Mind Mapping Software: More Powerful Than You May Realize

[vimeo 23799202 nolink]

Most people have SEEN mind maps – but static maps on a web page, in a PDF file or even in an online gallery don’t begin to hint at their awesome business potential. You see, the typical mind map displayed online usually only shows a hierarchy of topics and subtopics, and perhaps a few images. But a big part of the business value of mind mapping software is missing from the maps you’ve seen online.

If you’re thinking about investing in mind mapping software, but all you’ve seen are relatively plain looking visual maps that only contain words and pictures, you’re NOT getting the full story. In this video, I show you what you’ve been missing!

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Howard Veit · 722 weeks ago

Chuck, thanks for a very informative video. Unfortunately, for us Mac users many of the features you mentioned do not exist. In Mindmanager for Mac 9, which is now in Preview, RSS feeds, spreadsheet integration, databases, and email integration are not present. Also, Mindmanager for Mac doesn't have a way to convert a branch to a separate map with a link. This can be done manually, but not quickly. I know of no Mac mindmapping programs with these features. Maybe Mindjet will someday create a Mac program for business people that is as robust as their Windows version.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Andreas Lercher · 722 weeks ago

Hi Howard,
this will change till the end of the year ;)

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Javier · 722 weeks ago

thank you very much Chuck! Ive just met this blog and will add it to my google reader list to follow you. got any useful link or post from yourself in combining RSS feeds and mindmaps? you mention it in this vid and it would be VERY useful for me, or any other feed reading addict :P

Saludos from Argentina

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Jessica Jones · 722 weeks ago

Hi Chuck, I'm seconding Howard Veit's comment above, about the reduced functionality in MindManager's Mac version, including the latest beta, v 9, which STILL doesn't have that essential feature "create new linked map from branch." During the v8 beta, I'm sure I wrote weekly to MindJet about the need for that feature. It is bewildering to me that key routine features in Windows MindManager are just omitted from the specification for the Mac version. Are they deliberately omitting "create new linked map from branch"? Too hard to do? Too time-consuming? (Can you find out? Nobody at MindJet has been forthcoming on this. It's a feature I need to use multiple times a day. So frustrating to have to resort, in a group brainstorming, to the clumsy manual work-around, when in Windows, it's just right-click, create new map from branch!)

Can you do a similar video using the Mac version? (My office is all on Macs. No point in showing them a video where a chunk of the features are not available!)

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Andreas Lercher · 722 weeks ago

keep posting your wishes on Mindjet's facebook board. Mails to the developer team are useless.

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Doug Parke · 717 weeks ago

Hi Jessica, I could not agree more. I used the Windows product and this feature alone made it SO productive. Once I switched to Mac, this single feature not being available led to my abandonment of the tool - I think it is is actually becoming laughable that Mac Version 9 is now out with all sorts of features yet the basics of making maps linked is literally being ignored. I have to assume there is some kind of massive architectural problem lurking here as anyone using this tool seriously will put creating linked maps WAY ahead of glitzy slide generation. It's a real shame as the Windows version is an excellent tool but I refuse to compromise and run it under VMWare..

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Blaine Mathieu · 722 weeks ago

Hi Chuck, and the others who posted comments. Great video Chuck, definitely a good review of what is possible with mindmapping software. Regarding the Mac feature questions: I do pay attention to and take the input of users very seriously and I thank the folks that posted here very much. Of course, no software company can include every single feature that is asked for or new versions would never be complete and released. To figure out which were the highest priority features for the upcoming Mac release, we surveyed over 1500 MindManager Mac users worldwide. The features we included are based on what they told us. It is our intention to continue to develop and improve the Mac product and we do believe many Mac users will be very happy with the upcoming update.

Blaine Mathieu
Chief Products Officer
Mindjet LLC

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Howard Veit · 722 weeks ago

Blaine,

Thanks for you response. I love mindmapping and have been a MindManager user almost since its inception. I use it for personal and work projects. Last year I switched to Mac and was surprised that so many features found in Windows was missing in Mac version. I second Jessica's comments, especially about the "new map from branch' feature. In addition, most of the left hand side of Chuck's 'feature' map above is missing from the Mac version. It is very frustrating not to have these features, especially since they used to be available when I used the Windows version. If these features have been in the Windows version, why is it so arduous to get them in the Mac version. Does the smalled size the the Mac market not justify the investment? Is the Mac code more difficult and expensive to work with? The new version of MM for Mac is very nice, but still doesn't approach the functionality of the Windows version.

I have even looked into programs that would allow me to use Windows programs on my Mac, but thus far have not taken that plunge for fear I will mess up my Mac. Help! Us MindManger lovers who are on Mac need some relief.

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Stephanie J. Neill · 721 weeks ago

Hi Chuck & Fellow Posters,

I'd like to invite you all to continue this conversation directly with me at mac@mindjet.com. In fact, all MindManager Mac users should feel free to email feedback to us at that account. While I can't guarantee a response to every single email, I do guarantee that each and every message will be read and taken into account for future Mac planning.

Thanks in advance for all your feedback!

Cheers,
Stephanie J. Neill
Product Manager
MindManager Mac

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