KeepNote is optimized for the task at hand and offers few extras, as we noted, but we could change some colors, format text, and even switch between the default Western-style text encoding to a variety of alternative input methods, from Amharic (EZ+) to Inukitut (transliterated). We sometimes had to refresh the view by navigating between levels to make attached files appear in the list view, but then we'd really just gotten started. We attached and inserted a variety of image and data files, including XML files and Excel spreadsheets.

Right-clicking any entry calls up an extensive menu of options for copying, attaching, and managing files and folders. We jumped right in by creating and renaming new folders, pages, and child pages from the program's menus as well as the toolbar. The main window is split horizontally between a file list view and a blank entry field. KeepNote's no-nonsense Explorer-style user interface is built around an easy-to-navigate hierarchical folder structure displayed on the left side. Its main job is to replace that stack of notebooks you're lugging around. KeepNote offers a lot of flexibility, but it leaves out bells and whistles like contact managers, task schedulers, and other distractions from the job at hand. You can insert or attach images, spreadsheets, and other files, too. When you pull out one of your spiral-bound notebooks, do they all come out at once? And not in a good way, but snared by the dangling ends of their spiral bindings? If so, try KeepNote, a simple but effective tool for saving and using notes for class, lab, meetings, papers, accounts, journals, and more as XML or HTML files.

Keep my notes app