I was curious what everyone uses for the taking of notes.

I am looking for a better solution. I use Outlook on my laptop for Email, scheduling, etc. (I know that it has a notetaking function.) I have a pocket PC that can also be used for handwriting notes. I have also kept logs in Word or Excel.

The problem ends up being, having all of your notes in one place where they can be easilly accessed and searched! With the Pocket PC, you end up with many different notes, similar to having a bunch of sticky notes everywhere.

Outlook can be equally as un-organized.

I even have a Tablet PC that has the handwriting journal application. This was promised to be the next best thing, but hasn't really panned out that way!

What I need, is an easy software way to keep notes for customers organized in one location, that can be easilly searched if need be.

So, what do you all do for notes?

It depends on what I am actually taking the notes for. I use the notes on MS Outlook some. I use Excel when the notes can be in that format or sometimes use MS Word. I also use just the notepad and save that information in a particular folder on my computer

what are the important things that you are trying to capture?

I was going to suggest that I could create something for you then I remembered this.

http://www.thebrain.com/

try it for 30 days and see if it's worth it.

If you like the interface and concept it can be pretty cool.

Personally, I'm no where near this organized ;>)

Let me know what you think if you would.

I'm actually kind of haphazard in my note taking. I use several progams depending on what makes the most sense for the information and the try to store them all in the same place.

However I did come across a program that has gotten a lot of praise you might want to take a look at. It's called EverNote. There's a free and a professional version. I've never used it myself, but I came across it in an issue of PC World awhile back and they gave it a very good recommendation.

I'm actually glad you started this thread since it reminded me about the program.

Sounds pretty familiar - one thing I don't ever use - pen and paper! I learned a long time ago that I could not read my handwriting.

That program does look a bit interesting, that's for sure. I downloaded it & I will try it. I saw the export feature. Hopefully something is in there to export it in a TXT format or something. I usually type things in on a notepad and save in the correct folder on my computer.

Having two copies of everything could not be bad

I think my handwriting is about the same as yours. I do sometimes use pen and paper though. I'm not sure why, but for me the act of writing seems to get some of my thoughts out in ways that typing doesn't. I generally don't go back to look at my handwritten notes though.

I thought EverNote looked pretty good to. I had downloaded it awhile back when I was looking for something else and really haven't used it, mostly because I had just forgotten I had installed it. I think this thread though will serve as a reminder to give it another look.

I'm with you though about using Notepad. I actually use something called Notepad 2 which I like a little better. I also have Notepad++ installed which adds a few more useful features, but I generally don't need them for simple text files.

I am playing the the EverNote actually. Quite interesting. But I have not figured out yet about display of the notes. The categories are something that is pretty cool, but it just does not work right - or the way it is shown on their example (or maybe I just have not figured that part out yet). Worse comes to worse, I can always just tell the programmers to build me something & then it would be on my site

I'm not sure if you're using this program already, Toolman--but try Microsoft OneNote. You probably already have it installed on your Tablet and is used almost exclusively by all the people I know with Tablets for notetaking.

Notes for customers, or notes about customers? If the latter, have you checked into any CRM software?

I'm old fashioned, pad & paper work fine for me, for making notes to myself. Notes about customers is done on notepad.

OneNote. I have that software but never even opened it up until now LOL. It looks like exactly what I was searching for. I guess being accustomed to MS software for so long, it is easier to use something else made by them