I first heard about Google Notebook book over on http://www.redsil.com/blog/ and have been using it ever since.
Whenever I used to find a new site I thought was interesting I used to bookmark it in Firefox, but my bookmark list became huge and I could never quite remember what some of them were. Google Notebook makes things a lot easier. Google Notebook has a Firefox extension which allows you to open your notebook from the bottom of your browser (while still viewing a web page). So when you find a web page you like, simply open your notebook from the bottom of your browser and press “clip” – which creates a link to the article, then below it add your notes about the article.
Whenever I see a site I am interested in I “clip it” and write a short note, so when I am stuck for inspiration for what to write (or nice designs) I have a look through my Google Notebook. The good thing too is that it is easy to delete an entry, so when I have written about a subject I can delete it and hopefully my Google Notebook won’t end up as cluttered as my bookmarks 
.
Another advantage of Google Notebook over Bookmarking is that your notebook is available in any machine wherever you are work or home as long as you can login to your google account.
Google Notebook is not just for bookmarking links you can also use it for (surprisingly ) writing notes or reminders for yourself. Take a look at the Google Notebook tour to find out more.
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Yup, accessible from anywhere is why I started using del.icio.us. I already have a Google account for the feed reader and analytics, so I think I’ll check this out, too (can’t wait until Google comes out with an OS!). I remember John mentioning it a while back.
Tara- like Lauren, I use del.icio.us for this. Have you used del.icio.us? I wonder if there are advantages to using one over the other? Has anyone used both and have a recommendation?
You’d love del.icio.us –
The official yahoo firefox extension for it is the business too.
With the extension installed, and a del.icio.us account, you can hit the ‘Tag’ button (which is installed to the left of the address bar) and a little window pops up. You enter a title for the link, i.e “Kinetic Sculpture Video’, a brief description (if you think it needs it) and then ‘tags’. I’m sure you’re familiar with the web 2.0 concept of tagging items with metadata – I have a particular tag ‘inspiration’ which I use along with tags ‘design’, ‘webdesign’, ‘art’ etc.
The best thing about that extension, is once you have a list of links on del.icio.us, you can press the delicious button (which is installed between the tag button and the home button in Ffox) and it springs up an interface not dissimilar to Google Notebook – but you have a search bar to find the del.icio.us entry you want easily, but it also displays your tags as folders to navigate through.
Where it begins to get particularly powerful for Graphic and web designers (and anyone else seeking inspiration for that matter), is that others can see your links at del.icio.us/yourusername (so mine is http://del.icio.us/ben_seven ), and so see what you’re finding on the web and being inspired by. But even further, that page gives an RSS feed by default (at http://del.icio.us/rss/ben_seven) so you can have someone else’s findings streaming into your RSS reader.
Even further than that, you could subscribe to a feed for a particular tag, for instance all the links I’ve marked as ‘Inspiration’ could be gleaned from http://del.icio.us/rss/ben_seven/inspiration .
Sorry for the rambling, but this has been great for me – I did a placement in february where a few of the designers used del.icio.us – and ever since then I’ve been able to see what they’re drawing inspiration from delivered right to my RSS reader.
That all sounds a little complex, but that’s merely due to how powerful it is – the implications for sharing things found on the net is huge. I’m hoping to implement a set-up using this for my former college class to share inspiration which we currently do via a forum, straight from the browser instead.
If you have any questions about it, feel free to drop me a line!
(Further geek ramblings can be found at http://tech.7folio.com )
Ben
Hi Lauren and Randa,
I have tried both and prefer google notebook. I like that I can have it sitting down in the corner or my browser (open or closed) and its quick to scroll through, I guess its just personal preference. I just discovered you can section things too, I dont know if you can do this with del.icio.us?
Hi Ben, sorry just seen your message it was waiting moderation because of the links. I will have to take a look at that firefox extension, its sounds promising, thanks.
I remember taking a look at it awhile ago, it was cool and something new but, I never had any use for it. I kinda forgot about it until now lol.
I didn’t know about that Firefox extension, I should probably use it since my bookmark list is HUGE and growing lol.
Hi Sean, its definitely worth taking a look at, you sound like you have the same bookmarking problem as me.
Ben, I have just taken a look at the RSS feature in de.licio.us which works really well. I still like google notebook for the ease use, but the RSS feature will be very useful for keeping an eye on design stories. Thanks
The problem I find with bookmarks in my browser is how time-consuming it is to delete them all.
Perhaps someone knows of a faster way? The only way I know is to open my bookmarks (using Firefox) and delete them one at a time, having to go back into my bookmark list once one is gone.
I’ve been meaning to gut them out for some time (not that it’s a big priority but I can be fussy sometimes).
There is a way David – in firefox, click “Bookmarks” and “Organise bookmarks”. You can then select multiple bookmarks and organise them into folders, or delete them as you see fit.
Anyone using multiple computers with firefox should definitely check out Foxmarks bookmark sync – check out my post on it at http://tech.7folio.com/?p=8 .
It automatically keeps your bookmarks sync’d – for me, between my Macbook, G4 Cube and my girlfriend’s Windows laptop (and conveniently, she hates Firefox…).
Hi David – If you go to the top of the browser and choose bookmarks – organise bookmarks you can then select several of your bookmarks at once and hit the delete button (top right).
Hi Ben looks like we were both answering at the same time
Haha better two answers than none!
I think the conciseness (sp?) of yours wins – I have a tendency to ramble, it seems!
Thanks Ben, Tara. Much appreciated!
I LOVE del.icio.us. I love the tags and the tag clouds; I love how I can cross-reference tags; I love how I can go to the front page of del.icio.us and have a look at the most recent sites posted to del.icio.us by anyone anywhere; I love that you can set up tags that a group of people can share (which is how I got into del.icio.us in the first place – one of my teachers set up a group tag for his students to share useful sites).
I haven’t explored the RSS functions of del.icio.us yet but plan to.
The only use I make for browser bookmarks now is to store my most frequently visited sites in the Bookmarks Bar which is always visible near the top of the browser window.
That’s my two cents’ (2p for Tara’s benefit) worth.
Hmm. Seems interesting. I do use Google Bookmarks. I suppose it’s a bit like that, minus the reminder features and whatnots
Thanks, shall try it out soon!
I haven’t used that yet. I’m going to have to try it out.
Keeping my book marks organized between my home and word computer, my various interests and different programs that I use has become extremely time consuming. Sometimes on a rainy saturday I weed them out. I’ll have to try Google and see if this makes it any easier.
Hi Chris
Thanks for commenting, sorry it took a while to approve for some reason Askimet tagged it.
I’d definitely recommend google notebook. I’m using it a lot for blogging. I sometimes write posts on my mac and sometimes on my PC laptop so it means I always have them to hand.
Okay, this comment is way after the discussion has ended, but I wanted to add that I finally took your recommendation Tara, and tried Google Notebook and I love it. I have been using del.icio.us, and like it for keeping track of bookmarks, but I really think I prefer Notebook for other purposes too.
Hi Randa
I glad you’re converted
. I love the way it sits at the bottom of your browser but you can still carry on browsing
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