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I tried to use Evernote, many times. I tried hard. But I just can't — there are seemingly minor problems with the Mac app and the iOS app that just make it unpl

by jwr 14y ago

I tried to use Evernote, many times. I tried hard. But I just can't — there are seemingly minor problems with the Mac app and the iOS app that just make it unpleasant and annoying to use it on a daily basis. I now keep my PDFs in Yep, other notes in Yojimbo, and suffer those apps' limitations — I still prefer them over Evernote. Also, my trust in the company did not improve after I saw what they did to Skitch. A great app was basically ruined. So, until they hire a decent usability & UI design expert and start seriously improving the usability of their apps — I'll wait.

veidr 14y ago
I understand. I also prefer the UI of Yep or Yojimbo (or any of a bunch of other programs). However, the cloud-tastic fact that all my notes are available everywhere outweighs the interface problems for me. (Even though I desperately would like a better UI.) The thing about apps with UI problems like this is that users can overlook the flaws at first, if the app is really useful. But with time, if the program is something you use every day, one comes to develop a deep-seated dislike, almost a hatred. Or at least I do. Therefore, I am inclined to try out every single would-be Evernote competitor, where if their software didn't have such sharp, sucky edges, I would not have time to do that. This is why I think making shoddy software can be really harmful to a company in the long term, even if it is presently popular and successful. If something else came along with the key features of Evernote wrapped in a less sucky package, I would jump ship instantly. However, for me those key features are a.) one-step scanning paper to the cloud, b.) one-step print anything as PDF to the cloud, c.) API to get data out so I'm not locked in, d.) reasonably fast and robust search across hundreds of thousands of documents, and e.) Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and web apps to interface. So far at least, there's nothing else.
VLM 14y ago
"there are seemingly minor problems with the Mac app " Depressingly my solution was to uninstall the mac app and use the web interface. As a workflow its very much like my Palm3 from 1997, heavy editing and importing on the desktop and magically all my data is accessible from my little android phone when necessary. Its part of the eternal wheel of IT, there's nothing new under the sun in IT. If you loved your Palm PDA in the late 90s (I did) then Evernote is basically the modernized version.
stcredzero 14y ago
> I tried to use Evernote, many times. I tried hard. But I just can't — there are seemingly minor problems with the Mac app and the iOS app that just make it unpleasant and annoying to use it on a daily basis. Evernote's persistent mediocrity might just be a significant factor in the coming tablet wars. Microsoft has Onenote which is excellent.
danek 14y ago
I have trouble using it for more than a week at a time. Evernote is great for saving full webpages and images and such, but I find the UI is terrible for basic note taking & the editor has so many bugs that plain text composition is a nightmare. I've since switched to dropbox + sublime text solution (mac & pc), and for iPhone, dropbox + PlainText.

by jwr 14y ago

veidr 14y ago

I understand. I also prefer the UI of Yep or Yojimbo (or any of a bunch of other programs). However, the cloud-tastic fact that all my notes are available everywhere outweighs the interface problems for me. (Even though I desperately would like a better UI.) The thing about apps with UI problems like this is that users can overlook the flaws at first, if the app is really useful. But with time, if the program is something you use every day, one comes to develop a deep-seated dislike, almost a hatred. Or at least I do. Therefore, I am inclined to try out every single would-be Evernote competitor, where if their software didn't have such sharp, sucky edges, I would not have time to do that. This is why I think making shoddy software can be really harmful to a company in the long term, even if it is presently popular and successful. If something else came along with the key features of Evernote wrapped in a less sucky package, I would jump ship instantly. However, for me those key features are a.) one-step scanning paper to the cloud, b.) one-step print anything as PDF to the cloud, c.) API to get data out so I'm not locked in, d.) reasonably fast and robust search across hundreds of thousands of documents, and e.) Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and web apps to interface. So far at least, there's nothing else.

VLM 14y ago

"there are seemingly minor problems with the Mac app " Depressingly my solution was to uninstall the mac app and use the web interface. As a workflow its very much like my Palm3 from 1997, heavy editing and importing on the desktop and magically all my data is accessible from my little android phone when necessary. Its part of the eternal wheel of IT, there's nothing new under the sun in IT. If you loved your Palm PDA in the late 90s (I did) then Evernote is basically the modernized version.

stcredzero 14y ago

> I tried to use Evernote, many times. I tried hard. But I just can't — there are seemingly minor problems with the Mac app and the iOS app that just make it unpleasant and annoying to use it on a daily basis. Evernote's persistent mediocrity might just be a significant factor in the coming tablet wars. Microsoft has Onenote which is excellent.

danek 14y ago

I have trouble using it for more than a week at a time. Evernote is great for saving full webpages and images and such, but I find the UI is terrible for basic note taking & the editor has so many bugs that plain text composition is a nightmare. I've since switched to dropbox + sublime text solution (mac & pc), and for iPhone, dropbox + PlainText.