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I’m intrigued by Roam, but I can’t see myself using it as long as it’s browser & cloud only. Also, good typography and visual design is critical in any kind of

by tobr 7y ago

I’m intrigued by Roam, but I can’t see myself using it as long as it’s browser & cloud only. Also, good typography and visual design is critical in any kind of note taking app, but in Roam that barely feels like an afterthought. Something like this but as a plain text based, native Mac/iOS app with stellar typography... that would be a dream.

comex 7y ago
Ditto. I was actually thinking of trying Roam until I read there was no mobile app. I like the idea of a “second brain”, but for me that has to be something that never gets detached from my first brain. It has to be accessible at all times, for both reading and writing. I currently make do with Apple Notes, but I’m interested in finding something more organized… A second brain should also be as private as my first brain – ideally end-to-end encrypted, which I guess Roam is not if it’s a webapp. Too bad. (Apple Notes isn’t end-to-end encrypted either, but that’s another reason I’m looking for an upgrade.)
- bradam 7y ago
  Even though it's a webapp it can be end-to-end encrypted. Fortunately, they are planning to do it, but I am not 100% convinced that all the function will work on e2e notes.
  - RhodesianHunter 7y ago
    Just in case the NSA is keeping special tabs on your favorite recipes and approaches to meditation.
    - somebodythere 7y ago
      The NSA, or, y'know, the app's creators.
- iamben 7y ago
  I've been using Inkdrop, mostly because I like my notes E2EE. It's worth a look: https://docs.inkdrop.app/security https://docs.inkdrop.app/security
swah 7y ago
The product is improving quickly - I'm happy it doesn't have the weight of two native mobile apps to drag.
kalleboo 7y ago
> Also, good typography and visual design is critical in any kind of note taking app The org-mode fanatics may disagree with this
- tobr 7y ago
  Good typography comes in many shapes. If you use org-mode you can tweak it to your heart’s content.
  - pps 7y ago
    Same with web app. I'm using Stylus for my own tweaks + Dark Reader.
- selfishgene 7y ago
  Spacemacs org layer is a good place to start.
nateliason 7y ago
Yeah those are definitely the big limitations right now. From talking to the founder the desktop app is on its way, mobile will probably come later. I've been using Drafts as a temporary holding spot for things to add to Roam when I'm on the go.
- pps 7y ago
  Dynalist offers free account and works offline on all platforms, and was the inspiration for Roam, one can also try that for that temporary holding spot.
siegecraft 7y ago
Seconded and I'm glad I saw this before I got too deep into it. I'm wary to try even something totally open source because of course their is the adoption cost (do you move all of your old notes over? do you have a split brain? Too much waste time in tiddlywiki for me is a harsh lesson). That said, I still appreciate the effort people spend in thinking about these things, but a cloud-only offering (cloud-only and 3rd-party hosted, I should emphasize) is sadly not for me.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]

by tobr 7y ago

comex 7y ago

Ditto. I was actually thinking of trying Roam until I read there was no mobile app. I like the idea of a “second brain”, but for me that has to be something that never gets detached from my first brain. It has to be accessible at all times, for both reading and writing. I currently make do with Apple Notes, but I’m interested in finding something more organized… A second brain should also be as private as my first brain – ideally end-to-end encrypted, which I guess Roam is not if it’s a webapp. Too bad. (Apple Notes isn’t end-to-end encrypted either, but that’s another reason I’m looking for an upgrade.)

bradam 7y ago
Even though it's a webapp it can be end-to-end encrypted. Fortunately, they are planning to do it, but I am not 100% convinced that all the function will work on e2e notes.
- RhodesianHunter 7y ago
  Just in case the NSA is keeping special tabs on your favorite recipes and approaches to meditation.
  - somebodythere 7y ago
    The NSA, or, y'know, the app's creators.
iamben 7y ago
I've been using Inkdrop, mostly because I like my notes E2EE. It's worth a look: https://docs.inkdrop.app/security https://docs.inkdrop.app/security

swah 7y ago

The product is improving quickly - I'm happy it doesn't have the weight of two native mobile apps to drag.

kalleboo 7y ago

> Also, good typography and visual design is critical in any kind of note taking app The org-mode fanatics may disagree with this

tobr 7y ago
Good typography comes in many shapes. If you use org-mode you can tweak it to your heart’s content.
- pps 7y ago
  Same with web app. I'm using Stylus for my own tweaks + Dark Reader.
selfishgene 7y ago
Spacemacs org layer is a good place to start.

nateliason 7y ago

Yeah those are definitely the big limitations right now. From talking to the founder the desktop app is on its way, mobile will probably come later. I've been using Drafts as a temporary holding spot for things to add to Roam when I'm on the go.

pps 7y ago
Dynalist offers free account and works offline on all platforms, and was the inspiration for Roam, one can also try that for that temporary holding spot.

siegecraft 7y ago

Seconded and I'm glad I saw this before I got too deep into it. I'm wary to try even something totally open source because of course their is the adoption cost (do you move all of your old notes over? do you have a split brain? Too much waste time in tiddlywiki for me is a harsh lesson). That said, I still appreciate the effort people spend in thinking about these things, but a cloud-only offering (cloud-only and 3rd-party hosted, I should emphasize) is sadly not for me.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]