Hi All,
My first post here.
Back in the day I used to use MaxThink extensively (mostly the DOS version).
As part of the experience I had numerous conversations with Neil Larson who originated the software and its unique and brilliant approach.
Many of the chats were in relation to my role as a technology columnist (also back in the day).
Has anyone on this forum been in touch with Neil in recent times? I've seen a variety of posts here on that topic and it seems he's moved on.
I'd like to get in touch with him, but the old contact info I have doesn't work.
Did he ever end up posting a copy of the Windows version with the lock system removed - if I understood correctly that was planned?
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

His intro in the app's manual listed a 510 area code phone number (which for obvious reasons I don't want to post publicly). You could try calling it.

FYI there's a discussion thread on this forum about the app here:

https://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/8473/

Neil moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado. I haven't talked with him in several years.

Thanks satis, I'll try that number... I just noticed your reply - over a year later! :-)

satis wrote:

His intro in the app's manual listed a 510 area code phone number (which
for obvious reasons I don't want to post publicly). You could try
calling it.

FYI there's a discussion thread on this forum about the app here:

https://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/8473/

I just tried the maxthink.com website. It's no longer about the software, but now is about Contra Dancing in Colorado Springs.

Well, dancing has symmetry with outlining. Placing feet and body in the right order. Hoisting. Indention moves.

I can see the rationale.

Quantum-ish wrote:

I just tried the maxthink.com website. It's no longer about the
software, but now is about Contra Dancing in Colorado Springs.

For reference, note that, in addition to the thread already cited that discusses Maxthink, there is also another previous thread from 2013 where people were discussing how to get in touch with Neil:

https://www.outlinersoftware.com/topics/viewt/4989

Also note that there is still, as of this writing, a page on the website about Maxthink software with a download link (and a phone number):

http://maxthink.com/download.htm

If he's still alive -- and I think I remember hearing of his death but I could be wrong -- he must be in his mid-80's by now (so in the best of cases, he might not now be the dude you remembered). AFA Maxthink for Windows, there's a buy/download link on maxthink.com but it wasn't functioning for me & I wouldn't trust it even if it were.

I was a pretty heavy user of the dos version a LONG time ago and at one time there was a not-copy protected dos version floating around in (what must've been) the early 2000's (whether official or not, it was the actual app) BUT it did not age well and it wasn't much worth using.)

Time to move on; modern outliners might not have the quirky personality of MT but they're infinitely more capable. While I, too, sometimes get nostalgic over the early days -- when 1-man shops were blazing trails forward & home-grown user-groups ruled the day -- the reality is that they really weren't terrible GOOD trails & rulers and they're probably best relegated to the dustbin of history.

Nevertheless it WAS an exciting time and I'm glad I experienced it. That being said, this thread is making me feel very old.

I am surprised that there is no wikipedia entry for Neil Larson, a pioneer in software thinking tools.

Listerene wrote:

If he's still alive -- and I think I remember hearing of his death but I
could be wrong -- he must be in his mid-80's by now (so in the best of
cases, he might not now be the dude you remembered). AFA Maxthink for
Windows, there's a buy/download link on maxthink.com but it wasn't
functioning for me & I wouldn't trust it even if it were.

I was a pretty heavy user of the dos version a LONG time ago and at one
time there was a not-copy protected dos version floating around in (what
must've been) the early 2000's (whether official or not, it was the
actual app) BUT it did not age well and it wasn't much worth using.)

Time to move on; modern outliners might not have the quirky personality
of MT but they're infinitely more capable. While I, too, sometimes get
nostalgic over the early days -- when 1-man shops were blazing trails
forward & home-grown user-groups ruled the day -- the reality is that
they really weren't terrible GOOD trails & rulers and they're probably
best relegated to the dustbin of history.

Nevertheless it WAS an exciting time and I'm glad I experienced it.
That being said, this thread is making me feel very old.

Not a dedicated article, but he is mentioned in "History of the web browser"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_web_browser


Stephen Zeoli wrote:

I am surprised that there is no wikipedia entry for Neil Larson, a pioneer in software thinking tools.

Hello (https://github.com/buckeye43210/pyPERM_DecisionTree revives Neil Larson’s PERM. I noted in 2023 Neil was in Colorado Springs, but support@maxthink.com bounced. Anyone reached him or know MaxThink/PERM users? @Quantum-ish, @satis, any leads?”

Even if he's still living, he's gotta be in his late-80's and any conversation with him would probably not be especially productive.

Listerene wrote:

Even if he's still living, he's gotta be in his late-80's and any
conversation with him would probably not be especially productive.

Ouch! I hope he doesn't read this comment!

Ha! Well said... but he'd probably also understand the comment since so many people in their mid-80s are in serious decline. Neil isn't on this forum, but I'm his stepdaughter (I just stumbled upon this site today). I have very productive conversations with him every couple of weeks, so if there's something anyone here would still like to ask him, please let me know and I'd be happy to chat with him about it the next time we talk. I don't think he's doing much with MaxThink anymore, but that doesn't mean he can't answer a related question.

devum this is Paul Salvaggio. I would like to get in touch with Neil. I used to use his MaxThink program on DOS and on Windows. I switched to a Mac and had to use a program to run windows under it and the MaxThink Windows program did not like saving with the way I have it set up. I finally gave up. I just got a new Mack cause my old one was 10 years old. I have a program. I'm developing with the AI Claude. It's based on the old Neil Larson, DOS and Windows program called MaxThink. It's an idea/outline processor that helps you take items and put them into a logical structure and also to take structure break it down and look at it in a different way. If you're interested, my email paulsalvaggio@cox.net, my phone number 225-262-9424. I'm in the development stage. I can send you owners manual and a tutorial and I have a few other documentation for it if you're interested. MaxThink runs in the Chrome browser as an HTML and saves files in the .maxthink. It can also print PDFs, text, and in mark up language format. if you want, I can send you the maxthink. html file to try out.

devum this is Paul Salvaggio. I would like to get in touch with Neil. I used to use his MaxThink program on DOS and on Windows. I switched to a Mac and had to use a program to run windows under it and the MaxThink Windows program did not like saving with the way I have it set up. I finally gave up. I just got a new Mack cause my old one was 10 years old. I have a program. I'm developing with the AI Claude. It's based on the old Neil Larson, DOS and Windows program called MaxThink. It's an idea/outline processor that helps you take items and put them into a logical structure and also to take structure break it down and look at it in a different way. If you're interested, my email paulsalvaggio@cox.net, my phone number 225-262-9424. I'm in the development stage. I can send you owners manual and a tutorial and I have a few other documentation for it if you're interested. MaxThink runs in the Chrome browser as an HTML and saves files in the .maxthink. It can also print PDFs, text, and in mark up language format. if you want, I can send you the maxthink. html file to try out.

devum this is Paul Salvaggio. I would like to get in touch with Neil. I used to use his MaxThink program on DOS and on Windows. I switched to a Mac and had to use a program to run windows under it and the MaxThink Windows program did not like saving with the way I have it set up. I finally gave up. I just got a new Mack cause my old one was 10 years old. I have a program. I'm developing with the AI Claude. It's based on the old Neil Larson, DOS and Windows program called MaxThink. It's an idea/outline processor that helps you take items and put them into a logical structure and also to take structure break it down and look at it in a different way. If you're interested, my email paulsalvaggio@cox.net, my phone number 225-262-9424. I'm in the development stage. I can send you owners manual and a tutorial and I have a few other documentation for it if you're interested. MaxThink runs in the Chrome browser as an HTML and saves files in the .maxthink. It can also print PDFs, text, and in mark up language format. if you want, I can send you the maxthink. html file to try out.

devum — this is Paul Salvaggio. Thank you for offering to pass questions along to Neil.

I used MaxThink for years, on DOS and then Windows, and nothing since has ever replaced it. When I moved to a Mac I couldn't run it anymore, and I missed it enough that this year I rebuilt it — a version that runs in a web browser, with the moves I always relied on: hoist, fence, categorize, prioritize, binsort. It isn't for sale. It's for me and a few friends, and I've shown it once to my local computer club.

What I'd like is his blessing. I'd rather ask than assume — and if he'd prefer I not use the MaxThink name, I'll change it without argument.

If he'd like to see it, I can send one file that opens in a browser, or just screenshots — whatever's easiest. Any thoughts he has, I'd treasure. And if he'd rather not be bothered, that's honestly fine.

Either way, please tell him thank you from me. His program changed how I think, and I've used what I learned from his manuals for forty years.

— Paul Salvaggio (paulsalvaggio@cox.net)

devum wrote:

Ha! Well said... but he'd probably also understand the comment since so many people in their mid-80s are in serious decline. Neil isn't on this forum, but I'm his stepdaughter (I just stumbled upon this site today). I have very productive conversations with him every couple of weeks, so if there's something anyone here would still like to ask him, please let me know and I'd be happy to chat with him about it the next time we talk. I don't think he's doing much with MaxThink anymore, but that doesn't mean he can't answer a related question.

Regarding age and cognition, knowledge management has to be good stimulus.

Seek mental challenge. It's good for you at any age. I'm not qualified to have an opinion, but I believe I see a difference.

My workout of choice is mental math. I'm terrible at it, so it forces me to stretch a little.

Lay down with your eyes shut for a few minutes every morning. Imagine a whiteboard. Work an algebra or geometry problem. It doesn't matter if it takes a week to solve a simple challenge without real paper and pencil, it's good for you.