Michal Ždanský Microsoft OneNote is a note-taking application that Windows users may have known for a decade. OneNote has changed a lot in that time, becoming a very capable note-taker with a nifty hierarchy. Notepads are the basis, where each of them contains colored bookmarks and each bookmark also contains individual pages. OneNote can be great for taking notes at school, for example.
The app has been around for a long time available for iOS with some limitations, it's only coming to Mac today, on the other hand, it was really worth the wait. OneNote has been part of Office for a long time, but Microsoft decided to offer the application separately and for free, so you don't have to pay for the Mac application, and the previous restrictions where you had to pay for basic editing functions have also disappeared. Most features are completely free including synchronization, users only pay extra if they want SharePoint support, version history and Outlook integration.
What catches your eye at first glance is the new look of the user interface, which is significantly different compared to the latest version of Office 2011. Microsoft-specific ribbons can still be found here, but it looks much more elegant and airy compared to Office. Likewise, the menus are displayed in the same style as Office for Windows. What's more, the application is very fast compared to Office, and if Office for Mac is similarly successful, which is due out later this year, we could finally expect an adequately quality office suite from Microsoft, especially if Apple's iWork is not enough for you.
The application itself will offer a wide range of editing options, from inserting special notes to inserting a table. Each element, including text, is considered an object, and thus pieces of text can be freely moved and rearranged next to images, notes and others. However, OneNote for Mac lacks some features compared to the Windows version, which is also available for free. Only in the Windows version can you attach files and online images, insert recorded audio or video, equations and symbols to documents. It is also not possible to print, use the drawing tools, send screenshots via the "Send to OneNote" add-on, and view detailed revision information in OneNote on Mac.
It is possible that in the future Microsoft will compare its applications on different platforms to the same level in terms of functions, but for now the Windows version has the upper hand. This is quite a shame, because alternatives to OneNote such as Evernote on Mac offer the above-mentioned options that are only available on Windows with OneNote.
Furthermore, Microsoft has also released an API for third-party developers who can integrate OneNote into their services or create special add-ons. After all, Microsoft itself released OneNote Web Clipper, which will allow you to easily insert pieces of web pages into notes. Several third-party applications are already available, namely Feedly, IFTTT, News360, Weave whether JotNot.
With sync, an iOS mobile client, and free availability, OneNote is an interesting competitor to Evernote, and if you don't hold a grudge against Microsoft, it's definitely worth a try. At the same time, it is a preview of the appearance of Office 2014 for Mac. You can find OneNote in the Mac App Store.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/microsoft-onenote/id784801555?mt=12″]
Cool. I missed this app. Anyone familiar with Windows knows how excellent it is. Compared to evernote, a fundamental advantage is that it is free in its full functionality. Without ads and other restrictions. Usable across the entire apple ecosystem. And on top, you can see where the design of MS office on mac os will go - that is, exactly where Office 2013 on windows - which is a good and positive direction. I'm already looking forward to the whole new package.
I agree, but I couldn't take it anymore and switched from MBA back to Dell PC and I'm satisfied.
I won't give Apple another chance for a PC before 3 years... :-).
And what to add that half of the functions are missing compared to the Win version?
While the OneNote for Mac application is pretty good, the Windows version remains more feature-rich. The free OneNote 2013 application for Windows has all the same features of the version that comes bundled with Office, including several that the Mac version lacks. Here's a list of what you can do in OneNote 2013 that you can't do in OneNote for Mac:
Insert file attachments, online images, or images directly from scanners
Insert recorded audio or video
Insert symbols or equations
View detailed information on revisions and what users those revisions were made by
Use drawing tools
Send screen captures or text clips to OneNote through the "Send to OneNote" add-on
Save or open local files
Print
You'll also find these kinds of limitations in the online and mobile versions of the application—it's too bad that Microsoft didn't try to support all of the same features across all of its desktop clients. Alternative notebook applications like Evernote do a better job of providing the same features to users regardless of their chosen platform.
Thanks for the addition. At the time of writing the article, we did not know about these facts, now this information is also in the article.
Not for nothing it is “free” …..
Hello, is it possible to save a pdf document in oOneNote and how do I do it? Thanks for the advice.
Hi, in the article you write "users only pay extra if they want SharePoint support". However, I couldn't find this option anywhere.
Hello, this application is not possible to install for mac 10.7.5?? Thanks for the info:-)