Ultrasoft BrainForest for Mac

User Reviews

• Good Outliner

  jcorso--2008January 1, 2005

  Pros

  Cons

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />This outliner is not the prettiest or fullest-featured of those available for the Mac or the Palm, but it delivers the basics on both platforms. The link between them is not a real conduit: to sync, your desktop app opens files from the Palm backup folder, then when you save, it offers to install them on the handheld. A bit clunky, and it cannot resolve changes made on both platforms betwwen syncs, so you must remember on which platform you made the last change. But it works. A bonus: the note field can store really long notes, so if you like to cut and paste online newspaper or magazine articles to store on your Palm in an outline format, you can. I'm interested only in the oultiner, so I offer no opinion on the project scheduler. I've read that the Gantt chart feature is unique on the Palm. It opens somewhat slowly on the handheld. I like ShadowPlan and waited many months for the OS X version, but I can't get it to sync with the handheld. ShadowPlan's developer seems like a good guy, but he's got a lot on his plate and I suspect Mac development is not his highest priority. Life Balance and Inspiration seem like solid products, and feature proper conduits, but they're expensive, won't accommodate long notes, and have educational or new-age gimcracks that get in my way. BrainForest comes with a generous 30-day trial period, and Ultrasoft was very decent about letting my upgrade from my old Aportis version.

  ---

• Great support

  AngusPAugust 30, 2004

  Pros

  Cons

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I posted a comment in reply to mpmjjkauai, but it didn't show up in the list. I got a new Palm and gave it a new hotsycn id. I sent them an e-mail, and immediately got back a nice friendly personal reply explaining that the hotsync id is a label that can be changed in a jiffy, with instructions on how to switch my registered id over to my new device. It worked like a charm. Problem solved! They even offered me a discount on a new registration if I wanted to keep it on both devices. Super support, IMHO, especially considering I paid only $20 about two years ago. The application itself is easily the best of the bunch on the palm. It is simple to use, and does everything I want now that the new version has added everything that was missing... except hi-res support :(

  ---

• Inflexible

  mpmjjkauaiFebruary 19, 2004

  Pros

  Cons

  Summary

  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I upgraded my palm, needed new hotsync id. All other third party software accomodated me. Brainforest would not. Personal help is not available with this application. All roads lead to "read the faq". Even when you send personal notes (phone is NOT available) they scan them and send automated responses. At the third note i got a personal note reminding me that I had agreed that I would NEVER EVER change my hotsync id or they would not have sold me the software then they told me to "read the faq" This was to be my replacement for ACTA 7, (remember that?) I lost my full purchase price plus a good chunk of peace on this one.

  ---

• Show reviewsHide reviews
• Rate it