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Notebook Software: Evernote, Part 1 of ?

Sometimes I want to scream “Hey Microsoft, I don’t always have access to my PC.” Also I want to scream “Hey Google, I don’t always have access to the Internet.” I did this once in an old folks home and was asked to leave. This always seems to be my problem, (the PC and internet thing, not screaming in old folks homes) there are times where I don’t have access to my laptop, or it’s too much hassle to get it out, and for whatever reason I don’t always have access to the Internet. Mind you it is rarely at the same time.  I’ll usually have one or the other.

That is why I really like applications such as Evernote (evernote.com) (I’m using it to write this article now). It’s a solid Notebook software (just like Microsoft OneNote) that keeps a copy of your notes on your PC and a copy in the cloud that can be accessed via a web app. Along with that I have several PCs, each can access the same web account, and synchronize the notes with each other. You can also access your notes on your Smart-phone, however I’m not as thrilled with using my Smart-phone (I use a Blackberry) with Evernote. I have to access the notes on the web, there is not local storage of files. This is a good feature to have in a pinch, but be warned the bigger the notebook the more bandwidth you’ll spend getting your notes.

Feature wise it’s pretty comparable with Microsoft OneNote and to Evernote’s credit they are continuously adding features to it. If you aren’t familiar with notebook software, the quick answer to “What is Notebook software?” is “Word processing software on Steroids”. All of the ones I’ve used all have basic Word processing capabilities, like formatting, plus some extras. For example creating Tables, and numbered and bulleted lists. Then you can use the Clip features, to capture Web pages, screen shots, and e-mails. In addition you can upload PDF files into Evernote. The captured items are then easily organized with in the software in different Notebooks that you create.

Oh yeah did I mention it’s free. You are limited to 60MB of data. If you need more and can afford $5 a month (or save $15 and pay $45 for the year) you can store up to Upload 1GB a month in notes. I found that the first month was the closest I came to reaching the 60MB of data, but I was uploading several PDF files at the time which took up a lot of Bandwidth.

Part 2 (LINK) 

Software: Free Editing software for Pictures – Paint.net

Logo3 One of the biggest questions that comes up from family, friends, and clients involves “how can I do…….without having to spend the a lot of money for the commercial version of the software?” That specific question always comes with a double edged sword.

Yes I could talk about the many routes online that exist for downloading software (and all true techie or geek will know at least 2 of those) but those ways involve crossing legal areas and run an extreme risk of not only downloading the software that your looking for but also malware, viruses, logging software (so that someone else can record every single thing you do and type on your pc), and many other possibilities, so I choose to refer my family, friends, and clients to a different option.

In the software community if someone has come up with a major product (Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Nero Burning Rom, etc) then in 99.9% of the cases someone else has come up with a free or very low cost alternative.

Today I have one of those alternatives that I’m recommending.  This one is called “Paint.net”.  For anyone who has every needed to touch up, or crop, or edit a picture, you could use Adobe’s Photoshop but that will run you a lot of money for either the professional version ($699 US Dollars) or the elements version ($99 US Dollars which is still a lot in our current economy for some).  An alternative to having to send that money is called “Paint.net.

“Paint.NET is free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. An active and growing online community provides friendly help, tutorials, and plug-in’s.”

Paint.net started development as an undergraduate college senior design project mentored by Microsoft, and is currently being maintained by some of the alumni that originally worked on it. Originally intended as a free replacement for the Microsoft Paint software that comes with Windows, it has grown into a powerful yet simple image and photo editor tool. It has been compared to other digital photo editing software packages such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro, Microsoft Photo Editor, and The GIMP.

The requirements for Paint.net-

Minimum System

  • Windows 7 (recommended),
       or Windows XP SP2,
       or Windows Vista,
       or Windows Server (2003 SP1 or newer)
  • .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (http://go NULL.microsoft NULL.com/fwlink/?LinkId=124150) (free download from Microsoft (http://www NULL.getpaint NULL.net/download NULL.html#))
  • 512 MB of RAM
  • 1024 x 768 screen resolution
  • 200+ MB hard drive space
  • 64-bit mode requires a 64-bit CPU and a 64-bit edition of Windows

To download Paint.net just click on the icon below

Get Paint.NET! (http://www NULL.getpaint NULL.net/download NULL.html)

For Additional information and support for Paint.net click on one the icons below

Paint.net features (http://www NULL.getpaint NULL.net/features NULL.html)   Paint.net plugins (http://www NULL.getpaint NULL.net/redirect/plugins NULL.html)   Paint.net support (http://www NULL.getpaint NULL.net/redirect/forum NULL.html)   Paint.net tutorials (http://www NULL.getpaint NULL.net/redirect/tutorials NULL.html)

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
Adobe and Photoshop are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.
Corel and Paint Shop Pro are trademarks or registered trademarks of Corel Corporation and/or its subsidiaries in Canada, the United States, and/or other countries.

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