Testing Debrief Notebook by Idealign Software

Debrief Notebook by Idealign Software is currently undergoing trials in our ornate, dust-free test labs. In other words, I’ve downloaded the freeware version in my search for usable information organization/PIM/HTD application(s). I’ve not generally posted about it, but I’m beginnning to think it might be worth posting a list with my (highly subjective) ratings.

A few things that made it worth mentioning in a post, before I’d used it at length. Debrief Notebook has a rare “about” page. Short, and the main paragraph, explaining the software intended uses, is exceptionally well-written, clear, and amazingly concise. I have a friued, a broadcast journalist of some note, for whom I’m developing a website, but which is not ready to premiere. Stay tuned. My friend can take the most complicated political reporting and compress it, intelligently into a very few words, like Hemingway’s famous six-word novel:

“Baby Shoes, For Sale. Never Used.”

Debrief Notebook‘s “About Page” has this:

The concept behind Idealign software is to make it easy to capture thoughts and ideas, with fast recall in different contexts. Once captured, recall is often only a click or two away. These contexts are based on real life experiences and situations. The Debrief note software is small, fast, responsive, and well behaved. Debrief Note Book “About Page.”

Which is followed by an exceptionally short, exceptionally funny graf. Go there to read it – - it for yourself. No spoilers here.

My reasoning was, if they were clever enough to do this – and detail-oriented enough to put this much care in their “About” page – they were smart enough to create a usable piece of software. Not  – especially in the area of – what do we call it? PIM? Personal knowledge o content management (CMS) system?