Like many of you, I have often strayed to search out other solutions that could compare to EN. I have never found anything that comes close. Only lesser, more buggy solutions, or overly-complicated web apps that claim to be simple but baffle expert users--like me.
I switched to a Mac back in 2013 and never looked back. What I realized immediately is that the Evernote team at that time must definitely all work on Macs. The interface was much slicker (although less customizable), and the cursor and lag bugs of Windows were gone. In fact, just this past year, when I booted up my old PC with Windows 10, my Evernote experience was so bad that I literally had to delete the program to prevent that instance from ***** up my data. First off, the interface still looked clunky and out of date. The lag--oh the lag--was still there (which their tech people claimed is a problem with the Windows file system on a spinning drive, which I partially agree with). The jumping cursor was still there. But the thing that sent me running for Uninstall Programs is the fact that the program just couldn't sync correctly with the mothership and was creating duplicate notes and "note conflicts" which I didn't even spend time trying to resolve. The solutions on the net were laughable. Who wants to think about correcting all of that when my Mac version--and all its mobile apps--works seemlessly? So, I feel for those on PC's. Evernote has definitely dropped the ball on that platform and the program needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.
People keep talking up Notion. The problem with Notion is that in their effort to make the app completely simple yet completely powerful, they made it ridiculously complicated. I could eventually 'get it.' But to try to get one of my clients on it so their team could share resources and centrally manage projects was like trying to explain how to build a rocket. Give people too much freedom and some just won't be able to see the vision and build something. They'll be lost with a blank slate. That's why programs like Evernote work, because they provide a basic structure that allows organization. Capture, organize (if you want), recall. That's where Evernote shines.
To me, OneNote is like putting your info into a Playschool Speak n Spell. The interface is cartoonish and overbearing. The notebook motif is cumbersome and just not clean to me. Search is OK. My main problem: I don't need a full page of space when I'm typing in a client's birthday I want to remember and instantly recall later with a couple shortcut keys while I'm on the phone.
I left the corporate world and started my own business in 2001. People always ask me how I do it. Aside from just "doing it," which is the most important reason, one of my secrets has been Evernote. The ability to store and recall information at any time has acted like an endless memory for me and has given me an "always-on" advantage that keeps me on top of my game. Whether it be passwords for websites--or even client email accounts when they forget them, or information about how and where I met a lead that decided to call me after 2 years, that instant information make me better. Not compared to anyone else--but a better me. That's the true gold of Evernote. Being able to scan and store other documents and data is just a bonus.
I believe we're seeing the rebirth of Evernote and nobody should go anywhere. Definitely continue to ***** about the Windows client until they do something, but in the meantime, use the web interface if you can. They just made it similar to the Mac's, and I felt right at home with it. The new Templates feature instantly changed the game for me. I have already started using the meeting notes feature and have been able to have a great looking recap of the meetings I have to share with the clients. I know I could have built them on my own, but having that button and the ability to save my own really makes it convenient.
I think there's more to come. Spaces for the people would be great. Like many of you, as a team of one, I'll welcome anything in addition to notebooks that can make organizing these random bits of information more visual...and enjoyable.