Which mindmapper tool do you recommend and why?
Criteria: the tool should be free and it must be able to save to a format which can be read by an open source alternative (like Xmind can save as Freemind), to avoid locking your data into a single tool.
And there is another one much more powerful like Super Decisions, but I don't know in depth
I'll probably vacillate between the two based on their latest releases.
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I have currently only one and first project with a mind map. After some search, i found FreeMind and did not find anything more promising.
You should try Xmind. It can do everything what freemind can and more. For example, it can display the same tree structure in different formats, even in table format.
But I think I will give it a shot to try out under a virtual pc (Vmware).
imagine
though1------thought2------thought3 | | thought4------thought5
And now, without messing things up majorly, introduce a new parent for thought2 and then link it to thought5's new child... with 2D display the lines become messed up pretty fast, TheBrain manages always to be neat and simple.
I know it sounds like it's just effects, but you need to try it before you get it. Seriously.
EDIT: Go to <!-- w -->www.thebrain.com<!-- w --> and just look how the upper navigation thingy works.
After quick look at the webpage, I did not find any note about which features are locked after 30 days the test version expires. I dont like such lite versions of commercial programs. It looks good, ... yes. What after 5 years. May be the company decides not to release any freeware version anymore. It looks not like an opensource program, so I dont test it.Download PersonalBrain
Digitize your mind with PersonalBrain. Download now and try all the features for 30 days. Register and upgrade to get the ultimate performance or keep using the free edition as long as you want. There is only one download for all editions. The Pro Edition features are available for 30 days. After 30 days if an upgrade to Pro or Core has not been activated, the program automatically changes to the Free Edition.
Our guest wrote:
Does PersonalBrain fulfils all the criteria?Criteria: the tool should be free and it must be able to save to a format which can be read by an open source alternative (like Xmind can save as Freemind), to avoid locking your data into a single tool.
That said, here are the differences between the versions. PersonalBrain (the free version) can export it's data into an XML file that is readable by anyone. Writing support for opening it in different mindmappers are the decisions of their developers (I don't really know, I've never really used anything else, since I don't like 2D mindmappers at all).
Concerning Brain, somebody obviously likes it AND AHK, since -> click here for AHK macros!
There is also something called "Topicscape 3D", I just bumped into the name, don't know anything about it.
No, I use also tools which are not OpenSource. That is not a strict criteria to me. But if I have a solution as an opensource (or better GNU GPL), then I try to use that. Please dont misunderstand me. PersanalBrain seems to be very interesting. Currently I dont need a perfect MindMapper Tool. What I can do with FreeMind is ok to me. May be I try it out later.But if you exclusively only use OSS, well, it's your choice.
That is a very good thing to me.PersonalBrain (the free version) can export it's data into an XML file that is readable by anyone.
like you don't use anything else, since you weren't willing to give it a go as it wasn't OSS.It looks not like an opensource program, so I dont test it.
But, you're right. If there is OSS alternative, I tend to use that. But Crossplatform weighs more in my plate. (I heavily use "all" platforms, Mac, Linux and Windows).
by the way, if you didn't already know, http://www.osalt.com is a GREAT site.
But since using Vue, I have been very happy. It's free & very slick.
Check it out, it is a little more flexible than most linear mind mapping tools, layers, nested nodes, too much..
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