MindMaps anyone?

[Nick J.]

Not sure if this is the best place for this thread.

I wanted to start a thread on MindMaps.

I can't personally live without mind mapping practically everything I do. I've searched for mindmaps on google before but didn't see what I was looking for. There was one 'bubble style' I thought was stupid so I never used it. Maybe I didn't give it enough time to get used to it.

Either way, I was on another forum tonight (un-related to REI) and I saw a discussion about different MindMap programs/software and it mentioned 2 different programs/software as the best this group of people have seen.

They were FreeMind and MindJet

apparently FreeMind is free and MindJet cost money. My question is to you guys, have you used either one of these? I know you typically get what you pay for so if it's MindJet then so be it.

I want some quality feedback. I'd appreciate even more if you've either used these or others in the past or currently use them and your experience.

I need a way to put all these crazy things in my head on something other than a piece of paper with a pen where I can easily access them and build from the ideas.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Scott M.]

I have used MindJet for years.

As Mr_Investor points out - it isn't for everyone it just depends on how you like to organize your thoughts and how you like to recall them later. If you can jot things down on a sticky or in notepad - yea for you.

For those who are a bit more visual Mind Mapping is a great way to have your notes - thoughts - ideas make sense.

Having said that I use Mind Mapping for me - not for others - most others that I have tried to share a mind map with have found it annoying - they are not as visual as I am.

I have not used the freewae so I have no clue but I have been using MindJet since it was a free program when they first started.

For me - the layouts I use really help spur ideas - kind of a one person brainstrom - I can have the same data in notepad and nothing - it takes me longer to get to the same end goal - if ever.

Having said that I only use them for specific things that I am brainstorming - not for my to-do list or basic things like that.

I can highly recommend MindJet.