Best notepad app for Android and Windows PC sharing/syncing?

[Miths000]

I just got my first smartphone today - a Samsung Galaxy S II - and my preferred PC notepad application over the last few years, AM-Notebook, unfortunately hasn't jumped on the Android craze.

I would of course prefer an app that allows easy sharing of notes between Android and a Windows PC, but my initial look last week at the PC/web versions of two of the seemingly most popular choices, Evernote and Springpad, weren't entirely positive.

The Evernote web application seems to be slow to the point of simply not wanting to load at all (just tried it again ten minutes ago in Opera and Chrome, it just sits there attempting to load) - and I've heard some horror stories (including from my father) about the desktop application suffering from some occasionally crippling bugs as well (freezes and crashes).
And while Springpad does a little better in that department, I'm not entirely sure if it's apparent focus on document sharing (seemingly even to the point of flagging some types of note content as public by default) mixes too well with my need for almost entirely private work, hobby and daily life related notes, some of them possibly with if not a need for encryption, then at least my desire to do so.

At this point I'm considering whether Google Docs could be an option, but without having tried it extensively, it seems like messing around with full sized word processing documents - and a perhaps not stellar sorting system? - might be a little excessive and cumbersome for taking notes?

Any other suggestions for Android/PC cloud based systems, or perhaps just some that use easily shared file formats so I can use Dropbox as an intermediate step?
Or are Springpad or Evernote worth giving a try after all?

 

[jimdroid]

Try Epistle, free in the Market. It's very simple, but works very well. It uses Dropbox, so any changes you make to your notes are instantly available to all of your DropBox-enabled devices.

I also use Evernote, as it runs fine on my PC, but I use that mainly for article clipping.

I use Epistle for day-to-day note taking.

 

[Deleted User]

I can't say that I've ever needed to encrypt any of my notes, but Springpad is definitely worth a look in my opinion. The Android app is absolutely spectacular and blows Evernote out of the water. Springpad is also quite versatile with it's different note types, barcode scanning and "lookup" functionality.

It definitely won't hurt to sign up and give it a go. I was quite impressed.

 

[mauiblue]

I've been enjoying Catch on my Android phone. Works well both on my phone and on the web.

 

[Miths000]

Thanks for the suggestions, I hadn't come across Epistle yet. I think I'm probably best off taking them all out for a spin and see which one(s) I prefer.

 

[KendallParis]

I suggested Epistle to someone in another thread about a week ago. It just has a nice overall look about it. No ads, it works very well and it also allows itself to be a sharing source for other applications, so that can help you in backing up other information on your phone.

I can't say enough about it.

 

[BookLover]

I can't say that I've ever needed to encrypt any of my notes, but Springpad is definitely worth a look in my opinion. The Android app is absolutely spectacular and blows Evernote out of the water. Springpad is also quite versatile with it's different note types, barcode scanning and "lookup" functionality.

It definitely won't hurt to sign up and give it a go. I was quite impressed.

I'd have to disagree...I tried Springpad and found it very limited. Evernote's webapp is very limited, I have to agree. HOWEVER, if you download and install the local client (which is FREE) to ALL your devices (laptops, smartphones, pads) -- it blows Springpad out of the water, imho. The local client ensures that all notes created in any other client, are sync'd to the cloud.

However, if you ONLY want a webapp, without local clients, then Springpad is probably better.

I love that Evernote (pro version) allows me to attach ANY file format (e.g., MS Office, zip) to any note. (Free version of Evernote, only allows a small subset of file formats to be attached.) - Using the Android app, I can access any note created from the other Evernote client apps. If you get the pro version, you can get offline access to any notebook. The free version requires an internet connection to access your notes.

For personal use, Evernote might be overkill...But for work use, it can't be beat. It integrates automatically into Outlook so that a single click clips any Outlook email into Evernote, including attachments. This is indispensable for managing complex projects.

 

[szantogab]

If you want to sync data wirelessly between your Amdroid phone and Windows PC, I think a great app for that is SyncBox. It can transfer files and folders directly from the phone to PC or vice-versa using WiFi. So this is fast (faster than Dropbox because of WiFi), and safer. For example: if you sync your Pictures folder on your phone to the PC's Pictures folder, and set the sync direction to Phone to PC, and you take a picture on your phone, that picture will automatically be copied to the PC.

There are tow versions of SyncBox (or Wifi Dropbox):
Lite (free): supports only 1 folders and its subfolders to sync, ad enabled, and slower
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rainy.syncboxlite

Pro ($2.99): supports unlimited folders, fast, ad free, a lot of options can be set.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rainy.syncbox

In order to make the app run, you have to download the client app (for your Android Phone), and a server app for your PC.

If you have any questions, plese feel free to ask: szantogab@gmail.com

 

[Paulthemaniak]

I'm using evernote for big stuff i want to put into "drawer" and for small text notes i use notepadus widget, its synchronizes via dropbox.

 

[tony_nexus]

I would of course prefer an app that allows easy sharing of notes between Android and a Windows PC

Hi,
Take a look at MS-OneNote. There's a free app for your phone and on the PC side, OneNote is bundled with some versions of MS-Office. There is encryption too of pages. I tried Evernote and other means of transferring lists and notes. Turns out OneNote syncs nicely and you can have different "notebooks" to organize your thoughts, lists, notes, etc. On the PC, you can paste images, web links, and layout is pretty much free form. On the Android device, from my observations, it's text oriented.

I'm using this combination on a Samsung Nexus S.

<more info>
You can edit your OneNote notes in any web browser if you are away from your phone or main PC. OneNote is on SkyDrive.