Best Program for Taking Notes in Class?

[wPod]

as much as i dont like M$ products, i think M$ word is good in notebook view as others have mentioned. Great for easy classes you can just take notes in, but in many of the hard technical engineering classes I am in nothing can beat pencil and paper b/c of difficult problems that must be computed in class. now if apple would come out with a tablet that would turn hand drawn symbols into electronic diagrams.. . . and an equation solver that could compue a differential when i write it in by hand, that would rock! but for some reason, with the lack of programs like AutoCAD i do not see apple going the way of the engineer any time soon :-/ oh well, just cause i cant use one at work doesnt mean i will stop using apples at home!

 

[Gizmotoy]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned AquaMinds NoteTaker. I use it all the time, and in my opinion, is by far the best software for taking notes. I used to use Word's notebook view, and I tried out the Circus Ponies offering, but neither seemed nearly as powerful as NoteTaker. In addition, students get a hefty discount off the usual (and very steep, despite its amazing functionality, in my opinion) $80 price tag.

For example, NoteTaker allows each class you're taking to occupy a Tab. Then each tab gets a number of pages, to which I allocate one page per day. You can take notes in the typical bullet format, embed documents, websites, etc as well as take audio or video recordings. The useful part is you have every note from every class all in the same nicely-organized document, which is then Auto-indexed by NoteTaker. Professor just ask a question about Quantum theory? Click on it in the index and see every instance of it in your notes. Extremely useful.

The newest version even has a little drawing plugin, which helps with the problem a fellow engineer mentioned above: we get lots of little diagrams. If you're resonably steady with the mouse, you can get at least decent diagrams.

You can get a trial version to check it out if you like:
http://www.aquaminds.com/

 

[markoibook]

You want to try MacJournal - its really useful for jotting down things - and you can create many pages and organise them as you find fit.
I find it really useful when researching - as i can create new pages for each topic.

Plus its free - so I would at least have a play with it and see how you get on!

It's here: http://homepage.mac.com/dschimpf/

 

[kgarner]

I setup a Wordpress blog (see it here) and take my notes direct to it. It keeps them organized by class and they are searchable. I can link pictures or websites discussed in class and it works pretty well. All of my classes are in front of computers with internet, but if you have a laptop with OS X you can set up a local install and use that. There are some instructions at maczealots.com. (google for 'wordpress install os x')

 

[jdechko]

Has anyone heard about that new MS product though, called like... "One Note"? I'm not sure of the exact name, but I've seen some flash ads floating around about it... I guess there's a 30-day free trial for it too. If anyone has tried it and has a few impressions, please let us know.

As I am stuck on a PC right now, I am in a position to use OneNote. As far as Im concerned, its the best MS product out there right now. I really like how you can click anywhere on the page to insert text. The pages arent normally printed, so they can go on as long as you like them, and inserting a new page is pretty easy too. I also like that you can drag and drop Powerpoint files (and any other file in the document) just by dragging the file into the notebook. URL's work just as easily (though editing links is impossible as ive yet to find out how to do it.) Inserting and organizing tabs is fairly easy and it gives you the impression of a 3/5 section notebook. One feature that i really like is that it's very easy to insert more space for inserting other notes/pictures/etc. Just activate the tool, click and drag, it moves everything automatically. I've yet to use a lot of the features, and probably never will, but it seems like a really good piece of software.

For anyone with a PC laptop, id recommend a look Its actually a free 60-day trial (that takes me right up to graduation ) and the academic version is only $49.

 

[DanTekGeek]

I setup a Wordpress blog (see it here) and take my notes direct to it. It keeps them organized by class and they are searchable. I can link pictures or websites discussed in class and it works pretty well. All of my classes are in front of computers with internet, but if you have a laptop with OS X you can set up a local install and use that. There are some instructions at maczealots.com. (google for 'wordpress install os x')

great idea! I love wordpress! Imma try and get matt (lead wp dev) to feature your site as a different take on using wp.

 

[kgarner]

great idea! I love wordpress! Imma try and get matt (lead wp dev) to feature your site as a different take on using wp.

Thanks. Just a little epiphany I had as I was sitting in class not wanting to take out my binder to take notes adn not wanting to use the computer because I would have to crawl on the floor to connect my thumb drive. I even thought about setting up a note taking community at the college to take notes for several classes, but I don't have that kind of time.

 

[Santaduck]

There was an old DO outlining tool I used to use, but these days I'm curious about Sticky Brain. Has anyone actually used Sticky Brain for note-taking?

Also searching for 'outlining' software in versiontracker/macupdate should be fruitful.

 

[jayscheuerle]

Get Pencil #2.0 with the enhanced Eraser Pack™ and optional Sharpening tool (really should be included). I got the Sketch™ and Doodle™ plug-ins for my leisure time use.

Seriously, this product has been around for some time, has most of the bugs worked out and the simplicity of its interface design is tough to beat.

Good Luck! - j

 

[kgarner]

Get Pencil #2.0 with the enhanced Eraser Pack™ and optional Sharpening tool (really should be included). I got the Sketch™ and Doodle™ plug-ins for my leisure time use.

Seriously, this product has been around for some time, has most of the bugs worked out and the simplicity of its interface design is tough to beat.

Good Luck! - j

Yeah, but there is no built in rendundancy so if you lose it it's gone, and I find the font package to be quite limited and often difficult to read.

 

[jayscheuerle]

... and I find the font package to be quite limited and often difficult to read.

Really? I was amazed that the included script font looked so similar to my own handwriting...

I did notice it was affected by the Beer Virus and the legibility and spellchecking went way downhill until I ran the Rehydration patch the next morning.

Frankly, at 10¢ per user license, I found it affordable to keep a handful of back-up copies, but I understand that most college kids have tight budgets and that their networks are often plagued by the aforementioned Beer Virus.

Hey, it's just an option...

 

[DanTekGeek]

I agree good old pen and paper is great for some things, but there are others that it is flawed at. For instance, I type MUCH faster than I write, so pen and paper dont work for me. Also, I am horribly unorganized, all the notes i take on paper soon fall out of my binder/notebook and are crumpled to death in my bag.

 

[Littleodie914]

As I am stuck on a PC right now, I am in a position to use OneNote. As far as Im concerned, its the best MS product out there right now. I really like how you can click anywhere on the page to insert text. The pages arent normally printed, so they can go on as long as you like them, and inserting a new page is pretty easy too. I also like that you can drag and drop Powerpoint files (and any other file in the document) just by dragging the file into the notebook. URL's work just as easily (though editing links is impossible as ive yet to find out how to do it.) Inserting and organizing tabs is fairly easy and it gives you the impression of a 3/5 section notebook. One feature that i really like is that it's very easy to insert more space for inserting other notes/pictures/etc. Just activate the tool, click and drag, it moves everything automatically. I've yet to use a lot of the features, and probably never will, but it seems like a really good piece of software.

For anyone with a PC laptop, id recommend a look Its actually a free 60-day trial (that takes me right up to graduation ) and the academic version is only $49.

Alright, thanks a lot for the review! It's much appreciated

 

[Dr. Dastardly]

Heres another vote for Omni Outliner. If you use it for a bit and memorize the key commands you can outline all your notes in ideas without even looking at the screen. REALLY handy.

 

[Demon Hunter]

I agree, Circus Ponies Notebook is a great program too, much less clunky than MS Office notebook view... smaller footprint, easier to use, far more elegant. The highlighted tabs are my favorite.

I don't really use my copy anymore though, I'll sell the license for $15.

 

[chanoc]

The last on-campus class I took - Technical Report Writing, ENG 212 - the instructor did not allow laptop computers. So I dropped the class in Juneau, and am waiting for the summer semester to take it in Anchorage - with a choice of > 12 classes!

In Juneau they offered ENG 212 once a year.

I thought how stupid, and 80's, of you to not allow computers in the classroom. His excuse was the typing distracted from class. Well at the time I worked in a cubicle with typing, and all kinds of multitasking, confusion, loud talk, and could not believe his Humanities-Department views. Well what do expect from a fundie xian?

 

[Indiana Mac]

OmniOutliner is the best

I've tried using Notebook, Word 2004's notetaking, but the best program for taking notes is OmniOutliner. It is incredibly intuitive and very fast(far more than the bloated Word 2004 or Notebook). It is also a great program to layout a paper in(using a second column to clip the citations for quotes and references). Not to mention it has an excellent export feature.

 

[leftbanke7]

I just use ol' AppleWorks. Even for bulletted note taking, it works fine for me as I don't actually try to use the bullets rather just tab and use a * or a -

 

[DanTekGeek]

I've decided to do a mega-shootout of note-taking apps for The Apple Blog.

Ill compare NoteTaker, StickyBrain, DevonThink, VoodooPad, and OmniOutliner.

I should have the review done by mid march

 

[Logik]

I've decided to do a mega-shootout of note-taking apps for The Apple Blog.

Ill compare NoteTaker, StickyBrain, DevonThink, VoodooPad, and OmniOutliner.

I should have the review done by mid march

voodoo pad would be cool but.. the only real benefit that has given me is linking to pages... try out NoteBook by Circus Ponies.. seems NoteBook and NoteTaker by AquaMinds are similar products

 

[nbabass]

On the question about Microsoft OneNote- part of Office 2003 Suite

I am new to Mac-
Until only a week ago, I used a Dell with OneNote on it- $50 for students to take all my notes in class. I love it- I ol=nly wish MS Office 2004 for Mac included it.

Just go to the website and get the 30 day trial (if you're a PC user) otherwise, it's worthless.

Nathan

 

[smada]

OmniOutliner all the way. The new version allows you to insert pictures movies and sounds right into the notes. In my Art History notes, for example, i have all of the slides right in my notes, making studying for tests much easier.

 

[matticus008]

I am a fan of recording lectures while also taking notes. That way you can still write the notes from the board but also pay more attention to the lecture part. If you miss something, just listen back after class. Maybe even "license" the recordings to your lazy classmates for some $$ ;P

Not to rain on anyone's (money-making) parade, but "licensing" or in any way selling recordings of lectures is not legal, at least in the US. They are the property of the professor, who reserves exclusive distribution rights for all lecture materials (this includes PowerPoint slides and the professor's own, personal lecture notes as well as the actual words spoken by the lecturer). While many professors make slides or PDFs of notes available for student convenience and these can be redistributed, taking verbatim copies of the actual .pps file or the spoken lecture can be and has been prosecuted. Just a word of warning for those scheming to make a small fortune.

Sharing materials in exchange for, say, a meal might work as more of a "thank you" instead of a purchase.

 

[mad jew]

Not to rain on anyone's (money-making) parade, but "licensing" or in any way selling recordings of lectures is not legal, at least in the US. They are the property of the professor, who reserves exclusive distribution rights for all lecture materials (this includes PowerPoint slides and the professor's own, personal lecture notes as well as the actual words spoken by the lecturer). While many professors make slides or PDFs of notes available for student convenience and these can be redistributed, taking verbatim copies of the actual .pps file or the spoken lecture can be and has been prosecuted. Just a word of warning for those scheming to make a small fortune.

Sharing materials in exchange for, say, a meal might work as more of a "thank you" instead of a purchase.

It's the same here in Australia. Most of my lecturers won't allow it at all anyway - even for personal use.

 

[Palomino]

in many of the hard technical engineering classes I am in nothing can beat pencil and paper b/c of difficult problems that must be computed in class

I'm studying mining engineering, and I have to agree. Some people started off typing notes as they were dictated, this soon changed and we were all back to the exercise book and ball point pen.

It's the same here in Australia. Most of my lecturers won't allow it at all anyway - even for personal use.

Not sure what uni your at but my lectures have no issues with you recording lectures (who has time to listin to them a second time, with 33 contact hours I know I don't and hence don't bother.) All our lecture material (slides, notes tute problems...) are on our course/subject homepage (only students enroled in the course can access them.) Those that don't do this expect you to copy dictation notes word for word. As they are so freely accessable to those that require them, there's no "Black market trade" in any property as it's there for all to see.

Cheers
Jordan.

P.S: Advantages of a excersize book over a laptop
-Lighter
-no bootup time
-no shutdown time
-no need to worry about battery life or find a power point
-ease to draw diagrams and better use of page space (more dynamic in layout)
-cheaper (my exercise books, 5 in total and pen cost $10AUD)
-can't suffe from viruses, "suddeny erased" "woops I deleated it"
-less likley to be stolen.
-I'm sure there are others...