CNET editors' take
- Reviewed on: 03/10/2003
- Updated on:05/10/2003
Enter OneNote, one of the first programs we've seen that lets you write, record, and edit notes in a single interface. Sound like a dream app? If you'd like to find out for yourself, you can. Microsoft just released the second beta of this new, standalone app along with its beta of Microsoft Office 2003. Even if you're not an authorized beta tester, you can pay a few shipping fees to get a beta kit. (Before you do, however, remember that CNET doesn't recommend installing beta software, particularly without backing up your system. Do so at your own risk.) We've taken OneNote out for a test-run already, and based on our limited experience, OneNote gets and A for concept, and a C for execution. Microsoft needs to greatly simplify this app for the final release, so OneNote has a chance to be as indispensable to note-takers as Microsoft Word is to just about everyone.
A cool concept
The main screen has a familiar look; it sports many of the same menus and keyboard shortcuts as Microsoft Office apps. Unlike any of Microsoft's other apps, however, OneNote feels more like a word processor mixed with a design program--imagine an older version of Photoshop mated with Microsoft Word. Clicking anywhere on the screen, for instance, creates a blue box (similar to a text or picture box in a design program) wherein you can type, draw a chart, or scrawl a note. As you write, and afterwards, you can edit and format your work to your heart's content. To take handwritten notes, just use a pen or a mouse or a Wacom tablet and stylus. Tablet PC users don't need any extra equipment; OneNote is optimized for that platform.
OneNote gives tablet PC users the ability to convert handwriting to text. In our casual beta trial tests, this neat little feature translated bad handwriting pretty well. But since many people now type faster than they write, desktop and notebook users probably won't miss this option. We do wonder, however, why Microsoft would tailor this application primarily for tablet PCs. Until tablets get cheap and are graceful enough to build a dedicated consumer audience, why not optimize OneNote for the larger, more solid notebook market?
Keep it simple
We had high hopes for OneNote--still do. After all, this is merely a beta, and the final release is months away. That's why we're putting OneNote through the wringer, no-holds-barred, on the chance that some of our suggestions find their way into the gold code.
For the most part, OneNote's navigation and implementation are so awkward, even tablet PC users may steer clear. For instance, unless you've seen lots of OneNote demonstrations, we doubt that even the most accomplished software user could head into a lecture and use OneNote with skill and speed. Even after one or two tries, taking notes with OneNote felt counterintuitive. Typing came naturally, of course, but some of OneNote's clumsy extras broke our typing flow and concentration. For example, those blue boxes are often hard to select, either with mouse or pen. (This may be an issue with the calibration of our test tablet PC, but we had the same problem with a touchpad.) We consider this a mild inconvenience. Continue reading
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