Notebooks - All Your Documents, Files and Tasks App Reviews

I’ve had this only an hour or two, and I’m already regretting spending money on it. I actually went to the developer’s website and downloaded a trial to see if I liked it before I bought, but the trial version would not install on my computer at all. I tried several times but it wouldn’t open. Looking back, I should’ve been more leary about making the App Store purchase in good faith when something was obviously wrong with the trial version. But the description sounded like just what I was looking for, the screenshots looked good, and I was lured in by the current sale price. This is a lot less expensive than some other document managers I was considering, so I went ahead and bought it. Wish I hadn’t. Once I got it open, I was surprised and disappointed by the simplicity - I suppose some folks are looking for simplicity, but I expected more menu options, tags, formatting, etc. There’s not really an inspector to speak of; all it has is “document info” where the only thing you can modify is a description. There are no obvious ways to tag anything or save searches (or smart folders). I also couldn’t figure out how to clip or save webpages other than copying and pasting a URL, and even then it doesn’t hyperlink. Additionally, there’s no obvious way to annotate the documents once they’re in there - no way to add a note, sticky, flag, anything. If I can’t tag, flag, or annotate a document, then what’s the point of putting it in a notebook? If all I can do is sort files into folders and subfolders, then I might as well just stick to Finder for doing that. In all fairness, I’m giving it 3 stars because it handled many file formats just like it says - PDFs, photos, text, and MP3s (it was the mention of video and music in the description that really caught my eye). As I mentioned, I couldn’t figure out how to put bookmarks or web clippings in here - maybe I’m missing something. But I have to admit I was delighted when I dropped a few MP3s in this program right alongside PDFs and they played back perfectly from within Notebooks. I also appreciate the clean look and feel. It’s not clunky or cluttered (unfortnately this is in part the lack of options). So I give it 3 stars; it’s okay. However, I wish I’d saved my money to put towards one of the more expensive apps with richer features.

The fact that this is cross platform and makes .txt files that can live on Dropbox so I don’t even have to use *this* application to modify them (for instance, I can edit them using Mac’s textedit), but when I open them again they are magically updated. Not only that, the “books” are folders so I can rearrange things using the Finder or even make new “books.” I feel like we swim in an ocean of insane complexity, especially those of us who are heavy users of technology. On top of that, it seems like almost EVERYONE is trying to lock us in to their system, their way, their proprietary method, that it is so beyond nice to just have text files and file folders that magically become “books” and “notes” and can appear on any platform and can be edited with system software. On top of this, this is a HIGHLY robust system that I have used for over 5 years starting with iPhone, adding iPad, and now Mac OS, and it has not disappointed me. Having all of my files backed up on dropbox, which has file revision and 30-day undelete, is an extra level of security on top of this already robust software. This is the best and it is well worth it and an excellent value.

I use Notebooks daily on the Mac, iphone, and iPad. In general I have been very pleased with the app, especially the way it allows me to keep notes synced across platforms. However, I updated to Version 1.1 and now I cannot enter text into any "plain text notes," nor can I edit any of my existing plain text notes. (The cursor just blinks and doesnt respond at all to keyboard entry.) This is not a minor problem--it essentially makes the app unusable for those of us who use plain text notes. I hope this will be fixed soon.

Having used Notebooks on iPad for years, and this update of Notebooks 1.1.1 for OS X brings in a great addition: local sync capabilities with a built in WebDAV server! Often find myself in places with no WiFi or Cellular coverage, so often want to sync my Mac and iPad Notebooks offline. WebDAV server setup on Mavericks and Yosemite is too complicated, so very much welcome Notebooks one click setup of its built in WebDAV server. Syncs perfectly with both Notebooks and Daedalus Touch on my iPad, using local WiFi or computer-to-computer network, when Internet is not available. Works great with either WiFi or Bluetooth computer-to-computer network. Kudos to the developer for this! Would be careful to use this WebDAV server on a public WiFi though, if you have any sensitive data, since it doesnt seem to support HTTPS. But at home or with computer-to-computer network, should not be any risk or problem.

I just noticed today that the developer has added support for omnigraffle file types into the app, as he had promised! I had e-mailed Alfons in August requesting a method to train notebooks to ignore those files, as it was detecting them as folders. He suggested that "we can quite easily extend NB/Mac and teach it to handle Omnigraffle bundles as files instead of folders. Mac OS should then even be able to display a preview of the OG file. Well see what we can do.” He sure did! I’m extremely happy! It is so important (to me) to give praise to developers that respond to end user requests because it seems there are so few of them. Please keep this in mind if you’re leaving a bad review about a feature you may not like. I’ve been using this software for maybe a year or so, and I’ve seen it improved dramatically in that time. It is so nice to be able to view dropbox items on multiple devices (especially OS X) in a standardized format. Thank you, Alfons!

This notes app stands head and shoiulders above all others. Not only is it the most reliable, but it can be a permanent workaround for your most intractable iCloud troubles. When the document encryption option is added as a new feature, it could be worth 10 stars.

I just bought this app and I want to warn everybody to not waste their money on this alpha version of software. I can’t make a new book nor a new entry and I can’t delete the one enty I managed to make. The develper should be assamed of him or herself. Give me my money back

This app is GREAT and is just what I was looking for. It is the best syncing notes app I have ever seen. I have it on two macs, an iPad, and an iPhone. They work in beautiful concert with DropBox sync. Dev: You are doing great work. This suite of apps is one of the best out there. Please keep these moving forward. I like some of the sync options of the mobile app (such as OmniFocus) that does not appear to be here - but the developer (I hope) may add them later to the Mac version. The dropbox sync is not obvious on the Mac version, but easy to figure out. The mobile app allows your to set it up under preferences, but on this Mac version just point the application to use your Dropbox / Notebooks folder as the default save folder for the application. Nice and simple. I’d love to see iCloud used (my fav) and also OneDrive (my second choice). Overall, I think this is great. If you love great productivity apps in the same class as OmniFocus, the go for this suite of products. Love them!

The latest update for this program continues to be the best notebook program out there. Synching using dropbox is just flawless on several Macs, two iPhones, and my iPad. I love the fact that files are saved in an open format so that you can access them even if this program were not available to you. I use the program to keep both personal and work related notes and to organize items of interest to me. Great productivity tool.

In the IOS/Mac world syncing is mandatory and this app, through DropBox does an excellent job. The syncing are instant, accurate and trouble free. The orgnization is top notice and MarkDown is much appreciated. Continue development eventually adding icloud support and whatever share sheets are allowed on the mac. Thank you. This is good

I cannot believe this app does not have more positive reviews. This is an astoundingly feature-rich notetaking, but downright word processing, app that has so many uses that I find myself reading and studying the detailed instruction document in my own spare time to pick up new tricks that I may not be aware of. I use this app across every one of my platforms and it performs and synchs flawlessly. I use my iPad at work and it is my exclusive note-taking tool with the accompanyment of the Notebooks app. I use the Notebooks app for college study for taking notes as I read along my material. I’ve begun using it as a rendering utility for document types that trip up iOS. Finally, I an going to start using the integrated multi-media functionality such as drawing and voice recording. I just love the fact that I can build a document on my iPad and incorporate charts, graphs, and other additional media just by taking a picture of them and copying to the formatted document, without having to open a laptop. I really can’t say enough about this app. If you are looking for a much, much more robust version of the notes app in iOS but that behaves similarly, look no further. You can even import and convert your older legacy iOS notes into Notebooks so you don’t lose a step and have to start over. The developer is very hands-on as well, I’ve received direct responses from himself answering my questions. I have purchased every version of this app, and if I could, I’d pay more for them.

I’ve been using Notebooks on my devices for a long time, and I’ve seen many great upgrades along the way by Alfons Schmid. Before Notebooks came to the Mac, I would sync my Notebooks files on the devices with another writing app on the Mac. Then, when the Mac version was released, I eagerly installed it. Now I couldn’t be happier. The sync via Dropbox is flawless and I can pick up at my Mac what I’ve begun on my iPad (or even my iPhone). The app is quite versatile, and I find myself using it for all sorts of tasks, from longform writing to simple notes to task lists. Before you wind up purchasing a long list of productivity apps, check out Notebooks; everything you need might just be right here.

The best app in the Universe, and I don’t say that lightly. If you could only have ONE app on your iPad/iPod/iPhone/Mac or PC, this would be it. It does everything, but with a Zen simplicity. I am writer of long complex documents, and I have used all manner of writing tools, from Scrivener to Word to XML editors. This is now my favorite writing tool for its power and simplicity. I can start with plain text, bump it up to markdown, convert it to highly formated, and from there to anything I need. I use this for writing, for organizing thoughts, storing information I need at my fingertips, organizing projects, and it is my main TO DO list, that easily adapts to GTD or other task/project methodologies. All of my files are in open formats and accessible on my dropbox folder as well as in the app, so I feel like doing some editing in Vim or Emacs, (or anything else) I can do it. I can even add CSS to formatted documents. It is as simple or complex as I need. Aside from all of the files that I can create and write, it READS even more files, that I can just drop in my folders of reference. Its like having a complete publishing system, library, database, project team and second brain in my pocket and on my desktop! I tried other note systems like Evernote, Onenote, etc, but this is THE one for me. Alfonso Schmidt and his team have done a truly great job, and the apps are continuously improving. This is one-stop-shopping for almost everything your brain needs to do, and it will thank you if you get it.

Developer is very responsive to feedback - great app overall

I downloaded this hoping for something like Microsoft OneNote, but with local file storage in standard formats. Boy, was I disappointed! Ability to move and resize photos within a note is totally absent - you are stuck with the full-resolution (that is, gigantic) version of every photo. Simple things like changing font and font size also do not work correctly. And this app doesn’t have anything close to OneNote’s flexibility in terms of positioning items on screen. In short, not useful for what I would consider basic note taking.

Had this app in one of its earlier incarnations and didn’t quite get it. Now I do, big time. This is the app that allows me to work, seamlessly, on documents on my iMac, MacBook Pro, iPad, iPad Mini, and iPhone 6+ without worrying about which device I was previously using to work on the document. I’ve got it all synched through Dropbox, and the process has worked perfectly, beautifully, for me. I use Markdown, mostly, and I greatly appreciate the choices the app provides for file formats. I use Day One for my journal, but I keep a “Daybook” in Notebooks with a file per day, and I use it to note everything that goes on. I can dash into my Daybook from any device, make an entry, and have it saved. I’m also using it to rough out posts for a blog I’m working on. I still think Storyist is superior for novel writing, but for most other things, this will do, very nicely!

I recently switched to Mac, and unfortunately Zim desktop wiki, the program I’d been using for writing, didn’t work well on Mac, so I had to start looking for another program. I do a lot of writing, so I tried a lot of apps to see what fit — as a good fit was very important to me. It might sound funny that I tried Scrivener — an app that gets a lot of hype for being a professional writing tool — and actually liked Notebooks better. Maybe I’m just one of those people who prefers simplicity? I do think the biggest strength of Notebooks is that it only shows what’s relevant, at any given time. That makes it low on distractions and big on productivity. Comparing what I’ve written on Notebooks versus what I’ve written on Scrivener (and I purchased them at about the same time), there’s no contest. I’ve written probably 20x the amount with Notebooks. If I had to guess why, I’d say it’s because of how content-focused this app is. There’s no formatting unless you want it. You can create notes that are plain text, but then add markup for bold and italic text later if you want — but either way, no toolbar to take up the screen, just use asterisks or press the shortcut keys. All the features are pretty self-explanatory so it took me maybe a minute or two to get oriented, and then I just got to writing. This is very different from the steep learning curve involved with using Scrivener. I’ve watched video tutorials and there are still features I don’t really understand how to use — and they’re not immediately obvious from looking at them, either. The great thing about Notebooks is that things pretty much do what they look like they’re going to do. There’s really no guesswork, no learning curve, no unnecessary bells and whistles, just writing. — And for me, that’s just perfect! :)

The support for markdown is quite weak. The auto-corrector cannot be turned off. Worst of all, the length of one letter equls to two spaces! Why is that?????