EverNote is a great alternative to OneNote for note-taking and Web-based research. It's a bit rough around the edges (there's no spelling checker), but since it's free, we recommend it.

Setup & interface

EverNote is easy to download and install. In our tests, the installation process took less than five minutes. EverNote's interface resembles an endless roll of paper divided into individual sheets, one for each day of notes. Atop each sheet is the date and time the page was created, as well as four icons that provide fast access to popular features such as tools for categorising or applying passwords to individual notes. We found EverNote easier to learn than OneNote 2003, which uses a three-ring-binder motif with multiple tabs (layers), which can be confusing to navigate.

Novices will take to EverNote right away. You can type inside each note, use EverNote's basic drawing tools to create sketches, drag and drop text and images from a browser, insert passages from documents, and so on. The result is a mélange of content from a variety of sources, not just plain-vanilla text.

But wait: Can't you drag and drop Web content and links into a word processor, too? Yes, but EverNote has vastly superior organisational skills. It automatically categorises notes by date and includes a scroll bar that makes it easy to browse a week’s or month’s worth of notes. Unlike OneNote 2003, EverNote doesn’t let you enter notes anywhere on the page, but sticks to the linear, top-to-bottom format used by word processors. For Tablet PC users hooked on the stylus, a free-form, anywhere-on-the-page approach would be better. Also EverNote will soon charge users who want to synchronise notes between their Windows PCs and handhelds.

Features

EverNote is an excellent tool for proficient typists who take notes during meetings, in conferences, in classrooms or even over the phone. Online researchers will like EverNote's ability to automatically reference information pulled from the Web. Whenever you copy text or an image, EverNote includes a link to the source page. OneNote 2003 does this too, but traditional word processors don't.

EverNote may not match the convenience of pen and paper, but its notes are far easier to browse. The SmartSearch box in the upper-right corner allows keyword searches, and you can search handwritten notes (such as those created with a stylus or mouse), which EverNote’s on-demand, built-in character-recognition technology automatically converts to text -- not surprising, since the EverNote company has specialised in handwriting recognition for handhelds and tablets. We also liked the Time Band, a right-side column that makes it easy to jump to notes from a particular date.

The current version of EverNote isn’t perfect, though. For example, EverNote doesn’t have a spelling checker, nor can it record audio and video clips and embed them in notes like OneNote 2003.

Service & support

EverNote provides free email support via its Web site -- quite generous considering that the program is free, too. Unfortunately, email response time is rather slow -- our queries went unanswered for at least a week. The company also provides an online forum where you can ask questions of other EverNote users. Phone support isn't available.

By comparison, Microsoft Office OneNote 2003 users get two free emails or phone queries, after which they must shell out £49 (ex. VAT) per support request. Microsoft also has an online forum for OneNote users.

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