willjobs/Software Preferences (and why).md

## Software Preferences (and why).md

      
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              Software Preferences (and why).md
            
          
    Software Preferences (and why)

This is meant to be an ongoing list of software alternatives I've evaluated, the pros and cons of each, and which I ultimately favored. It's mostly meant to remind me why I did or didn't switch so that I don't waste time re-evaluating in the future when I get annoyed by a bug or UI issue in the one that I chose. In case this helps others, I've posted it here too.
GoodNotes vs Notability

Winner: GoodNotes, for now


    GoodNotes
    Notability


    ✅ lots of templates
    ⛔ limited paper templates (but can import your own)


    ✅ can mix different paper templates (and sizes) in the same notebook
    ⛔ cannot mix templates/sizes


    ✅ easier access to different tools' colors/sizes/etc.
    ⛔ more clicks to get to colors/sizes; don't have presets easily accessible


    ✅ easy to add new pages
    ⛔ adding pages between pages is annoying


    ✅ uses tabs for multiple documents
    ⛔ does not use tabs for multiple documents; only one open at a time


    ✅ exporting documents is more fully-featured
    ⛔ exporting documents has fewer options


    ⛔ lasso tool can only do free selection, not rectangle
    ✅ lasso can be rectangular or free selection

    ⛔ side-by-side view is really just multiple windows
    ✅ side-by-side view is in the same window


    ⛔ cannot drag text across pages (must cut/copy then paste to the new page) (really??)
    ✅ can drag text/images across pages


    ⛔ cannot use password/touch ID/Face ID to protect notebooks or the app as a whole
    ✅ can lock the app as a whole using a password


    ✅ custom pen widths (slider)
    ⛔ limited, discrete pen widths


    ⛔ unstable, sometimes buggy

        
            may crash in files that have lots of writing
            more often than I'd like, I will be writing and random text will disappear. Usually it reappears when I close and re-open the document.
            sometimes eraser will "miss" spots, then when document is re-opened, the spots are gone
            sometimes eraser will cause text to move as if it's not attached to the page
        
    
    ✅ less buggy than goodnotes

        
            has the same issue with the eraser 'missing' spots
        
    
    ✅ has option to make eraser 'auto-deselect'
    

    ✅ cool ability to draw straight line by drawing then holding


    ✅ writing feels more smooth


    ⛔ redo button is accessed by clicking and holding on the undo button


    ✅ OCR/search handwriting feature is free
    ⛔ Must pay extra for OCR/search handwriting feature


    ⛔ Lasso tool struggles with selections near the edge of the page
GoodNotes	Notability
✅ lots of templates	⛔ limited paper templates (but can import your own)
✅ can mix different paper templates (and sizes) in the same notebook	⛔ cannot mix templates/sizes
✅ easier access to different tools' colors/sizes/etc.	⛔ more clicks to get to colors/sizes; don't have presets easily accessible
✅ easy to add new pages	⛔ adding pages between pages is annoying
✅ uses tabs for multiple documents	⛔ does not use tabs for multiple documents; only one open at a time
✅ exporting documents is more fully-featured	⛔ exporting documents has fewer options
⛔ lasso tool can only do free selection, not rectangle	✅ lasso can be rectangular or free selection
⛔ side-by-side view is really just multiple windows	✅ side-by-side view is in the same window
⛔ cannot drag text across pages (must cut/copy then paste to the new page) (really??)	✅ can drag text/images across pages
⛔ cannot use password/touch ID/Face ID to protect notebooks or the app as a whole	✅ can lock the app as a whole using a password
✅ custom pen widths (slider)	⛔ limited, discrete pen widths
⛔ unstable, sometimes buggy may crash in files that have lots of writing more often than I'd like, I will be writing and random text will disappear. Usually it reappears when I close and re-open the document. sometimes eraser will "miss" spots, then when document is re-opened, the spots are gone sometimes eraser will cause text to move as if it's not attached to the page	✅ less buggy than goodnotes has the same issue with the eraser 'missing' spots
✅ has option to make eraser 'auto-deselect'
	✅ cool ability to draw straight line by drawing then holding
	✅ writing feels more smooth
	⛔ redo button is accessed by clicking and holding on the undo button
✅ OCR/search handwriting feature is free	⛔ Must pay extra for OCR/search handwriting feature
⛔ Lasso tool struggles with selections near the edge of the page