I recently converted to a tablet pc and am now using Evernote for ALL note taking (as well as clipping etc). The character recognition of my handwriting is acceptable and being able to search handwritten notes without conversion to text is wonderful. I also use the Jott hack to leave myself text notes and access all this remotely with my blackberry.

usbrit

I use evernote to backup code when testing out web design layouts, then I use it to store things i need to reference often, color codes, analytics code things of that nature. I also use the ink note to quickly jot down notes and numbers when im on the phone so I dont have to scramble around and try and find a pen and paper.

lilkeith7

I utilize Evernote for all of the uses that Brett Kelly wrote about, and I find it especially useful as a script repository. As a PC Tech who supports over 400 users in a geographical area that spans 150 miles, I rely heavily on windows scripting to manage computers remotely. When I create a new script I always add it to Evernote and tag it accordingly. Its easy to go into Evernote and find a script I've written by the tag, and I don't have to worry about losing my script repository in the event of a hard drive crash.

I also use it as a recipe database. Its convenient, easy to search, and available from any computer or your cell phone. The next time someone asks you the recipe for the wonderful dish you brought to the pot-luck, you just whip our your phone and give it to them.

Kandy477

I use it to create blog entries that need images and screen shots. Evernote allows you to paste, blogjet (my blogging app) does not. By saving and Evernote post to HTML, then opening in a browser, I can simply drag and drop an entry.
I posted my steps at www.gregjessup.com

gregjessup

I use EverNote for storing software registration codes (I keep them encrypted in EverNote). When I'm adding the software registration code, I also include the URL and any registration information so I can refer back to it. I tag all those notes with "Registrations" tag.

I am passionate about cooking and cook professionally at a 4-star French restaurant in town and teach at the local culinary college. I host elaborate multi-course dinner parties at my home. The Culinary category in my ENbase contains culinary-related materials, with a few noteworthy features. This category contains my transcripts from culinary school, lists of equivalent measures, Mobil restaurant star definitions, and other general culinary information.

- Certification -- all of my research, notes, practice tests, recipes, and plate designs from my preparation for professional certification are stored in this sub-category. The first note in this sub-category was marked as a TO-DO item -- I felt a great deal of satisfaction in marking it DONE when I completed my certification!

- Menus -- this sub-category contains menus (in individual notes) that I have planned for dinner parties (from which I print the menus presented at the table), the date/time/location of the event, the people who attended, and any special notes (what wines paired well, which table-set we used, etc). This way, I can scan this category to see what dishes I've prepared for whom and when. The names of the dishes are internally linked to the recipe contained in EverNote. The menu is also added to the Event Date category (see below) so I can see, for example, what menu I prepared on July 28, 2007. The menu is also tagged as a TO-DO item, because I get great satisfaction from marking it DONE upon completion.

- Event Date (for example, a category called "July 28, 2007" contains information about an event that night) -- this sub-category contains specific information about the event on that date. A copy of the invitation email is saved in this category, as is the menu (which is also assigned to the Menus category), the shopping list, mise en place list, and recipes. If a recipe is used in multiple events, it will be assigned to multiple Event Date categories (as well as the Recipes category). This allows me to track the recipes I use most frequently.

- Recipes -- if I am surfing the internet and come across a recipe I want to capture, I clip it into EverNote and add "#bigoven#" to the note, which triggers an auto-category that reminds me to add the recipe to BigOven ([www.bigoven.com]), the excellent recipe manager I use. Because it is so fast to clip recipes into EverNote, I'll collect a bunch of recipes from the internet and input them in batches into BigOven. When I add the recipes to BigOven, I either delete the recipe from EverNote or remove the "#bigoven#" text from the note if I want to keep the recipe in EverNote.

If I decide to use a specific recipe stored in EverNote for an event, I add the Event Date category (see above) to the recipe to associate it with the event. If I decide to use a recipe that is not in EverNote for an event, I add it to EverNote.

[forum.evernote.com]

vogelap

I just bought my MacBook and I'm still setting things up and tweaking it. I check my RSS feeds at work and whenever I find a useful tip for my Mac (usually from Lifehacker), I use the Windows Evernote client to clip the page so that I can read up on it later on my Mac. It's a little more "lightweight" than bookmarking things, and allows me to add notes (e.g. "Make sure to set up external hard drive first").

I also use it as a general "thought repository" for ideas (e.g. blog ideas, band names, etc).

No iPhone yet (soon!) but I'm excited about using it on the road!

Aashay

I use my camera phone to take pics of my whiteboard and upload it too evernote. Evernote's OCR software makes the text in the pic searchable. Now I can safely erase my whiteboard to start working on something else.

zemote

I use it mainly for storing train and bus routes/schedules. My mobile browser doesn't format CTA websites well enough, so I clip them to Evernote before I leave my apartment.

chicagojosh

Evernote has become my primary note taking application from wikidpad. Syncing notes was enough to switch from wikidpad to evernote. Even though wikidpad syncing was done with Foldershare.

Anything and everything I keep in Evernote. Following are my notebooks

1) notes
- I take pictures of business cards, flyers anything i need to remember. Just get those impages in the evernote with auto import and you have a great look up machine with evernote's OCR and great searching functions.
2) knowledge base
- anything for reference goes here
3) daily notes
- keeping track of what was done on day at work and home in seprate note. This has become kind of journal
4) project specific notebook
- When I prepare for a certification, there is one notebook for each certification notes and links and everything.
5) GTD - I have implemented GTD. Still in early stages. There are some kinks to workout for this.

Great application overall !!

cowboy3003

I use it to keep a centralized repository of documents I'm working on. I also use it for planning out projects and laying out ideas. If something comes up, I just launch evernote, add it in, save, and sync. This is especially great when you're reading through a website and realize it applies to a project you're mapping out... quick copy and paste the URL into your Evernote document and you can recall it from anywhere.

I use about 4 different computers in addition to my blackberry every day. Having something that I don't need to worry about carrying around or losing to spill my ideas into is totally invaluable.

PatrickTulskie

I'm a freelance spy so I keep details of my clients and my clients' targets, photos, locations, usual habits, notes, and my to-target lists.

...

Sorry but it was too tempting to post something ridiculous :P

In reality, I store my university lecture notes and summaries, and any information (such as research sources, websites, PDFs) that relate to any current projects I'm doing. The best feature is the syncing, so I can just access EverNote on the web, add a note, and know that I can sync it from there onto my MacBook. Also, I use it to store any funny news articles or good quotes for future reference.

aukreaz

Most of my recipes are printed on cards but on occasion I'll grab one from the Internet and not have time to clean it up and print it. So I put it into EverNote and sync my iPod Touch and take it into the kitchen with me. Much more convenient (and safer) than taking my computer into the kitchen - or trusting my memory.

davidwb

I use Evernote to store online material that I want to read (or need to read) offline.

rad_matter

It's important to remember that the free version of Evernote doesn't do anything over SSL. So bear in mind whatever you're syncing will be broadcast to everyone else at the Starbucks, too. I haven't had a chance to test the paid version of the desktop client.

The website (which is neat) will log you in under SSL and then redirect you to the non secure page. Just put an "https://" in there and you'll be locked down, though.

I haven't checked the iPhone app to see where it lies, security wise. But I can't seem to figure out how to edit previously posted notes with it, which is a little annoying. Their iPhone webapp is a better choice and works great under 3g/Wifi if you don't need the camera to take photos. It's worth noting that since the iPhone has a kind of crappy camera, getting text lined up and in focus can be challenging at times.

All that said, I still use it a lot. I keep all my coupon codes in there (Borders especially; Copy and paste the code and throw away the email/snail mail) and my shopping list. It's also good to use as a mobile link-roll, and a reminder to check certain things out later.

Digitarius

@aukreaz: I was reading your reply thinking, "Why on earth would he announce that?" You got me. LOL Obviously I need more coffee.

wickedcupofjoe

Using my iPhone I take pictures of my checks that clients pay me -- drop them up in EverNote -- instant access for archival purposes and searching purposes.. instant OCR Scanning!

petieg

But why should I use Evernote instead of Google Docs? I didn't see anything in the original post or in the comments so far which I can't do in Google Docs including storing photos--if you email photos they get added as documents.

okrick

I keep "data" on friends and family, including likes/dislikes and gift ideas, so that when birthdays come up I know what to buy them.

CallMeZoot

I've been going back and forth between Google Notebook and Evernote. I like that Notebook is by Google so I'm hoping it stays around for a long time plus it has virtually unlimited storage. On the other hand, Evernote let's you send clips using your camera phone, email clips to it and some other nice little features that Notebook doesn't have.

I'd really love to see everyone's thoughts on why they are leaning towards Evernote versus Google Notebook and would especially like to see an article on Lifehacker about the topic.

suprfli

@suprfli: @okrick: Downloadable client perhaps? It's nice to have the responsiveness of a local app.

Chef

I use evernote on my mac, windows and linux (through wine) PCs and also on my HTC Tilt Windows mobile phone. The only thing I'm doing that I don't see here is that when I book travel (airplane, hotel, car, etc) I'm putting a copy of the receipt web page or email into evernote. I also tend to copy this stuff into my calendar so it's kind of over kill but it's nice to search for this stuff which is harder to do via the calendar. I also store receipts for stuff I have purchased online.

Bindu Wavell

One thing I do NOT use Evernote for anymore is anything work related. That is because when they launched the 3.0 beta, they completely eliminated synchronizing data between machines without the internet. So, all information has to go to the cloud if you want it synch'd. Bringing back local synch is now a "low" (read "no") priority.

Why Evernote did this, and why Microsoft OneNote does not do web synch I cannot figure out. Which is too bad, because otherwise Evernote is an ingenious company that had filled a badly needed niche before others figured it out.

Jimmer

I primarily use Evernote to accumulate exercise information (amongst other things, like recipes). Because it can handle images, I can clip specific exercise guides with visual support, tag the exercise relative to the muscle-group used, and then use the saved searches to design a complete workout.

I do wish that the tag list would only display what tags were used in the selected notebook (hiding the unused tag instead of graying them out), so that I don't have to look between my Obliques and Pectorals tags while looking in my food notebook for my onion tag. But that's a small downside to a superb program.

KTMitch

I have found a useful resource for Evernote at work. We have TONS of old paper documents for various materials and process that are sitting in file cabinets all over the office. I have started taking all these documents, and scanning them in and saving them as .tif images. They are small, and using Evernote's indexing ability, have made them fully searchable.

Then, I shared out that particular workbook to the whole office.

Josh

re - evernote versus google notebook

the answer is easy for me - the interface on google notebook (and most google products but especially the docs relted ones) is so bad that I won't use them. THey are also slow, clunky and are guaranteed to 'share' information. plus evernote has faster and better indexing and search, better categorization, better local/remote synching (I am not bothered by security since I rely on non-technological security techniques)

evernote is by no means perfect but it is one of the best research tools I have found.

biggest improvement would be some way to easily and rapidly direct clips to different notes/categories

owenl1998

@ suprfli

I have the same issue and similar reasons. I eventually decided on having Evernote take care of any files that would make use of their OCR as well as anything that would make good use of their search engine. Luckily any images I have loaded don't eat to much of my free space. While for Google Notebook I use it more for general web clipping (recipes, etc..). I don't have the iPhone evernote application (don't have or want an iPhone) so I usually wind up using their mobile interface when connected with my Nokia n800 (internet tablet). So they're both similar interface wise (Google and Evernote). The iPhone web version of Evernote oddly doesn't work (even with a useragent change on both my tablet or Linux/Windows desktop and laptop on the browsers.

LaughingMan1

Wine! If I am enjoying a bottle of wine I will take a picture of the label with my LG Vu and send it to evernote. I then tag it wine and keep a running list of wines I enjoy.

chrisbreslin