MindManager was inspired by Mind
Mapping. Mike Jetter wrote the first code in his
oxygen tent recovering from cancer in 1989. See the
Cancer
Code a book he wrote about this period in his
life.
Now we are on MindManager 2012. I
first used MindManager 3.0 when it had a dolphin for the logo - my
favourite animal! I think I found it on a PC
magazine or a very early download from the Internet in 1996.
I have used it almost every day since then.
What does it do? There is some distance now
between mind mapping and MindManager. It is a business
mapping tool. Sure you can brainstorm with it but this
is probably only the beginning of a journey to some form of
publication.
MindManager allows you enter ideas rapidly on the
map at the keyboard or using a Tablet PC in ink.
Then you start the process of styling, organising, linking
(files, web pages, Outlook items, Excel ranges) and perhaps
transforming it in to a Word document, a PowerPoint
Presentation, a MS Project Plan or a web site (that is how this web
site is created). Maybe you will print it out and stick
it on the wall for everyone to see.
MindManager has one huge difference to all the
other applications: an API which allows an Add In Developers
market. MindManager
Developers Exchange gives you a complete
overview of what is a available. Some of the topics covered
include: projects, processes, utilities, task and media
management. In MindManager 2012 three important add ins were
incorporated in the core product: Power Markers, SharePoint and
Guided Brainstorming.
MindManager is not just about thinking, it is about
doing. |
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iMindMap enjoys the privileged position of
being backed and supported in its development by Tony Buzan.
The man behind this comparatively recent application is Chris
Griffiths. They have done a wonderful job of closely
replicating the mind mapping process. This is one of the few
applications that has the organic feel of a hand drawn map.
They have a rapid development programme and users
will notice that bugs and enhancements are being downloaded by
their software every month if not every week!
Another strength of iMindMap is it works
identically across all three desktop platforms PC, Mac and Linux
because it operates on a Java platform. The weakness is that
this can deviate from the norm for the operating system of the
platform e.g. how the file explorer works.
It integration capability with other software
principally MS Office and Mac apps is growing. There are a
wide variety of import and export options.
If you want to create colourful, organic and memorable maps which
will catch the creative types eye. This is the application
for you.
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