Please add your views for any Mind Mapping software that you use or even perceptions
Free
User-defined attributes extend its capability for power users
Supports embedded, interactive (but write-only) mind maps in Flash for websites.
Totally open, so has become a file format that many other packages can import from or export to., Enables Sharing between users with different software
Active community, Help may come quickly, But not always
Open Source
Appeals mainly to techies
Very slow progress in development, 0.8 is limited but full release, 0.9 has many more capabilities but has been in Beta for years
Collaborative features missing, (Not a fair comment unless you add the same to all other desktop apps covered here. Anyway, that's not where it's targetted)
No Spell Checker
Strengths, Powerful Filtering, Explorer Pane, Excellent feature for Presentation, Self centering topics, Question Sets, Categories, Editable, Saveable, Which can be used to create category maps, Tasks, Have, Work, Duration, Resources come from Outlook, Tasks sync to Outlook, Excel, Flat Export, Hierarchal Export
Weaknesses, Tasks, Minimum unit 1 hour, Would really like minutes for event planning, No Mac application
Web-based
Off-line option
Free option, Max 7 maps, with ads
Share maps
Attractive appearance
No collaborative, simultaneous editing (?)
Wallace Tait: VISUALMAPPER
Versions, Version for Windows, Linux, Mac, Open Source version, Pro version, Multi-language built-in
Interface, Uncluttered interface, Looks nice, Soft color tone, Theme/style
Function, Import FreeMind, Mindmanager file, Workbook file (multi-maps), Drill down/up, Structures, Mind map, Fishbone, Table, Org chart, Process chart, Project, Task info, Gantt Chart, Upload, Share.xmind.net, Web pagepaste code, Record, MP3 audio
Tasks do NOT roll up
Pre 3.1 versions lost attached files, A few bugs remain in this new version
Help and Menus sometimes use weak English
PersonalBrain is mind mapping software from TheBrain Technologies. It uses a dynamic graphical interface that maps hierarchical and network relationships. It includes the ability to add links to...
Multiple Paths to an object or Thought
CRM/Filemanager/PIM replacement ?
complexity
Web publishing, with NOTES visible
Can use instead of File Manager on PC
Frequently updated
Complex appearance
Lack of intuitive thought movement
Inability to link maps, Actually you can link to other brains
Inability to import from other vendors efficiently
Almost impossible to print
Web publishing, not pictures
Wallace Tait: (VISUALMAPPER) March 7TH 2010 Comapping is not a Mind mapping application by nature of the left to right format. It is indeed marketed using the term Mind mapping; bit IMO, it is a most effective desktop and cloud information/Knowledge management application. The Collaborative aspect of Comapping IMO, is a more convenient business format for organizations to consider due to the graphical format. It is simply viewed as being more acceptable as a non Mind mapping app.
Web 2.0, Synchronous editing of maps with all shared members., Great collaborative features!
Fast
Export and Import to/from MM
Cheaper license (compared with MindMeister)
Perfect right click menu
Excellent meeting/project tool., Priority can be assigned for each node, Tasks with resources and time for each node., With one click you can filter out all tasks from a map, and then send to all delegates (shared members and others)., Instant Messaging Built-in
Destop Application, Mac, PC
Export to MS Project
Export to RTF - open in Word
Almost linear format, Like an outline, This is one of my biggest Strengths about this product! More standard, and non-mindmappers (which is most people out there Im sad to say) comprehend and understand this format faster and better., For those who use mind maps for creativity, spotting previously-unseen connections, and prompting non-linear thinking, this is a definite weakness, Suits the PC screen better., That depends on whether there are many level 1 nodes, and then on how many levels there are below that. More flexible arrangements in most mind mapping software allow arranging layout to suit the screen., Not as chaotic as traditional mindmaps (have a look at this map, and then look at the same map in Comapping.), This map has been created by 50 different people, Very rigid
Weak when it comes to "visuals", No relationship lines, No "Connect" feature between nodes, No grouping lines, No callouts, No favicons when linking to URLs, Strict "imaging"
Colorful, attractive maps quite easy to achieve
Project management features supported
Social Mind Map sharing (with Novamind Connect)
For Mac version : *really* made for Mac
Presentation tools
A lot of export options, Mind Manager, OPML, PDF, EPS, Graphics, JPG, PNG, GIF, Tiff, BMP, PowerPoint and Keynote, RTF and Word, MS Project
Screenwriting tools
Moving nodes around is surprisingly non-intuitive and unreliable (sometimes works, sometimes doesn't), But it's only in "automatic mode" (you can use the manual mode)
3 versions of NovaMind (difficult to choose)
Supplier called Seavus Just coming out of beta in October 2009 Wallace Tait: VISUALMAPPER March 7th 2010 Seavus is a very notable project management and software developer with a large employee number 400+. While DropMind seems to be a clever clone of the MindManager; it's cheaper, and in fact is being developed in an agile environment that actually listens to the user base. Once Seavus develop DropMind with multiple graphical formats, they'll be a more stable contender for more use within an integrated linear/non linear working environment for potential users.
Web based and Windows Desktop App available
Claims good MindManager similarity and integration
Better dashboard than MindMeister
Find function for nodes
Silverlight which should mean stronger stability over Ajax
Cheaper license (compared with MindMeister)
Chat available between members
5 mind maps per user in case of free license
Silly unmarketable name - sounds like substance used by hippies, and looks like an ad for eye-drops
Tried to export mindmap from MindMeister and import it in DropMind but did not work (probably DropMind bug)
Silly top bar to move items
No rightclick menu to add nodes or other functions
Only 2 collaborators per map in case of free edition
Windows app is a lot more advanced and have better GUI
Attractive results
Very user friendly & easy to use
Not limited to tree hierarchy
Maps can be shared for editing.
No collaborative features available (???) NOT SO, see above
This is almost able to make Novak concept maps., supports linking phrase, supports two-way relationships (each can have a linking phrase), does not appear to support several nodes joined to one linking phrase, New node
At least two users prefer the elegant and simple user interface of the original
Owner of this map
Cabre, MindManager, Reseller, Certified Trainer, Applications, Consultancy
ConferenceREACTION, Uses MindManager, To map, Speakers, Discussions, Workshops, Debates, To build, Clickable Image Web Pages, Multi Page and Media web sites
Application Exploiter, MindManager since 1998, Probably started with version 3.0, JCVGantt, Map4Web
Management Consultant, Information mapper (mind, concept and spider) for 30+ years, MindManager user since 1996 (then called 'Mindman'), TheBrain user since 1998 (dropped), Current main assignment: PM for Topicscape, Owner of WikIT, the mind mapping wiki, Occasional user of various other mindmap s/w, bubbl.us; Cmap; Xmind; Cayra; Compendium; ConceptDraw Mindmap; Edraw; FreeMind; iMindMap; DropMind; trialling Novamind now, tweets as @roygrubb
Financial planner, Web, Twitter
Used mind maps for 10+ yrs, Paper, MindGenius (old version now), iMind Map, With children, Presentations, Mind Manager, Connect, Really like, Trying catalyst, MindMeister
Used mind maps for 15 + years
Used Mindmapper since mid 90's
Run my whole life on a huge mind map
Tech PR specialist, Twitter, johnweet, Web, www.weetpr.com
Mind Mapper for 5 years, Hand drawn maps, With Autistic Child, Daily organization and Data collection, Freemind and Freeplane, Extensively used to gather data for writing projects, Used for Studying, Used for Journaling, Maps Shared Using Dropbox, Mind Manager 7, Used for Consulting Work, Used as dashboard for knowledge base and training
Using Mind mapping for last 15 years
Write about Mind mapping on my blog, Project Management, Assistive Technology, Educational Technology, Web 2.0, eLearning, Collaboration
Use a Number of Mind mapping applications in the work I do
Provide training on using mind mappping & Project Planning
Author, Several books, Parenting, Computers, Videos, Assistive Technology
Professor of Education
Social Media, Twitter, Linkedin
Contact, email, Blog
Interests, Mind mapping, Project Planning, Web 2.0, Virtual Collaboration, eLearning, Information Mining, Context Organizer, MindManager Add-in
Consultant
Coach
Trainer
Using mind mapping for last 8 years, In the work I do, For collaborative purpose, to organize my life, personal, professional
Share maps online
Owner: Mind-mapping.org, Master List of mind- mapping software
mind mapper for 20 y
interested in all forms of visual representation of information, ideas & data
Owner: Mindmapsearch.org, The mind mapping authority sites, categorized with a Google co-op search that draws only from these.
Owner and lead consultant at:, www.visualmapper.org, Located in Ontario, Canada, I consult to Personal, Academic and corporate Business arenas, Information management is the core of my work, I teach, coach and train people, groups and corporates to become superior information managers using the tools, methods and mindsets of Mind, Visual and Knowledge mapping, Please view my BIO at:, http://www.hypershifters.com/about/wallace-tait
Writer and editor at:, www.visualmapper.org, www.hypershifters.com
A few Notable Professional Associates, Business development, Stephanie Diamond, Developers, Alex England, Henry Lewkowicz, John England, Nigel Goult, Roy Grubb, Tim Van Gelder, Fellow consultants, Alexis Van Dam, Andrew Wilcox, Arjen Ter Hoeve, Brian Friedlander, Hans Terhurne, Nick Duffill, Mapping, Gideon King, Jamie Nast, Michael Deutch, Olin Reams
Wallace Tait: VISUALMAPPER March 7th 2010 TopicScape is probably way ahead of its time. Roy Grubb must have travelled into the future and saw what is to come. The knowledge management aspect of TopicScape holds the lead. TopicScape though does work in 2D and is available to toggle into 3D. It's Knowledge management tool that goes way beyond mere Mind mapping. For those of you who have evolved past Mind mapping, have experienced the multiple formats of Visual mapping and have now arrived at the realization of Knowledge mapping; TopicScape is certainly somethig to seriously consider.
Handles very large maps
designed for information management in a mind map type of structure, but 3D, leave linked files in place, or allow software to manage them
High visibility of contents, zooming interface
Many interchange options, FreeMind, Export / Import, MindManager, Import, PersonalBrain, Import, Directory structures
Can centre view around any node
Windows only
learning curve
requires 3D graphics hardware
Strengths, Organic, Easy to use, Ribbon Toolbar like MS Office 2007, Good export capabilities, Microsoft, PowerPoint, Word, Project, Excel, Outlook, HTML, Good project management and export capabilities, Built in Gantt Chart, HTML export, Easy to link maps, Good viewing capabilities, Roll up, Roll down, Centring, Good image capabilities, Been around for years, Easy to rearrange nodes, Drag and drop
Weaknesses, PC not "cloud" based, Limited acceptance, Don't know anybody else who uses it, Wasn't on this map, An excellent product so mystifies me, Can be costly if starting as new user, Ok for upgrades, Cannot have multiple font styles in same textbox, Cannot export image to PPT, only text, No Mac version, no iPhone, Windows Mobile versions
Deviation from Freemind's Beta version
Free
Open Source
More active development than FreeMind, Spell Checker, Open's multiple maps at startup, New formatting shortcuts, connector innovations, Labeling, Hard Edge
Is presently in Beta
File format may deviate from FreeMind's later
Appeals mainly to techies
Ego at work? One man band?
Was developing very quickly, now slower
Open Source, Free
Relatively platform agnostic, Runs on Windows, Mac (Panther & Tiger), and Linux, Uses Java (JRE 1.5+)
Easy to start using, Comes with examples, Tutorials available, Video, Documents (pdf)
Can be buggy, e.g. HTML Map export doesn't work properly in Firefox
Concept-mapping
still useful for mind mappers to know about, there are times when concept maps are best, and times when mind mapping is more suitable
concept mapper, but can build mind maps
can make maps from RSS feeds
can show images in nodes
free
cross platform
Supports giving presentations
Can interpret ontologies, if you're into them
not very elegant appearance
Clunky interface, seems deliberately strange
various public servers allow sharing
Graph not limited to a tree structure, But it can be if the user so chooses
Fragmented user interface, Unlike most other mapping applications, But not because of useful innovation or improvement on these interfaces
Requires connecting phrases, Which can get in the way if all you want is to mind map
Concept-mapping
still useful for mind mappers to know about, there are times when concept maps are best, and times when mind mapping is more suitable
Tight Microsoft Office Integration, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, MS Project, Outlook, Synch Tasks
Outline Mode
Gantt Mode
Timeline Mode
Embed URL's
Calculations on Branches, Roll Up Costs, Export to Excel
Ribbon Interface
Built Web Sites from Map
Link Attachments, Pack N Go to Share
Has a Viewer
Restricted Formatting
No Resource leveling
Formating of images
No PDF Exporting
Easy to Use
Library of Pictures
Concept Mapping
Transfer ideas to Word
Diagram View
Outline View
Templates
Formatting
Relatively inexpensive
Can use with Webspiration
Integration with PowerPoint
Can't drag ideas around map
Printing
Wallace Tait: VISUALMAPPER March 7th 2010 CS ODESSA are IMO contenders for the most effective information management suite available to date. ConceptDraw Office is ingeniously split into three parts; 1) Mindmap, 2) Pro (Graphical) and 3) Project (Management). The strengthe of the ConceptDraw suite of software products is in the direct connectivity through the In-Gyre technology. The ability to create Busines syetem Dashboards is a very effective ConceptDraw function, and is something that's been either misunderstood or even ignored by other benchmarks.
Attractive appearance
Many interchange options, MS Project, Export, MindManager, Import, OPML
Mac and Windows
Name implies concept maps, but only does mind maps
pricey
All the Strength of FreeMind since file format is 100% compatible, Free, Open Source, User-defined attributes extend its capability for power users, Supports embedded, interactive (but write-only) mind maps in Flash for websites.
Special features for students and researchers, Import of PDF Bookmarks, Integration with BibTeX Managers (e.g. JabRef and Mendeley), Automatic assignment of BibTeX keys to nodes
All the weaknesses of FreeMind
Deviation from FreeMind's 0.9 Beta
