I use NovaMind, and I’m almost happy with it. I chose it over MindManager because, well, either there wasn’t any Mac version a year ago or I was too dumb to find it. And it’s cheaper.

Anyway, I love how fast you can create a mind map in NovaMind. And it looks good, too, compared to what I have seen on some Windows boxes.

When you want it to look special, though, then the program is amazingly inflexible. And, why oh why, isn’t there a way to draw an organigram?

It’s a mind map, only that the top is the beginning and the branches look different. But no, the developer “will include this in a future version” that I will have to pay for.

I have to admit…

I’ve been a fan of all these great note-taking apps, but I rarely find the justification for using them. I don’t write with an outline, and I don’t take notes outside of using a pen and paper…I just find it faster.

So I have so many of these freeware apps for GTD stuff, but I so rarely use them. The stuff I tend to use deals with email and working around my system (Quicksilver), etc…

I’m wondering how necessary all these other things are. They’re cool and all, but I just don’t see the use of them for myself, personally.

I have been mind mapping for almost 27 years now, having being taught it by a forward thinking teacher in the late 70’s

On the Mac, i used to use novamind, but recently switch to using mind manager, which I find has a cleaner less cluttered interface, and has that certain “je ne ce quois”

Mind manager allow fairly rapid entry of ideas and thoughts, with non-mouse navigation being pretty good. There is also meta-data on the nodes of the map, which can be usefull.

With mind manager, there are also a couple of Apple Scripts that allow you to bang maps back and forth between Omni Outliner Pro.

There seem to be two schools of thought on what a mind map is. Some folks would class a simple outline as a mind map, but in Buzan’s books all the examples tend to have pictures and diagrams as visual queues. A lot of mind maps, can be seen a works of art.

Like alot of things in life there is no correct answer as to which mapping software, I think it is often a case of picking the best tool for the job, which often will be the faithfull pen and paper. Very often I will scribble maps in the Moleskine notebook that I carry with me. I also often use dip pens and coloured ink. I tend to do most of my goal planning, and day to day planning with maps.

Well I could rattle on for much more, but other stuff beacons.

I’m still fond of Omnigraffle for mindmapping. Sure, it’s not as fast as other apps, but it’s so versatile….I’d be lost without it in my dock.

[…] Over on 43 Folders today, there is a post regarding Mind Mapping software like this.  I too have used one of the free tools, but this is the first time I’ve used one of the commercial ones. […]

I”m very happy with FreeMind - especially with its (alleged) ability to serve up maps thru a browser (something I’ve not yet quite been able to get to work)

I always kind of did the same process on paper. Tried CMap and it is a great tool. Makes the brainstorming process a lot easier.

Alex

Heard Merlin talking about Mind Mapping on MacBreak, and thought I’d check out the thread. Looking forward to the promised posting on using OmniGraffle. After hearing that, I quickly realized that this kind of outlining is only available in the Professional version (4.0), not the lite version (3.0) that came pre-installed on my PowerBook. I decided to upgrade and Mann am I glad I did! Mind Mapping with OmniGraffle Pro is easier than I expected. I can change the relationship between objects either graphically, by moving anchor points, or textually, by indenting and outdenting. Don’t think you can do that in the lite version. Neat!

All sorts of Mindmapping tools (as well as Outliners, and Information Management tools) are listed at http://www.mind-mapping.org 143 tools in all.

I use Mindjet for argument mapping. I know there are dedicated argument mapping packages out there, such as ReasonAble! and Rationale, but I find the superior graphical interface features of Mindjet’s product outweighs the disadvantages of using it for a purpose slightly different from what I intended. (Having said that, the way I do argument maps is heavily influenced by the way ReasonAble! Works. If those guys can team up with the Mindjet people, they’d have a winner product.)

What I do is put the central proposition of the case at the centre and then the first child note is just the word “because”. The child nodes of that are the premises of that argument – each written as a full, propositional sentence. Each separate argument for a proposition hangs off its own “because” node (thus, if the central proposition is supported several independent arguments, there will be several “because” nodes hanging from it). Each premise can then be its own proposition with its own “because” nodes.

Counter arguments to a proposition are hung off a “BUT” node. I colour propositions that are assisting the central proposition green and those that are rebutting the central proposition red. “Becauses” and “buts” are in plain text.

All of this is usually done on the curved right or elbow right format, rather than the classic mindmap format with the central idea at the centre.

I first started doing this on CMap but I found the absence of word wrap for long nodes was a problem and it wasn’t as easy to add extra premises as it is with Mindjet.

I tend to use CMap to get all concepts (or companies in a corporate structure) in my head and then Mindjet to map out an argument.

One other thing that really bugs me about CMap is that it won’t let you save maps in other folders. I like to keep all documents related to a matter, whether they be word docs, spreadsheets, pdfs or mindmaps, in the one folder.

Addendum: The real advantage of argument mapping is that it makes the gaps in your own logic embarrassingly clear. A big problem in appellate advocacy is the question from the judge you never expected. Those are the result of one or both of two things: (1) the judge knew something you didn’t; or (2) the judge saw a missing premise in your reasoning that you had just assumed and had never prepared an argument to support. There’s not much you can do about (1) except do more reading and research. But (2) can be minimised by making painfully explicit to yourself the precise logical structure of your argument and satisfying yourself that you have reasonable support for ever premise in the argument. And that argument mapping does in spades. Argument mapping also indirectly helps with (1) in that it can often identify the areas in which you need to go away and do some more reading…

I’ve tried to use mind mapping tools before, but I find them to limiting in what they’re able to do.

Personally I’ve been using Adobe Illustrator as a mind mapping tool. It’s very familiar, and great because you can use things like layers, and vector art to conceptualize what you’re thinking.

More recently I’ve been using Apple’s Keynote presentation software. Keynote helps focus an idea, and helps to provide a context to your idea. I used Keynote recently to brainstorm several projects.

The other benefit of Keynote, is being able to present your idea to yourself. If you ‘present’ your idea to yourself, it helps solidify what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it. It’s kind of like the branstorming equivalent of rubber ducking.

Rubber Ducking: http://headrush.typepad.com/creatingpassionateusers/2005/01/rubberducking_a.html

I’ve bounced around the mind map space for several years and find them key for many things including

— note taking

— personal brainstorming

— organizing / refining my thoughts on a single topic

— Meeting facilitation -> I’ve had great experience using a mind map interactively with a group capturing all their ideas, grouping them interactively with the people and then ranking them. Really powerful tool in that manner.

I’m currently using Novamind. I moved over from freemind because it can export to Omni Outliner and it is a bit prettier. I am surprised nobody has mentioned this exporting, given all the kGTD folks here. :) (Although, ironically I moved to Novamind as part of a migration to kGTD and couldn’t give up syncing to my PDA that I have with the older life balance, but that is for another thread).

And novamind uses linkback so I can import my omnigraffle pictures into the map and throw the maps into Curio idea spaces as I collect my thoughts.

I haven’t used Omnigraffle’s mindmapping stencil because it is slower —> the benefits to a mind map tool comes when it is a quick as quick silver is to Merlin. Although the new outline features in OmniG are nice, they are not quite there in my mind and intuitive for me, so I’ve stuck with a dedicated mind-mapping tool that does the job well.

In my mind concept mapping is different to mind mapping. I’d agree with David and Kirk R. Concept mapping I would use to really dive into the complexity, the mind map is to capture quickly and recall easily.

As you might be able to tell, I capture a lot of my ideas visually — so mind maps were a natural tool for me. Your mileage may vary.

— Morgan

[…] I love mind mapping. I’ve found it a great way to generate ideas, unblock writer’s block, become more creative, take notes, generally kick ass in the mind department, and all on one page! If you don’t already know how, 43 Folders has great starter links on mind mapping. […]

Great Minds do not necessarily think alike. Thanks for the thread Merlin. I teach my students to use mind maps in class and I am looking for good software to use on my mac so I can give them clearer ideas of how mind mapping works.

Since cross curriculum planning is all the rage (and a good idea too) Mind mapping seems very helpful for me in this area.

I would really like to know if the pay apps are truly worth the price. We teachers must be um…budget conscious.

Mymind is worth every cent you spend on it! Very usable, i use Mymind a lot whenever i have to study large unstructered documents (like laws and regulations)

See also Hack #16 in Mind Performance Hacks.

Disclosure: I was the editor for that book, but that doesn’t change the fact that it maps directly onto the content under discussion.

I started doing mindmap with Mindjet about 9 years ago, but it was on a PC so I guess it doesn’t answer your question. These few years I switched to Mac but I still couldn’t find a software that work as well as MindJet. (I guess it’s because I am too poor to try out payware yet)

Anyway, for Mac, I have tried out MyMind last year, but it crashed a lot, so I didn’t have any intention to go on. But I do love it for how you can type as if you are in an Outliner, and then it will generate the minmap on its own as commanded.

I have also tried Freemind for a bit, but I guess it’s because its setting is a bit like MindJet (but a lot flimsy than MindJet’s) so I don’t really have any vivid memories of using it.

So, I too am looking for a perfect mindmapping software to Mac. Any suggestions and reviews?

I don’t do a whole lot with mind mapping, but when I do need it, I reach for NovaMind.

Mind maps can be a pretty useful tool, I use them to quickly flesh out project ideas and requirements. Since I only use them in the initial stages, I haven’t been using specialized Mindmapping software, but the 3 main resources I use are:

1) OmniGraffle (http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnigraffle/) - I discovered that my favorite diagramming tool has a MindMap style that you can apply. I just create all of my items in the Outliner pane, and then the program automatically lays out the objects. After that, a bit of clean up, some color tweaking for my personal preferences and I’m done.

2) Mayomi (http://www.mayomi.com/) - a free online (ajax/flash?) mindmapping tool. Used when I don’t have my laptop but have internet access, to quickly work out a problem or project.

3) Pens(red&blue) and Paper - the good ole fallback, almost always available.

I use mind mapping when I am planning graduate courses that I teach. I use MindManager on the PC and Mac and have been a long time user of Inspiration. Having the freedom to move my ideas around is very helpful and gives me some perspective that a list would not offer. I also use mind maps for my presentations and as handouts for my classes.

Does anyone reading this use OmniGraffle for mind mapping?

NovaMind does an excellent job of pure mindmapping, includes simple project management capabilities, and exports to Merlin, the OS X project management tool - and is far less expensive than MindJet’s MindManager. MSRP; MindManager-$229, NovaMind-$119, Inspiration-$69

The beauty of all these mind mapping tools is the rapid and automatic layout of content - it is so fast to put this together dynamically. OmniGraffle would be painful like using Visio, and doing drawing is not what mind mapping is all about. You could use it - hell, you can do this with post-it notes on the wall, but that misses the point of rapid thought collection and the affinity analysis that goes with.

Other software. For concept or dialogue mapping, Compendium is open source, free, cross-platform and very powerful. For simple mindmapping, Incubator or Pyramid from MindCad are the cleanest and easiest to use that I’ve come across.

Like kirk R says, the gift of the simple mindmap gear is ease of creation. The gift of the concept mapping is the ability to capture the glorously messy complexity of real life.

I just downloaded and had a quick squizz at CMap. I really like the idea of synchronous editing with a group. What experiences have people had using it this way?

I second cmap. Simple to use and it is FREE. I tried the trial versions of other mind map apps (like NovaMind) and found them to not be flexible enough for my purposes (or to have too many unecessary features). With cmap you can “draw” maps with pretty much the ease you would on paper. I use it for dissertation writing and it has all but replaced the messy mind maps that I used to do on scrap paper.

Here is an inexpensive ($78) software that creates great MindMaps. I’ve used it for three years now in a variety of situations and I’ve always been satisfied with the result.

http://www.mapitsoftware.com

Sorry, Windows only. :-)

I started with MindManager back when I had been on a Tablet PC. It’s great in tablet mode and allowed very quick entries (key to mind mapping… it’s got to keep pace with your thinking). When I tired of XP (even on a Tablet) and switched back to OS X (what a relief!), I tried Novamind for a bit, but was so used to the MindManager interface. Luckily, MindJet released the OS X version shortly thereafter.

For education, I can’t say enough about Inspiration. I think it’s a great way to kickstart the process. MindManager is a bit heavy on the features, sort of like using MS Word to type a letter. Novamind and Inspiration are great in that there’s less to distract you and a shorter learning curve. Plus, Novamind maps are downright beautiful. MindManager is pretty corporate.

I’ve used OnmiGraffle extensively for business graphics, but wouldn’t use it for mindmapping. You need something that allows you to create braches with a single keystroke and start typing immediately.

As I said before, the key is to find an app that you can work as fast as your mind. I still revert to paper to begin concepts. Once I’ve gotten a basic form on letter size paper, I’ll switch to the ‘puter to really let the map grow (I’ve been known to transfer those initial forms from a paper napkin). The infinite space on digital paper is great, and I can chunk off a section to make an outline. I don’t add graphics until I hit a lull in my thinking… then I might go back and pretty things up, but I tend to spend the time reading over everything.

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It’s really important to make the distinction between “mind maps” as a personal tool or as a communication tool. They are very different techniques divided by a common diagram. Tools at the more expensive end of the market supports the latter. My blog has a series of essays on this subject at duffill.blogs.com.