Downloader: Think is a mind-mapping service for beginners

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Think is a mind-mapping service for beginners

Filed under: Productivity, web 2.0

Think is a pretty basic mind map web app. I've played around with it, and here's my quick analysis:

Pros:

Non-flash -- some people might like that, I guess. Can work on the iPad, for example.
Simple -- you can't do much (that's a con, too, see below). For people new to mind mapping, this can be a good thing.
You don't need to create an account -- the service supports OpenID so you can just use your Google account to log on. You can also use it without logging on, but I think logging on lets you save the maps. They're not fully clear on that.
Free.

Cons:

Simple -- too simple if you're used to mind-mapping concepts. For example, link types cannot be defined -- links are just links, period.
The links are massive for some reason. You can see on the screenshot -- they are more like huge "pipes" than lines linking thoughts. It's a matter of style, yes, but it also skews the visual emphasis of the mind map -- you see links more than thoughts.
No export/import options.

Bottom line: It's a nice service for people new to mind mapping. Those familiar with the concept should probably go for something more versatile, such as the awesome MindMeister.

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