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Your choice of mind mapping software
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Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Oct 18, 2006 at 03:19 PM
The idea of mind mapping is seductive, but in practice I’ve never found it very effective for me. I suspect it is a process that may have more applicability when working in a group brainstorming session, which keeps everyone on the same page.
My other issue with most of these programs is that they are so expensive. I suspect this is due to the fact that they consider their major markets to be businesses, where price is less of an issue. One such program that seems fairly full-featured, but which costs only $44 US is Mind Chart:
http://www.avant4u.com/us/feat_busi_ed.htm
I wonder if anyone has given it much of a try and, if so, what they think of it.
Steve Z.
Posted by Graham Smith
Oct 18, 2006 at 04:18 PM
Steve,
>The idea of mind mapping is seductive, but in practice I’ve never found it very
>effective for me.
I find it useful for particular applications. Initial brainstorming and when I want a one page overview of something - such as a lecture where I can scan my entire lecture with a single glance.
I have also found it useful, as you suggest, at meetings where it is easier to add thoughts as they occur than it is with a linear approach.
>My other issue with most of these programs is that they are so expensive.
As I already have licenses for several programs, this isn’t a particular issue for me, but I generally agree.
But Freemind is fine for the basic mind mapping task.
>http://www.avant4u.com/us/feat_busi_ed.htm
>
>I
>wonder if anyone has given it much of a try and, if so, what they think of it.
I have no experience of this.
Thanks,
Graham
>Steve Z.
Posted by Derek Cornish
Oct 18, 2006 at 04:35 PM
Over on the Yahoo Groups site StephenD mentioned another possible program (VisiMap, a UK developer) and asked for comments from users. I contacted the developer to see whether he wanted to contribute to the discussion, but he hasn’t done so yet. Maybe the product is not being actively developed any more.
Derek
Posted by Graham Smith
Oct 18, 2006 at 04:53 PM
Derek
>Over on the Yahoo Groups site StephenD mentioned another possible program (VisiMap,
>a UK developer) and asked for comments from users.
Visimap was the first Mind Mapping program I owned, and one of the first programs I bought when I got my first PC well over 10 years ago, maybe even 15 years ago. But it seems to have been stuck at version 4 for as long as I can remember and the web site seems to also have remained unchanged for years.
Interesting you haven’t had a reply, which tends to support the idea that they maybe have moved onto other things.
Graham
Posted by Stephen Zeoli
Oct 18, 2006 at 05:05 PM
Graham,
Have you ever looked at B-Liner? It has intrigued me, but I never wanted to spend the $145 US to get it. It has lots of different uses, but for brainstorming it seems to have a nice clean interface. My one concern at this point would be that it appears not to have been updated in four years. Anyway, if you haven’t looked at B-Liner you might want to check it out:
Steve Z.