bit-tech Shopping: Microsoft OneNote Home and Student 2007

• Microsoft Windows XP
• Windows 2003 Server

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: Multiple notebooks, outlook integration, highly customizable categories and tagging, highly customizable interface and hotkeys

Weaknesses: Would like to see structured note taking and brainstorming tools like mind mapping.

Summary: OneNote 2007 is definitely an improvement on OneNote 2003. I think the most powerful features resolve around tagging and categorization, allowing you to take notes and when associate tags, which you can use later to reach across disparate notebooks to create consolidated views of related data. I also like the ability to capture web content, video and audio directly into notes. I don't have a tablet PC, so I don't know firsthand if the ink support has improved dramatically.All in all, OneNote 2007 is a worthy upgrade if you are looking to virtualize your notetaking life.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 60 Days

Strengths: Record video and audio that sync with your notesFreeform notetakingPrint anything into OneNoteDrop complete files into OneNoteAutomatically savesShare notebooks

Weaknesses: Non-standard 2007 office interfaceAdvanced drawing palette still has major limitationsWeak help files

Summary: OneNote 2007 is amazing note taking software that allows you to really compile all your information into one place. As a medical student I have a ton of notes, lectures, slides, and materials that has me scrambling for a way to organize and keep track of everything. OneNote allows you to take your notes freeform and integrate everything - be it websites, articles, photos, even files, directly into your work space. No tablet PC required, OneNote is versatile as a stand alone product on its own!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2

Strengths: - all the same formatting as Word allows- can open multiple notebooks/sections at once

Weaknesses: - if you select to save a notebook where other computers can access it, it can be difficult to undo it- notebooks are not one file, but each section is a different file

Summary: Overall, I would say this is software is a must for any student who take a lot of notes (which they should be doing if they are students :-). It is easy to use, but offers advanced stuff for those who want to learn.