain.com/post/thebrain-on-mac-incredibly-slow-9822809

This is a pity because the idea itself doesn’t seem that revolutionary: essentially it’s Tim Berners-Lee’s idea of hypertext and hyperlinks, so I don’t get how that could be even patented.

Is there anything out there that emulates this model and is more useable, or is this a monopoly “take it or leave it” situation?

In my experience the web and mobile apps are primarily companion apps for the Mac and Windows versions of The Brain.
If you don't have access to a Mac or Windows machine, I don't know if The Brain would work as well for you.