Core distinguishing features of two-pane PIMs

Posted by Dr Andus
Dec 10, 2012 at 04:18 PM

Foolness wrote:
Dr Andus wrote:
>So my question is: what are the main categories (on the basis of core
>>distinguishing features) of two-pane PIMs?
> >MDI vs. Pane (example split text vs. static sidebar)
> >Bookmarks and tagging features
> >Online sync
> >Portability
> >Pane resize feature
> >Speed
> >Docks
> >Plugins

Thanks, good additions to the criteria list.

>Those are the main features but like most things, they tend to be
>redundant. Useful only for researchers but outliners are more personal
>than wikis. It’s the “special exemptions” that separates one from the
>other. Not the robustness or static purpose.

Good point - but probably these special distinctions are the ones that make a two-pane outliner/PIM particularly suitable for one main purpose. Unfortunately it’s really difficult to identify these special distinguishing features, as they are usually buried in a long list of commonly shared features.

I don’t have a problem with the examples you picked because those are fairly unique tools. The kind of two-pane outliners/PIM that I had in mind were the likes of AllMyNotes Organizer, Aml Pages, AM-Notebook, AnyNotes etc., etc., where I just can’t tell them apart without some substantial evaluation. However, there are too many of these out there, hence my wish for an evaluative matrix for them…