I’m getting lots of e-mail questioning the necessity of Notational Velocity and Simplenote. I still have a big place in my heart for both apps. Here’s why.
The Case for Notational Velocity and Simplenote
Notational Velocity started out as the best way to sync text to iOS. That was the big selling point and the reason a lot of us jumped on it a year or two ago when they hooked up with Simplenote. It was truly one of those “your chocolate in my peanut butter” moments for mobile writers. However, that reason is not as important now as it was. Back then, the Notational Velocity / SimpleNote Tango was the only game in town for syncing text to iOS devices. Not anymore. Now that Dropbox has become the ubiquitous language of syncing to iOS, many text editors sport the ability to easily sync text to Dropbox making it available anywhere from any platform. I get e-mails from readers all the time explaining how they get by just fine without Simplenote. On some levels, this makes sense. While Simplenote is pretty awesome, it doesn’t have the feature list of other iOS based text editors like PlainText, with its gorgeous layout, or Nebulous Notes, nerdgasm inducing macros.
So syncing got easier and Simplenote a bit less essential. For me, however, what continues to make Notational Velocity and Simplenote awesome is the search. All of these text snippets are in one place, easily searchable, and always available.
How I use Notational Velocity
So I use Notational Velocity in three contexts:
- my go-anywhere text bank;
- my ghetto database, and;
- as my hopper of working text.
The Text Bank
I’ve got lots of bits of re-usable text. Maybe it’s the html code for the Mac Power Users logo or maybe it is the perfect jury instruction for fraud. Either way, it is stuff I will use again and want to access from anywhere. Notational Velocity is perfect for this with its quick search.
Ghetto Database
Whether it is a work project or vacation plans, I love having a note dedicated to it with key information like contacts, reservation numbers, communication logs, and essential details. It is always in sync, available on all my devices, and oh-so-malleable with text. Also, when talking to someone and you can immediately get access to these details, it scares the hell out of them.
Working Text
Finally, I use it for bits of text that need love and attention. This includes pieces out of Scrivener projects, half-baked posts, pieces of legal briefs, and just about any other text I’m working on.
So I see a lot of relevance to using Simplenote and Notational Velocity, giving me access to 700 snippets of pure gold and several more full of amusing drivel, like my favorite latin sayings. Later this week I’ll post on how I name these notes to bring order from chaos but for now I’ll leave you with this thought: Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est. (The designated hitter rule has got to go.)
NV had existed before Simplenote came into the scene, so its relevance was never defined by Simplenote. And you seem to be making the same mistake as your email interlocutors (unless I'm misunderstanding this post) in that you don't consider syncing it to Dropbox.
The thing that keeps me with Simplenote is the web app. There are times when I have to be on a PC. Being able to sign into Simplenote via the web interface is huge. I'm not aware of any other text apps that have this feature.
The thing that keeps me with Simplenote is the web app. There are times when I have to be on a PC. Being able to sign into Simplenote via the web interface is huge. I'm not aware of any other text apps that have this feature.
The thing that keeps me with Simplenote is the web app. There are times when I have to be on a PC. Being able to sign into Simplenote via the web interface is huge. I'm not aware of any other text apps that have this feature.
The thing that keeps me with Simplenote is the web app. There are times when I have to be on a PC. Being able to sign into Simplenote via the web interface is huge. I'm not aware of any other text apps that have this feature.
The thing that keeps me with Simplenote is the web app. There are times when I have to be on a PC. Being able to sign into Simplenote via the web interface is huge. I'm not aware of any other text apps that have this feature.
I think Simplenote price is to high for the amount of data we are using. I don't remember exactly but at first was $7 then $11 and now $20, just to compare I pay $25 for Flickr and the amount of data doesn't even compare. I'm willing to pay $12 per year, no more.
P.S. sorry for the grammar English is my second language.
I think Simplenote price is to high for the amount of data we are using. I don't remember exactly but at first was $7 then $11 and now $20, just to compare I pay $25 for Flickr and the amount of data doesn't even compare. I'm willing to pay $12 per year, no more.
P.S. sorry for the grammar English is my second language.
I think Simplenote price is to high for the amount of data we are using. I don't remember exactly but at first was $7 then $11 and now $20, just to compare I pay $25 for Flickr and the amount of data doesn't even compare. I'm willing to pay $12 per year, no more.
P.S. sorry for the grammar English is my second language.
I think Simplenote price is to high for the amount of data we are using. I don't remember exactly but at first was $7 then $11 and now $20, just to compare I pay $25 for Flickr and the amount of data doesn't even compare. I'm willing to pay $12 per year, no more.
P.S. sorry for the grammar English is my second language.
I think Simplenote price is to high for the amount of data we are using. I don't remember exactly but at first was $7 then $11 and now $20, just to compare I pay $25 for Flickr and the amount of data doesn't even compare. I'm willing to pay $12 per year, no more.
P.S. sorry for the grammar English is my second language.
@Eddie,
If it is a PC you use often, try ResophNotes for PC-Simplenote love.
@Trock4u
Good point. It is getting pricey.
@Disposit
I do sync it to Dropbox. Just didn't mention it in article.
@Eddie,
If it is a PC you use often, try ResophNotes for PC-Simplenote love.
@Trock4u
Good point. It is getting pricey.
@Disposit
I do sync it to Dropbox. Just didn't mention it in article.
@Eddie,
If it is a PC you use often, try ResophNotes for PC-Simplenote love.
@Trock4u
Good point. It is getting pricey.
@Disposit
I do sync it to Dropbox. Just didn't mention it in article.
@Eddie,
If it is a PC you use often, try ResophNotes for PC-Simplenote love.
@Trock4u
Good point. It is getting pricey.
@Disposit
I do sync it to Dropbox. Just didn't mention it in article.
@Eddie,
If it is a PC you use often, try ResophNotes for PC-Simplenote love.
@Trock4u
Good point. It is getting pricey.
@Disposit
I do sync it to Dropbox. Just didn't mention it in article.
The new(er) features of SimpleNote (lists and dropbox) have renewed my interest in it. I continue to use Notational Velocity all the time and view its notes when away from my macbook with Notesy and Simplenote. Having my data everywhere and viewable by several ios clients is very helpful. Thanks for the review!
The new(er) features of SimpleNote (lists and dropbox) have renewed my interest in it. I continue to use Notational Velocity all the time and view its notes when away from my macbook with Notesy and Simplenote. Having my data everywhere and viewable by several ios clients is very helpful. Thanks for the review!
The new(er) features of SimpleNote (lists and dropbox) have renewed my interest in it. I continue to use Notational Velocity all the time and view its notes when away from my macbook with Notesy and Simplenote. Having my data everywhere and viewable by several ios clients is very helpful. Thanks for the review!
The new(er) features of SimpleNote (lists and dropbox) have renewed my interest in it. I continue to use Notational Velocity all the time and view its notes when away from my macbook with Notesy and Simplenote. Having my data everywhere and viewable by several ios clients is very helpful. Thanks for the review!
The new(er) features of SimpleNote (lists and dropbox) have renewed my interest in it. I continue to use Notational Velocity all the time and view its notes when away from my macbook with Notesy and Simplenote. Having my data everywhere and viewable by several ios clients is very helpful. Thanks for the review!
So, what's your use-case for Evernote? The things you write above, I use Evernote for—and more!
So, what's your use-case for Evernote? The things you write above, I use Evernote for—and more!
So, what's your use-case for Evernote? The things you write above, I use Evernote for—and more!
So, what's your use-case for Evernote? The things you write above, I use Evernote for—and more!
So, what's your use-case for Evernote? The things you write above, I use Evernote for—and more!
Also very interested in your naming convention. Always find it hard to keep things organized, especially with notes…
Also very interested in your naming convention. Always find it hard to keep things organized, especially with notes…
Also very interested in your naming convention. Always find it hard to keep things organized, especially with notes…
Also very interested in your naming convention. Always find it hard to keep things organized, especially with notes…
Also very interested in your naming convention. Always find it hard to keep things organized, especially with notes…
I to would like to know how you organize your notes in simplenote and Evernote. This is the one thing in my system that i really have a hard time getting a hold of!!!
I to would like to know how you organize your notes in simplenote and Evernote. This is the one thing in my system that i really have a hard time getting a hold of!!!
I to would like to know how you organize your notes in simplenote and Evernote. This is the one thing in my system that i really have a hard time getting a hold of!!!
I to would like to know how you organize your notes in simplenote and Evernote. This is the one thing in my system that i really have a hard time getting a hold of!!!
I to would like to know how you organize your notes in simplenote and Evernote. This is the one thing in my system that i really have a hard time getting a hold of!!!