Soon after I decided to use Buzan’s iMindMap as one of my main tools I discovered another mind mapping software of a similar name: MINDMAP.

It is a product of ConceptDraw and at that time (middle of March) it was available in version 4.4. I downloaded trial version and for some time used it as a main mind mapping tool (well, except paper and pen). In the meantime, at the beginning of April, a new version number 5 was released and I get it immediately after.

I’ve been using ConceptDraw MINDMAP for about three weeks and was pretty satisfied with it. Here I’ll say something about features not available in my standard mind mapping software: brainstorming, integrated image library and set of templates.

Brainstorming mode

This proved very useful in cases when I had to quickly collect all the ideas, without having enough time to think about the relations between them. Difference between this mode and normal, mind map drawing mode is that during the brainstorming you quickly write one item after another, in order they come to your mind. This way you get a list with all items which you can then arrange based on relationships between them. I used it mostly to outline ideas for blog posts.

Integrated image library

iMindMap offers an access to image library on the Web which is fine if you have a Web connection running. Sometimes, however, it is not usable and a built in library collection is the only solution. Although iMindMap authors promised it in a new major release, ConcepDraw MINDMAP offers it already. Image library is not tagged and searchable, like in iMindMap, but organized into categories. I have to admit that in ages when everything is tagged, this looked like somewhat old fashioned concept.

Mind map templates

Neither iMindMap nor FreeMind offer mind map templates, but CD MINDMAP do. Provided templates could be used for both business (eg. to plan a meeting or company organizations) and personal purposes (for exam preparation or day planning).

I had no bigger problems using MINDMAP from the beginning, except I couldn’t get use to default look of the mind map. Initially, drawings in MINDMAP look more like hierarchies, with text in boxes instead of above the lines, but this can be easily reformatted ether node by node or by applying one of predefined map themes.

What I missed the most is a free drawing tool, like the one in iMindMap. Although there is a possibility to draw lines and shapes, mind mapping is much about drawing and not being able to do that is a great handicap.

If you would like to test it yourself, choose either professional or personal edition. They both share main features and both versions are available for free trial. ConceptDraw MindMap is a mind mapping software worth trying.