MindJet Asks How You Like Your Images

Personally I prefer my images to be of high quality snapshots of gorgeous women or flashy gadgets (yes as a DORKo both things are appealing) Oh wait that wasn't the question was it...

Actually MindJet is trying to get a feel from MindManager users on how they would like to work with images within MindManager itself. Here are the two scenarios for consideration:

Scenario 1: Copying resized images
Let’s say you paste a bitmap image
into a topic, and then you resize that image to make it fit better in your map.
Now let’s say you select that image (by selecting the topic, and then clicking
the image to select it within the topic), and choose "Copy".

Scenario 2: Copying images from a zoomed map
Let’s say you paste a bitmap image into a
topic, and then you zoom the map to something other than 100%. Now let’s say you
select that image (by selecting the topic, and then clicking the image to select
it within the topic), and choose "Copy".
In both scenarios, MindManager 6
copies the image to the clipboard at the size that it appears onscreen. There is
a proposal to change this behavior such that MindManager would place a full-size
copy of the original image into the clipboard, in both scenarios.
Which
option do you like better, and why?

Dorko's Thoughts:

Personally I prefer images to be full size, as I like confidence in knowing that no lose of quality occurs. Although this answers the simple question at hand though I would also like to recommend to MindJet that they investigate other possible conditions that exist with the use of images in MindManager.

As I work with MindManager and talk to other users I discover a common theme when the topic of images arrises. Together our conclusions reveal that quite frankly, MindManager seems to fall asleep at the wheel when it comes to the challenge of dealing with images. In this respect I compare MindManager to a super computer hooked up to an old 640 x480 CRT VGA monitor. No mater how great at handling the most complex of tasks it can't accurately display the information in an acceptable fashion, it stifles the performance aspect and limits the overvall functionality.

Case in point: I was making a presentation and really wanted to demonstrate the power of MindManager to a group of students. I had inserted an image full of text and detailed orientated apsects from a physiology book and although I knew it didn't look that great and was difficult to read I execused it was a minor detail in the overall shceme of things. When making the presentation though with a projector, MindManager's failure to display the image in high quality left many students asking what the text in the image said. It disrupted the overall presentation (although I did learn never that every detial does is importatn) and left me quite embarassed. Need less to say when asking what they liked and disliked about the presentation that little stumble where they could not need read the image was what remained most clear in their minds after the presentation.

I also know this to be specifially a MindManager problem as when inserting the same image into OneNote, Word, or almost any other program, the image is displayed correctly. To compensate for this I often link to the image now and have it open up in an entirely different program but not being able to insert high quality "readable" pictures into MindManager is something I feel MindJet needs tp look at a bit more.

Also when it comes to dealing with images in general I wish there were more options that permit the ability to edit them within MindManager. Since MindManager is such a great tool for visual learners I enjoy using it to organize my notes. Also as a visual learner though I like drawing on or around images. It allows me to personally link what is in the picture with what is being proccessed inside my brain. OneNote is quite effecitve at this task.

I am often recquired to make a choice between OneNote and MindManager and latey I find the the ability to draw and mark up pictures a more effective means of enhancing the overall leraning process. It's a sacrafice I never enjoy making. I do sometimes mark up the picture in journal and then link to it from MindManager but I also find that the more programs I spread my notes in the less orgainzed I become.

Wrapping things up, I like that MindJet is asking the community for their opinion on such issues but I do wish they would take a look at what I think (in my personal opinion of course) are bigger issues. I don't know how many users actually copy and paste images within MindManager anyways. I do however know a lot of users that would like to drag and drop or copy and paste images from other locations and have their images retained in high detail. I know I compare OneNote and MindManager quite often and they are two very different programs but I do feel there are certain operations that both should be able to perform equally as well. Copying and pasting pictures is just one.

Labels: mind mapping, MindManager

posted by Jason Dorko at 12:17 PM 1 comments links to this post