I have to say first that my husband and kids used to complain about my notes... I would grab a scrap piece of paper, multiple tablets, notebooks, sticky notes big and small, the backs of envelopes, whatever I could find, and jot down lists and notes... OneNote has really helped me tackle that problem. The backs of envelopes written on has decreased dramatically, and now it's actually organized, in one small place. I'm not searching through numerous notebooks, trying to remember which one I wrote my list on, or putting together a stack of mail, turning over the envelopes.

The application doesn't seem to use a lot of memory (at least not so that it noticeably slows down my laptop), but I will admit that I closed the application from running in my taskbar because I've had problems with it in the past. I have the Toshiba Satellite, and it came with a copy of this program. I didn't like it as much at first, not completely sure I would use it much, but as I "played with it", I found that it's a simple application, works much like my scratch pads and better than a spiral-bound notebook.

I can research information online, and cut and paste it into my documents, create hyperlinks to websites and drop directly into the document, even record notes to myself directly on the page. If I was a student in classes, I could record lectures and drop onto the page as well. I can list any project which has piqued my interest, and then have sub-pages underneath that project relating to different items.

I can choose to use my pen, or type directly onto the pages. I can convert my handwriting to type (which is amazingly easy), and even drop in clip art or just doodle when I'm trying to think of what I'm going to research.

Another item I like is that although I use a Tablet PC, I have also purchased another license for the application and put it on my desktop, so that I can easily send notes from one PC to another (or to my children or husband). It works easily and well.

There are additional features, such as being able to send pages or sections to Outlook as an appointment, task or contact. You can send pages via email without having Outlook installed on the other computer, as well. You can choose to treat your handwriting as text or as a drawing, which is helpful in several instances (I've used it most often when I actually have sketched something, and using it as a drawing enables me to send to someone exactly as is).

As with other Microsoft programs, you can go online and download templates for OneNote2003, such as calendars and other items if you wish to use this program for more than just note-taking and project-organizing.

I have used this program on and off throughout the last 2-1/2 years (more on than off), and have found that if you're a list-maker and note-taker like me, then this is a helpful program. If you're not, then Word or Wordpad may work just as well for you. But if you need something to help you de-clutter, organize, and keep everything in one place, download a trial copy... I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find. If it is your first time using the program, be sure and take the tour that is in the help menu - it will show you how to maximize the program's effectiveness.

Recommended: Yes