Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
If you've ever drawn a circle around an idea and then linked it to a bunch of other circles with related ideas, you've created a mind map, which is actually a catch-all term for a wide range of diagrams, charts, and graphical representations that you can use to conceptualize everything from a dinner party to a billion-dollar project. Edraw Mind Map's templates and examples make it easy to create high-quality mind maps and similar diagrams suitable for any use. It's free for noncommercial and home users.
Edraw Mind Map's interface takes its visual clues from Office rather than the Explorer-style layout that is typical of modern graphics app, and it gives Edraw a familiar feel. We could quickly change the layout's color via the Style button. The main window displayed a Getting Started page with all the available templates categorized under Mind Map, Clip Art, and More Templates. The free version provides one Template, a Mind Mapping Diagram, but many Examples to go with it, including Decision Making, Life Planner, Marketing Strategy, and even PEST Analysis. We could also choose US, Metric, or Custom units when creating a new map. We chose a Decision Making template, which opened with a finished diagram populated with Process Steps we could click to configure and a left-hand Libraries panel offering a wide variety of Symbols, Mind Shapes, and Clip Art to choose from, plus the ability to add more from our system. We made good use of the Dynamic Help button on the right side of the interface. Holding our cursor over it produced an expanding panel with a detailed explanation of whatever step or process we were dealing with. Edraw has all the little touches of a well-configured tool, such as the spectrally arranged color buttons along the bottom edge for superfast changes.
Right-clicking any element in our map brought up a menu configuring everything from its Shape and Geometry to its Topics, Groupings, and Hyperlinks. While we found Edraw very easy to use at every stage, there is a lot to this tool, and it takes some time to learn all its features. But Edraw Mind Map is well worth the effort.
Publisher's Description
From EDrawSoft:
Edraw Mind Map is a vector-based mind mapping software with rich examples and templates which make it easy to create mind maps, brain-storming diagrams, project timeline, life planner, SWOT analysis and sketch maps. Through Edraw mind mapping software, you can visualize your thinking and quickly arrange and organize your work, all to benefit you as well as people around you. It features smart drawing guide can layout the mind map shapes automatically, lots of high-quality topics, examples and templates, supports big size mind map. Support extend page and collapse topics, supports multiple page Mind Map document, creates professional-looking mind maps quickly with themes, effects and quick styles, gain greater productivity in mapping with features like automatically aligns and add multiple topics one time, integrated with Microsoft Office application and easy to share, and generics graphic formats support and WYSIWYG printing.
What's new in this version: Version 6.8.1 added the Image Shapes and Position Adjustment in the Mind Map drawing type.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 19 votes
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Current version:
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"Limited depth but really usable"
Version: Edraw Mind Map 6.8
Pros
Simple and intuative usage. Just click, drag and release symbols on to the drawing surface. Symbols, when hovered over, show handles for relevant operations. Connectors easily follow and adapt as needed. A nice collection of templates and symbols to choose from. For putting together a quick mind map presentation or a program flow chart it is very usable. Is uses a Microsoft 'ribbon' approach. Decent 'print' support.
Cons
I cannot find how to properly display a bar or pie chart to which I have added data. It insists on displaying the default 3-bar bar chart. Cannot search the embedded help text for more info.
When dragging from one symbol to the other, you cannot see what is actually drawn until you release the mouse button.Summary
I have not used this program too often yet, but it has a good feel. The free version already provides decent productive value.
It's a shame that the CNET installer sneekily tricks you into inadvertedly installing 'malware'. Make sure to scrutinize each single page that the installer presents to you and actively uncheck the 'undesired' options. In doing so, you avoid the malware that other people complain about (rightly so). -
"Good Looking Results"
Version: Edraw Mind Map 6.8
Pros
Easy to format colors, auto arrangement does a nice job, manual arrangement works as it should, good looking 3D balloons. Similarity to MS Office tools makes for a shorter learning curve.
Cons
It's a concern, but I have not seen any evidence of malware (Chrome Browser). I Declined to install the optional ad-support programs CNET offered during install - pretty simple. If malware raises its ugly head, I'll be back.
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"contains "WS.Reputation.1 ""
Version: Edraw Mind Map 6.8
Pros
love mind maps to help me organize thoughts
Cons
WS.Reputation.1 -- It could be a false positive but if Claro show up on my computer, I'm gonna be really pissed.
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"Don't download, free version will install malware"
Version: Edraw Mind Map 6.8
Pros
UI now similar to latest Windows office application design. But during installation of Edraw, it will install 2 malware programs "secretly" onto your machine.
Cons
The malware will install a Claro-toolbar on your machine, and literally it will make every new browser page open as claro search page (URL: http://www.claro-search.com/?affID=116677&tt.......), no matter how you configure your default page on your browser.
Going to internet and search for claro search and you will find a lot of description about this malware, and instructions on how to detect and remove it. You will need to go to program remover and uninstall 2 applications, then the windows will suggest you have a "secondary uninstall" to remove Edraw.
But I still don't expect to download such malware from download.com, this is not download.com quality and I am so disappointed.Summary
Without coming to CNET for quite some time, I am totally surprised how download.com has been degraded to a total irresponsible and malware-friendly website. And YES!! I am too gracious to say that, because they did not check the software posted here, and allow these malware to be install onto client machine.
To add further to my disappointment, the registration process has some bug and defect. For one, it requires the right to access and post information on your google/fb/yahoo account, and second, the user confirmation was not sent on the first registration, but only after I click the link to reset password before I receive the confirmation email to activate my CNET account.
Dude, I may not come back too often again, or will I suggest others to come to this website for application resources. It was once the most renowed and well-managed website. But for now, it no longer deserves this once golden brand. -
"I doesn't know what to do with accents!"
Version: Edraw Mind Map 6.6.2
Pros
Full of wonderful diagramming resources, but...
Cons
You can't use any language with accents: bye, bye, Portuguese, Spanish, French... just to mention the most well-known...
Summary
Come on guys, not taking accents into consideration is almost an offense nowadays... Besides, it does not affect the regular English-only user... why on Earth do you restrict your software like this?
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"great software for mindmap"
Version: Edraw Mind Map 6.6.2
Pros
easy to use, variety of colors and shapes to choose from, clear and quick. I think this software combines something from Microsoft Word, which is genius, and it turns out really powerful.
Cons
it does not stretch out the branches automatically as other mindmap softwares, but anyway, you still have multiple chose of what shape of branch you like and it's still quick.
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"Easy to learn and use,"
Version: Edraw Mind Map 6.6.2
Pros
I got up and running within minutes, very easy to use
Cons
I have not found a way to create linked arrows
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"Best of Both Worlds"
Version: Edraw Mind Map 6.6
Pros
This product is artistic, easy to use, and will export to Microsoft Project.
Cons
This product does not have the smooth action like www.thebrain.com.
Summary
After much research I've come to the conclusion that Edraw Mind Map (Basic or Max) has an affordable price, is pictorial without going over the deep end, and is business useful with it export-abilty to MS Project. I would like a project tool that is built in, but matchware fell into a monthly fee. Edraw Mind Map is awesome.
Should have been 5 stars for the free version!!!
Updated on Aug 15, 2012 -
"easy and smart mind map tool"
Version: Edraw Mind Map 6.5
Pros
If you need to draw mind maps quickly and easily, download edraw mind map software for free and you'll be surprised how rapidly you'll be able to print or email a professional-looking mind map. If you need to do more than mind map, it has you covered - it also lets you draw basic flowchart and block diagram. The most important thing, it's complete free.
Cons
The software is easy to use. The add multiple topics tool is great for me to create mind map from exist word document.
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"Works just as it says"
Version: Edraw Mind Map 6.3
Pros
Many options, great intuitive interface, helpful tools, and good examples make this quite a package.
Cons
Occasionally the buttons are hit-or-miss. Many times the start-up speed and overall lag are undesirable.
Summary
This is a great option for those who use flow charts often, and is a great tool with innumerable uses in brainstorming and overall strategy.
