Evernote, the one place to keep everything
Evernote is one of the most useful note-taking services you can access with your browser. It’s excellent if you’re not only interested in surfing the web, but if you want to retain your research. It’s the second extension we’ve installed from the Chrome Web Store.
Benefits Evernote
Evernote aims to be a complete external memory solution, reliable like the mythical Elephants’ memory. Hence the logo. Anything you want to add to your electronic memory will be there forever: a handwritten note, an audio recording, a bookmark, or an article you’ve found online, and save with the extension. Just like with start.me you get more than an extension: it integrates a whole world into your Chrome browser.
Another huge advantage of Evernote is the way it integrates all devices and platforms. No matter the computer or smartphone, you can access the same data anywhere. And even when the number of notes amounts to a lot, you can still make sure it remains accessible. There’s a search function that even recognizes handwritten notes. You can organize notes into notebooks, into stacks. Even though it might take some time to understand the full depth of the product, you’ll find it’s worth it. And, did I mention that there’s a free tier too? Even if you’re strapped for cash, your notes will remain accessible.
Drawbacks Evernote
If I have to mention drawbacks to this product, it would be the fact that it can do so very much. You can make to-do lists, share notes with others, even integrate templates into your notebooks if you want to standardize your notes. We’re a long way from the simple notepad. As the product continues to evolve, it might just get too convoluted and complex.
One of the ways I tackle this problem is by integrating Evernote with IFTTT: the famous service that lets you design your own ‘recipes’, with triggers and processes. With it, I can finally take a note on the fly, clutter-free, and fast. It’s telling I feel the need to resort to this third-party service.
Final verdict
Intimidating, expansive, no longer the only player in town, with Microsoft OneNote, the Google Keep (free to use), and Notes by Apple, there are a lot of alternatives these days. Still, there’s no real competition, once you’ve started building your own Elephants Memory.