User Profile for CauseyPike

EndNote X2.0.1 (Mac OS X)

Only advantage is tight word processing integration  

EndNote was the top tool for reference managing, but the earlier versions went through a phase of frequent crashing, and I went off and tried Bookends and Sente instead. I came back to see what EndNote was like, since it offers tight integration with Pages and Word. The direct integration with Pages is a big plus of X2. However, Sente, and now Bookends as well, will scan open Pages files. Sente and Bookends are both streets ahead in terms of mac-ness; Sente is particularly lovely. Both Sente and Bookends have a host of great features for filing and handling pdfs. In the end, Sente allows me to scan open files in Pages or Word, handles large libraries reliably, doesn't crash, is very pleasing to look at, allows me to easily access linked pdfs, and is very good at importing new refs into the library (e.g. when you drop a pdf on the library). EndNote has become much more reliable recently, but it's still less flexible and less pretty than Sente. Both Sente and Bookends have similar feature sets and are excellent programs. [alert admin]

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Friday, May 15 2009 @ 03:42 AM PDT

ChronoSync 4.0.2 (Mac OS X)

Does what I want it to do very well  

I've used this program to do my backups for a while now. I see that others have problems over networks, but using this for local backups to a variety of disks has been basically trouble-free and very satisfactory. I had 3.3.6 and then moved to version 4, and it's not been a painful transition in any way. I like some of the configuration options, such as automatic backups on drive mount, and the ability to set up automatic unmounting of drives once backups are completed. Granted it's mildly complicated when setting up options the first time, but the user guide and info made it reasonably straightforward, and questions I had about certain file types were answered rapidly by tech support. I use this in combination with Knox to manage encrypted disk images. Thus, I have an encrypted image on my backup disk, when this mounts ChronoSync runs a backup, and it all seems to work. It's nice running to an encrypted disk, as I feel that my data is more secure, given how easy it is for someone to steal a removable hard drive. (This is the main reason I use this rather than Time Machine). I like the control over versioning, and across a USB it's very fast. I used to run my backups to a NAS drive, but this was always annoyingly slow, though not ChronoSync's fault as far as I could tell. I can't comment on the network performance issues that some people have experienced, but for local backups this has been a reliable and trustworthy program, and I'm pleased with it's performance and customizability, as well as being able to find ways to configure encrypted backups. The tech support has been pretty good as well. I've tried a few different backup programs, and this is definitely my favourite. [alert admin]

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Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 10:21 AM PDT

EagleFiler 1.4.5 (Mac OS X)

Probably the best notes/archive program  

I tend to take contemporanous notes from many regular meetings (i.e. my personal minutes of meetings), and I also like a program I can drop various pdfs and documents onto and easily catalogue them for later reference. I've worked through most of the mac notes-taking programs. I used to use DevonThink Pro Office, and there wasn't much wrong with it, though the versions aren't particularly pretty in terms of design. Yojimbo also worked well. In the end, though, I've settled with EagleFiler. It archives emails easily, handles multiple libraries well, you can store private libraries in encrypted disk images (e.g. managed via Knox, or EagleFiler can do this itself). The encrypted library feature is the thing I that really sold EagleFiler to me. In the end, DevonThink and Yojimbo aren't bad programs, but having multiple libraries, including some kept privately, has been very handy. I'd love it if it sync'd easily to the iPhone, but at least there are good instructions for getting files from EagleFiler to the iPhone via Airsharing or equivalent. Sadly no syncing, at least not yet. Anyway: EagleFiler is robust, reliable, well-developed and with a responsive developer, can work with encryption and multiple libraries, searches quickly, and is easy to use. I can't see me changing anytime soon. [alert admin]

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Tuesday, April 21 2009 @ 01:51 PM PDT

Sente 5.7.4 (Mac OS X)

Lovely reference managing software  

I got fed up with EndNote a few years ago, when versions 8 & 9 seemed to constantly hang and crash. Since then, I have used Bookends extensively, and now use Sente. This review is for Sente 5.7.5 (this version not yet being listed on Versiontracker). Both Bookends and Sente are excellent programs. I have used Bookends for a couple of years, with a large reference library (>6,000 references, >1,200 downloaded pdfs), and have been impressed at wonderful support from the designer. However, the fact that Pages 09 has opened to EndNote integration made me look at all the reference managers again. Whilst I think the EndNote integration in Pages 09 is very effective, I still find the EndNote interface and user features clunky. Bookends has a straightforward interface and many lovely features for updating references, downloading and filing pdf files, and importing references from PubMed or pdfs. However, it can only scan saved Pages files. I sometimes find myself saving a Pages file, formatting it, then exporting it to Word to share with colleagues or publish, which is a drag. Sente, on the other hand, has some lovely lovely features for searching and importing references from pubmed or pre-downloaded pdfs. It's easy to use, and looks lovely. Even more handy, it can scan open Pages files, reducing somewhat the effort of formatting bibliographies. It's still not the full integration with Pages that EndNote X2 offers (how I wish Apple would open up Pages to other developers), but it is easy and helpful. In summary, if you're frustrated with EndNote, or just wish your reference manager could do more and help you handle all your pdfs more easily, then Bookends and Sente are both great programs. For Pages 09 integration, though, Sente just edges Bookends so far. [alert admin]

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Thursday, April 16 2009 @ 02:46 PM PDT

Bookends 9.0.3 (Mac OS X)

Just great  

EndNote never seemed to be trouble-free in my experience. Bookends is lovely. Smart groups and static groups allow easy organisation of references, the handling of pdfs linked to files is fab, and the technical support is superb. You won't regret giving it a whirl. [alert admin]

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Monday, March 20 2006 @ 11:24 AM PST

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