My recent return to the Mac after about a decade of using only Windows, thanks to work, was based on several reasons from quality of hardware (and the switch to intel) to moving back to an interface I am happy with. One of those reasons in the middle was the great set of specific tools that answer a need as opposed to giving you a swiss army feature set. Once I switched though I have begun to find great Windows apps that are beginning to meet this ‘call to usefulness’ as well. Today (thanks to a pingback) I found Thoughtex.net which is a free mind mapping application for Windows XP and Vista. Based on the .NET Framework 3.0 the software allows you to capture ideas graphically and link ideas together, provides rich editing, and a contextual search. The software is currently in its first beta and is free…yup free. Head over and check it out to help you outline your next project or article.

Thoughtex – Software for Ideas