A few weeks back, someone on the MILO list-serve was asking for opinions on Notebook v. Notetaker. I chimed in that I really enjoyed using Circus Ponies Notebook. What I failed to mention was that I had not tried or used Notetaker. Since I have made it my sole duty to at least try every possible case management option, I downloaded the trial for Notetaker.
Bottom line: This is a rock solid program. If what you seek to do is recreate the 3-ring binder system that so many criminal defense attorneys use, then Notetaker will likely work for you.

From the background research I have done, there was quite a bit that made these product different (especially between 2003-2004). There was also a seemingly strong and unexplained animosity from the two camps of users. It is worth noting that both these programs belong to two former partners.

…a much admired NeXT Notebook outliner called “NoteBook,” from Millennium Software. At some point, the two principals left and started their own companies, those we see here. Jayson Adams is the man behind Circus Ponies NoteBook; Scott Love heads AquaMinds and NoteTaker.

However, at this point. I don’t see a big difference. I also don’t see any recent mudslinging. Many of the things that made the two products distinct, seem to be shored up. That isn’t to say they are not different. They are. However, I think that it will come down to where you start. I started with Circus Ponies. So I will stay with them. I like the way certain features work, such as the style of to-do list and the ability to manipulate docs to a default size.

What can I tell you about my week with Notetaker? The customer service with Notetaker was stunningly fast (often answering my questions the same day), intelligent and polite. Also Notetaker has networking (the important reason I downloaded it) that could be a selling point for many. Notetaker has plenty of likable aesthetic qualities. Finally, I will add that I didn’t use many of the power-user features that might make Notetaker a more stand-out product. Although my loyalties lie with Notebook, I think Notetaker is a top-quality program.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 25th, 2008 at 12:32 am and is filed under Software for the Law Office. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.