This final piece of software is Mac only – if you just want to read the conclusion of our mindmap series, click here
OK, so we’re onto the final piece of software for mindmapping; a rather nifty Mac utility called Mindnode. What’s it like?
Unlike Freemind and Mind42.com, Mindnode has been built specifically for the Mac. Whilst that does restrict its target audience a bit, it also means that it actually looks and feels like a Mac application. But is it easy to use?
One thing I have noticed whilst looking at the various options for mindmapping is that each has different keyboard shortcuts. Once again, Mindnode is a bit different with Return creating a new sibling node, and Apple-Return creating a new child. Interestingly, Shift-Return actually creates a new root node, meaning you can have several mindmaps on the page at the same time.
The layout didn’t quite work properly
Click to enlarge
Once you’re used to adding nodes there’s not much else to this program. It does what it says in the tin: lets you create mindmaps. There is the option to recolour nodes and fiddle with fonts, but in the end all you really need it to do is draw a mindmap… and that’s what it does! I did find that the node positioning was a bit funny when just left to the default: it didn’t seem to realise that nodes were overlapping and just left them to it.
Some manual adjustments fixed the problem, but it is annoying. In the author’s defence, he is one man building what looks like a very polished application. The layout bug has been submitted, and I trust we will see a fix at some point. Other than this, though, Mindnode functions well, and even does that whole preview thing where the icon on your saved mindmaps is a tiny representation of the map you created.
Mindnode – nice face, shame about the bugs
Yes, another test map – click to enlarge
I think Mindnode produces the best looking maps so far, but it does suffer from having to manually adjust the placement of the nodes. Generally a decent piece of software, and easy to use, but needs a bug-fix soon.
Conclusion
So, over the last few posts we’ve looked at what mindmapping is (taking notes in a visual way by drawing the relationships between terms), and some tools to help you make use of it. Freemind, which works on any platform that has Java, Mind42.com, which lets you work in your browser, and Mindnode, a nifty but slightly flawed Mac app. There are a load more programs, sites, and techniques out there – if you think I have missed anything vital, please post it in the comments.
The real trick with mindmapping is just to see if it works for you. If not, don’t sweat it… find another note-taking technique that does. Even if mindmapping does work for you, you may find that you work best drawing maps by hand. Who knows? I hope that I have given you some starting points to explore this… now go, try it out, and let us know how you get on :)
Other posts in this series:
