Scrivener + OneNote = Perfection

As a relatively new Mac user, I am completely enjoying my introduction into the wonderful world of Mac Application. Unlike many Windows Apps that still sport a 1990s Windows ME look, Mac Apps are clean and contemporary.

One of the new applications I am falling in love with is Scrivener. Scrivener is a writing tool without equal.

Unfortunately, for someone like me trying to juggle both a Windows OS world and a Mac OS world, there is nothing close to Scrivener for Windows. I have tried many of the suggested applications, but without exception, the Windows apps lack the killer features Scrivener offers.

For me, it's not too critical, because I do have a Mac, and Scrivener is quickly becoming part of my workflow. What I am missing on the Mac side is Microsoft OneNote. As with Scrivener, OneNote is without equal as an information gathering tool. The newest version of OneNote 2010, just released this spring, takes the app from good to Wow! I love OneNote.

This got me to thinking about my "perfect" toolbox. What would it look like if all applications were cross-platform?

Here is my Windows toolbox (Work):

• OneNote (structured research for projects/papers. Better organization, note-taking, highlighting, compiling)
• Evernote (general information capture)
• PersonalBrain (long-term information store. Shows connection between areas of focus. Thoughts link to pages in OneNote or Evernote)
• MindManager (Dashboards for planning and 30,000 to 50,000 related tasks. Mindjet the maker of MindManager offers a Mac version of MindManager, but it is essentially a new purchase at upgrade pricing. At $XXX+, that's too much for cross-platform convenience.)
• Microsoft Word (like it or not, most of my writing must end up in Word format, which is the standardized format in most sectors)
• TaskAngel / Toodledo for list management and GTD implementation
• GoToDo app on Android mobile phone syncs with Toodledo
• I will add The Journal to this list. I have played with the trial version the last few weeks, and this will become my writing tool. Prior to this, I have used Microsoft Word.

Here is my Mac OS toolbox (Home):

• Evernote (sync with my Windows data)
• PersonalBrain (syncs with my Windows brain via SugarSync)
• OmniOutliner (the best outliner I have used without question. If only it was available for Windows!)
• Scrivener (This is where my search for a Windows replacement for Word started. I love Scrivener and would pay any price to have access to its features on both Mac and Windows. The Journal is my Scrivener counterpart in Windows, but to be honest, it's not even close.)
• Toodledo via the web interface.

What's missing from my Mac OS perfect world? OneNote. I love OneNote.

So, if we can engage in some fantasy right now, here is my "perfect" toolbox if all of the applications in the world were cross platform:

• OneNote
• MindManager
• PersonalBrain
• OmniOutliner
• Scrivener
• Microsort Word (a necessary final destination)
• OmniFocus (synching with Toodledo)
• GotToDo on my Android phone

What do you think? How would you blend applications in perfect world?

Windows 7 Installation Troubles

OK, I must admit that I was eager to see Windows 7 on my laptop. I had installed the Release Candidate this summer in a virtual machine, but I wanted to see it in all of its glory, unhindered by any issues that may be caused by the virtual environment.

Once I saw Windows 7 available for download through Microsoft’s Software Assurance, I downloaded Windows 7 Pro (x64). My laptop is running Windows Vista Ultimate (x64) because that is what came preinstalled, and Windows 7 Ultimate is not available through the Software Assurance program.

This began a day-long journey through Microsoft installation hell.

The install program started without issue, and I ran the upgrade compatibility test. According to the test, my computer was ready to go. I started the installation only to be informed that I could not upgrade from Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Pro.

OK, so I’ll try it on my desktop, which is running Vista Business x64. Again, my computer passes the upgrade compatibility test with flying colors and I begin the installation process. I make it through the complete installation and have Windows 7 running on my desktop. Everything is looking good, except the video display looks fuzzy. I do some investigating, and soon discover that my graphics card needs a Windows 7 driver. No problem, I think, I head to the manufacturer's website, click on drivers, find my graphics card, and download the Windows 7 64-bit driver. All is well. Click on the install program for the driver, and an error box pops up telling me that this driver will not work with the current operating system. Thinking I may have downloaded the wrong driver, I repeated the process and made sure I was downloading the Windows 7 64-bit driver. Click on the install and get the same error message. Hmmmm.

So, my troubleshooting mind goes to work, and I decide to try the Vista 64-bit driver. Download the file, click the install program, and get the same “this file will not work with your current operating system” error. I’m at a dead-end. I hookup the USB drive and restore my backup image. My desktop is now back to Vista Business.

OK, so I have one last option to try. I am running Windows XP Pro within a virtual machine on my Mac using VMWare Fusion. Unfortunately, I am running Windows XP Pro 32-bit on my Mac, so I need to download the Windows 7 Pro 32-bit install file. These install files are well over 2 gigabytes each. I download the install file, go into Windows XP Pro on my Mac, and try to do the upgrade. Unfortunately, Windows 7 Pro will not do an in-place upgrade from Windows XP Pro. Basically, it will be a clean install, which means having to reinstall all of my applications.

It’s at this point that give up on Windows 7. I’ve wasted five hours of time and I’m no closer to having Windows 7 running on one of my computers than I was when I started.

Does it really need to be this difficult? I couldn’t help but remember my upgrade experience a month ago when I upgraded my Mac OS from Leopard to Snow Leopard. I dropped the DVD into the drive and came back in an hour; my computer was fully upgraded and ready to go.

XP Pro to Windows 7 Easy Migration

What’s next? I came across this article on TechRepublic.com by Greg Schultz. He outlines an easy migration using a dual boot process. It looks promising. Maybe when I have a free day or two to try it again, I’ll try this process.

Until that time, I’ll stick with Vista and let all of the techies out there determine the best way to upgrade to Windows 7