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Possible Duplicates:
What is your notes taking tool?
What do I need? a digital pen or a pen tablet or something else?

Hello,

I am studying engineering and would love to create notes while I am studying.

what software do you suggest to use ?

I would love to be able to write math, draw graphics, make mindmaps, schemes, etc...

thank you.

Edit: I am running Windows 7 - 64bit

PLEASE READ: I did not find useful answers in the duplicate threads linked. This discussion is not equal to them. So please unlock my discussion :) thank you mates :)

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I don't think this is a duplicate, since I am not asking for a general note taking tool. I am asking for a program to take notes while studying, write math, create mindmaps, drawings, etc.. thank you – iAsk Nov 14 '10 at 15:26
the questioner does mention specific requirements. – barlop Nov 14 '10 at 15:26
What OS are you using ? – Sathya♦ Nov 14 '10 at 16:27
I am running Windows 7 - 64bit – iAsk Nov 14 '10 at 18:36
@iAsk: Try MS OneNote - it's really good. You can use it like a scrap book, and even take audio notes (your laptop will have a mic). You may have to make mindmaps using something else, but you can paste them in OneNote and annotate them. – paradroid Nov 15 '10 at 10:04
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closed as exact duplicate by Mehper C. Palavuzlar, Diago Nov 15 '10 at 6:50

This question covers exactly the same ground as earlier questions on this topic; its answers may be merged with another identical question. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

3 Answers

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pencil and a notebook.

EDIT: I was a PhD student [*], and I tried using org-mode in emacs. Eventually found out that I was most productive with pencil and paper. The added bonuses were that 1) it was available anywhere (i.e., I didn't need a computer and net connection), so as a consequence, 2) i could think in quiet without all distractions that computer usually makes (internet, music, etc.)

Plus, no software can match the flexibility of paper. The only downside of pencil-and-paper approach is that you can't search easily. I have solved this problem by reserving a margin and writing a topic in it. So when I wanted to review something, I just needed to quickly browse through topics in the margin.

[*] Yes, I did graduate :-)

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Dear zvrba, thank you for your reply. anyway I have got a bad and messy handwriting. moreover you cannot easily edit your notes on paper...and you can't create a structure/mindmap to include all of your notes. – iAsk Nov 14 '10 at 15:43
and paper notes don't last and aren't so editable.. there's no doubt that typing them in is advantageous. – barlop Nov 14 '10 at 15:58
-1, question was tagged software-rec. This would be just fine as a comment, though. Also, reduced ability to search, copy, encrypt. Harder to share, collaborate, etc. – hyperslug Nov 14 '10 at 16:40
@barlop: typing in? scanning! – zvrba Nov 14 '10 at 16:41
@zvrba Text is not searchable if you scan it. And not editable assuming OCR isn't good enough to read handwriting or worse, bad handwriting. – barlop Nov 14 '10 at 17:30
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I've found the best technique for me is my favorite editor, LaTeX code for the text and math, and a pen and paper for the graphics. I add comments in the LaTeX source where the images should be inserted, and then scan* them and add them to the document later.

*By scan, I mean snap a quick photo with my phone, email it to myself, and insert into the document.

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Mind maps you could do on paper and scan in. You don't need such good handwriting for them. But I can see how you may still want software for it.. you may need specialist software for it. I don't know which are good. Google shows that tony buzan has an expensive one. General note taking software may not be as good or good enough if it has such a feature.

For notes I find Ms Word or notepad ok, and make sure you have autosuggest on so you can get around the directory tree better to safe files. You could use pasteitin to paste in some long paths at the touch of a button.

For typing maths in. MS Word has an equation editor.. I used it about 10 years ago. Insert..Object...Microsoft Equation.. It's good for basic graphics too. Not a huge mind map.. Do turn off the annoying drawing canvas thing though tools..options..general..deselect "automatically create drawing canvas when creating autoshapes"

But consider, you may not need more than an A4 page for a mind map 'if you want the thing to fit on the screen so it might go in your memory better.. So, MS Word may be fine for that too. You can draw circles lines and textboxes.

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