ThinkBuzan iMindMap Ultimate 4.1 Test
Brainstorming
With the Speed MindMap feature, the recent option to use floating topics and the option to increase the size of the worksheet, iMindMap is very usable during a brainstorm. The organic form and the colors are quite stimulating.
iMindMap also provides the option to add audio recordings to each branch - handy when trying not to forget anything during brainstorms or if there is a very intense flow! For as far as we are aware no other mind map software has this feature.
After the brainstorm phase things get more complicated, however. Grouping is slower than with other packages, filtering is not possible and exporting to for example HTML produces one page with a large mind map (something we expect to change next year).
For actual “outside the box” thinking it is important to use a facilitator who is familiar with creative thinking techniques.
Meeting Management
The stages of meeting management are the preparation, sending the agenda, the meeting itself and the aftercare.
In preparing a meeting, several options are available, such as importing information from MS Word and MS Excel, and inserting hyperlinks to relevant files and Internet sites.
The export to Microsoft Word would offer a clear invitation to the participants were it not true that iMindMap holds onto the order in the Word document that matches the order in which the branches and sub-branches in iMindMap were created…
During the meeting iMindMap can update tasks, responsible persons, times and priorities. iMindMap cannot filter in order to zoom in on a specific subject. Using the Project Management Mode, a Gantt-chart and a task list can in fact be created.
iMindMap’s new presentation feature is an important extra option within iMindMap. A few templates are also available.
Other packages have we believe at present the advantage of speed, better templates (eg. MindManager).
In our view it depends on the culture within an organization whether the organic design of iMindMap will be a decisive factor.
