(Archived) PC World: Evernote Beats Out OneNote and Keep

[Analyst444 182]

Click on the link below (or paste it into your browser) to see PC World's article.

 

 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2031818/google-keep-vs-onenote-vs-evernote-we-name-the-note-app-winner.html

[GrumpyMonkey 4,320]

A sadly under-researched article, though. Want to get your stuff in/out of Evernote? No problem. Export as HTML. I agree with the conclusion that Evernote is the best of the bunch, but I don't agree with how he got there. Another source of misinformation

All three services clearly state that you own your data. This offers little consolation, though, if the company goes out of business or shuts the service down.

Winner: A tie. All three services provide roughly the same assurances of data ownership, but no means of exporting or archiving your data outside of proprietary formats.

[nine11c2 0]

I use OneNote.  The Android client is missing search, so I looked at Evernote last week.

 

You need to actually use the system to get a level deeper. OneNote is MUCH better for industrial sized needs.  First, it doesnt limit notebooks. Evernote limits you to 250.  So you cant ahve a 2011 Notebook with a Client 1 Notebook under it, with 10 projects under that.  You will run out of space.  That also speaks to the notebook format - OneNote lest you easily have your 2011 Notebook, Clients under that, and then Project notebooks under that.  The Evernote natural interface is flatter, not handling these levels as well.

 

In the real world, there are also needs to separate these Notebooks.  OneNote lets my STEVE notebook and my 2011 and my 2012 notebook be on my work computer, but I have a 4th Notebook that is private - it contains things that should be on my personal notebook only.  By having separate notebook files you can do this - in fact, it supports it you only open the notebooks you want on each computer.

 

What you didnt point out about Evernote, which is a HUGE issue to me, is that if you dont pay for Pro version, at $45 a year, notes created on otheer devices are not synced to your local handheld.  I DO NOT want to pay $45 a year for life to have access to my personal notes.

 

With OneNote, the app is completely functional using the Web version and the iPad and IPhone or Android versions.  iPad is a one time charge of $15, the phones a one time charge of $5 (both only if you go over 500 notes).  You can buy OneNote for $70 and it should be good for years - but the web version is always free and virtually fully functional.

 

My notes app is about function not fancy features like pictures of voice.  I want links or embedded files.  I want multiple pages of notes on a note.  OneNote is the best interface, creates local on your hard drive backups automatically,splits data into logical notebook files (which CAN be converted in Evernote - your story said the note files were stuck in their format - not correct).  Many professionals and authors, who need industrial strength notes, use OneNote.

[GrumpyMonkey 4,320]

First, it doesnt limit notebooks. Evernote limits you to 250.

Yep. If you are going to need a lot of notebooks, then Evernote is not for you. Evernote is organized better around tags. You can have 10,000 of those.

http://www.princeton.edu/~cmayo/evernote-tag.html

 

What you didnt point out about Evernote, which is a HUGE issue to me, is that if you dont pay for Pro version, at $45 a year, notes created on otheer devices are not synced to your local handheld.

This is incorrect. They do sync for Free and Premium users. If you want them available offline, then you have to pay for Premium.

 

With OneNote, the app is completely functional using the Web version and the iPad and IPhone or Android versions.  iPad is a one time charge of $15, the phones a one time charge of $5 (both only if you go over 500 notes).  You can buy OneNote for $70 and it should be good for years - but the web version is always free and virtually fully functional.

Evernote is free on every platform.

[nine11c2 0]

[GrumpyMonkey 4,320]

It may be free on every platform, but it is not fully functional free...

I disagree. All of the core features are available. You can make just as many notebooks, have just as many tags, make just as many notes, etc. as a Premium user. The Premium features with Evernote mainly increase the limits of what is already there, and (importantly) enable you to download and have your notes available on mobile devices when you are offline. After two years of using Premium Evernote ($90) you might spend as much as you will have to spend just to get started with OneNote. I think it is a fair and reasonable price. And, if you purchase Moleskine notebooks or take advantage of online offers, it won't even cost that much.

There really are some great things about OneNote, and it probably will suit the needs of some people more than others. I used it a lot when my main computer was a Windows PC (OneNote is unavailable on Mac -- Evernote is available on every major platform). I am merely adding some context and explanation to the distinctions you are drawing between the two products, and offering an alternative perspective on your criticisms of Evernote.

[C6REW 416]

I used OneNote for about 5 years and only started to seek out an alternative when I bought the iPad version which was, in my opinion totally pointless and just did not work properly. As I recall it cost about £20 at the time.

 

If you try to move from OneNote and want Evernote to work the same you may as well give up. The point of moving to a different software is you are accepting that it has features that you need. Based on this you need to adapt the way you work to the new software. I understand people not wanting to do this and in which case they shouldn't try as they will always be disappointed.

 

Oh and one of the key features for me with Evernote is you can get support simple and easy. You can get help on this forum as well. When I used OneNote, I felt I was totally on my own and had to keep researching places like YouTube for solutions to my queries and problems.

 

Best regards

 

 

Chris