EasyNotes is a simple hierarchical note taking program that
offers a good range of functions. The open source program can be
installed locally or used portably from a USB.
This a simple program that is very low on your system resources.
What I like about it is (a) its straightforward, intuitive design
(you can just pick it up and go), (b) the good range of
features/functions that it offers (tabs and tree structure, rich
text editing, and image support), and (c) the fact that it can be
used from portable device. However, please note that EasyNotes does
not offer many functions that other, more sophisticated (and
resource intensive) programs do such as support for tables, global
search/replace, spreadsheets, support for embedding multimedia
objects, and macros/plugins. Heres more info on this
program:
* Tabs: you can open multiple files (each representing a file which
consists of a hierarchical tree of notes) simultaneously and each
one of these will be displayed in its own tab. I like having both a
hierarchical structure on the left pane as well as multiple tabs
both, as I find the 3-dimensional depth provides a much better way
for organizing information. For example, I like to open a new note
(tab) for each project that I am working on and then have all the
related /information structured in the hierarchical tree on the
left (as opposed to having to sort all of my information into a
single, unified tree which some notes programs force you to
do).
* Rich text editing: offers simple but adequate rich text editing
options (edit font styles, text/background color,
bulleting/numbering, indentation, alignment, even line spacing).
What I especially like is that you can insert a clickable link
within any string, which effectively enables you to use this
program as a bookmark manager of sorts (this simple feature is
something that many notes programs somehow miss - see
screenshot).
* Portability: the setup file will ask whether you want a local
install or portable installation.
* Image support: you can insert images into your notes; however no
resizing or editing options are offered, so resize or edit your
image before importing. Note that you can paste images into your
note rather than importing a file if you want, and the images
behave much as any other text; you can indent them, align them, and
even bullet them if that makes any practical sense to you.
* Memory use: can be minimized or closed to the system tray and
consumes approx 20 megs of memory in the background (at least with
the handful of notes that I had open).
* Icons: you can assign different icons to your different notes;
however you are limited by the programs own icon set (around 50
icons). It does not seem possible to use or add your own
icons.
Wish list: although a large part of the draw this program has is
its simplicity and small footprint, I believe that adding the items
below will make it better (and that it can be done without making
the program much larger).
* Tabs: (a) it would be better if tab headers could display the
file name only rather than the entire path to the file as is
currently (b) the ability to drag and drop tabs to change their
order, and (c) the ability to change the tab color.
* Pre-loading notes: the option to automatically pre-load on
program launch the last set of files (tabs) that were open would be
a great addition. Another idea: the option to load every note in a
specific folder.
* Search/replace: in this era of search engines every program
should include a search functionality IMHO. This program can use
both an in-text find/replace function as well as search/replace
across open tabs.
* Tables support: the ability to create (and format) simple tables
would be great.
* Image manipulation: the ability to resize by dragging the edge of
an image would be very useful, as would the ability to add a simple
outline around the image.
* Password protection: for those notes that contain credit card and
social security numbers.
* Text editing: the ability to change font size would be good, as
would the ability to change the notes background color in its
entirety. Currently, working with bulleted/numbered lists is a
little quirky (you have to select a chunk of text before being able
to implement bullets/lists); it would be great if that would be
changed such that lists will behave in the standard way they do in
MS Word for example.
The verdict: if you need a simple yet functional hierarchical notes
program (and/or you need it to work portably from a USB drive) then
you will appreciate EasyNotes. For other notable freeware notes
programs that offer many more options (and a larger footprint)
check out KeyNote or SEO Note; or you might want to check out
desktop sticky notes programs such as Shock Sticker and
Stickies.
Version Tested: 0.4.0 beta
Compatibility: Windows XP, 2000, Home, Vista