Google Notebook Replacement Update
Earlier this week, I posted on my search for an alternative to Google Notebook. I spent a lot of time exploring options over the past few days, and I'm still looking for the perfect solution. Below I've included the tools I've tested, what I like and what I don't like. I should preface this by saying that Google Notebook wasn't a perfect option for me either, so I'm no longer trying to match up to that functionality; I need just a little bit more.
Evernote
Evernote would be the perfect option, IF they provided sharing and collaborating capability. I love the online/offline access with auto-syncing, love the easy-to-organize notebooks and pages, love the tagging feature. In fact, I love all those things so much, I'm using Evernote now. But I won't be for long because the inability to share and have others edit my notebooks/pages is a deal-breaker.
Springnote
Springnote is a wiki-based notebook that is also a strong contender for me. I'm currently using Springnote with a client so we can collaborate on task documents. I like it, but I've already gotten used to the desktop client that Evernote provides, which allows me to work on my notebooks offline without going through a browser — Springnote feels really cumbersome and slow in comparison. I'm still considering making the switch because it does offer the sharing features I need, but not sold yet.
Zoho
The third top competitor is Zoho. Zoho has a very extensive suite of tools, much like Google/Google labs. Their Notebook application is feature-rich and the page/workspace feels like Microsoft OneNote, allowing you to click and type anywhere on the page. It has the much-needed collaboration capability, and has a really cool ability to preview websites when you enter in the URL (can also import images, audio and video). You can also import directly from Google Notebook, which can be a huge plus for anyone migrating over. I think I've only scratched the surface with Zoho and plan to test it out more thoroughly over the coming week (once I get past not having a desktop client for offline access, like Evernote).
Other notebook/workspace tools on my list to try out include:
- Microsoft Office Live Workspace
- Ubernote
- Google Sites and Docs (used concurrently)
Note: Be sure to read 12 Tools to Replace Google Notebook and Make You More Productive for more possible replacements.
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