One of the things I first spotted after installing the beta of Windows 7 was the addition of a Sticky Notes application. For me, a compulsive note jotter, this is something I have always wanted but in previous Windows you usually had to go the third party route to get them. Not so in Windows 7 and personally I think this is a great ‘handy’ addition to the OS. Hopefully they don’t get hauled in front of the DoJ for committing the crime of bundling the app with Windows.
Anyway, as I’ve had some time to play with it I have some bitching points to raise about the application. It’s handy to have but I definitely think that there needs to be some work done to it to make it a resounding success.
Font choice
From what I have been able to tell; and even after a number of search, you have only one font and one size available with Sticky Notes. While it is nice to be able to change the color of the notes not being able to select a font or font size really sucks. The default font being used is some sort of script style which I suppose is meant to give it more of a handwritten notes style. Sorry but it sucks.
Saving and opening of notes
Right now the only way you can save your existing notes it to right click on the Sticky Note taskbar icon and select Close Window. When you do this all the notes on your desktop are closed out. To bring them back up just click on the Sticky Note taskbar icon.
It would be nice if we could close out individual sticky notes rather than this all or nothing approach. Often times I might have a half dozen notes scattered on the desktop but only really want one or two open at any one time.
Another alternative would be able to roll them up so only the top part of the sticky note (the section where the New Note icon and the Close icon are) and display the first sentence of the note in that area so you have a clue about what the note is about.
Sticky Note content
I realize this one might be totally out of the design reasoning behind the Sticky Notes but it would be really nice if the notes were drag ‘n drop aware. As well the ability to add rich media such as pictures – even thumbnails of them – as well as things like URLs.
I also noticed that it isn’t spell checking aware and I realize that these are only notes but it would be nice to have that availability for us bad speelers.
Other than those rather minor bitch points I really like the addition of the Sticky Notes to Win7 and it is something that I use on a daily basis. I just wish it was a little bit more feature rich. I’m not looking for a word processor stuck behind a desktop sticky note just a few more options that would make it even more useful.
I agree totally apart from those couple of your last mentioned (like thumbnails) things. On the other hand, why not, if they could be easily implemented.
But what I really miss in Sticky Notes is an ALARM.
It would be absolutely a huge boost to its functionality if the note could make a beep sound and starting to blink when your installed time line is reached. This should work both like a clock and like a timer.
For now I use Task Scheduler for this.
You've obviously given a lot of thought to this. Maybe you should make a note to Microsoft. Tell'em that you have a huge crowd of fans to back you up.
Hello,
I'm a big fan of sticky notes. They are one of the reason I installed Windows 7 on my PC. Please find my comments below:
Saving notes:
Actually, sticky notes are saved in a single binary file called StickyNotes.snp in your profile. Each time you click outside a note you save the file. So you do not need to close the whole app to save your notes on the disk.
Font Choice:
Sticky notes are RTF compliant. You can paste RTF text in them. It is the only way I know to master the font I use inside them.
I use this limitation to identify what I have pasted from what I have writen by hand. It is part of the design to focus on the “handwriting”. But I agree with you: a default font setting would have been nice.
Other Shortcuts:
There are extra shortcuts that can be usefull (regular ones are in the help):
ctrl shift A: change case
ctrl L or R or E: align left, right or center
ctrl Z or Y: undo or redo
Cheers
David
If you're really into taking notes (as am I), I'm pretty happy with OneNote. Sticky Note apps just don't offer enough flexibility and integration to be much help. One Note comes up quick and I just leave it open and refer to it all day long. Also offers the ability to sync between my desktop and laptops (this is key).
Ctrl + = 2 font sizes.
didn't work for me
[Ctrl + = 2 font size] does work. Use the “+” key that is within the row of number keys in the center portion of your keyboard – not the “+” bar to the far right of your keyboard.
I think Sticky Notes lacks a feature to always keep the stickies always on top of the desktop.
Ctrl + Shift + > makes the font bigger
Ctrl + Shift + < makes the font smaller
yeh i really want that feature
I highly agree, I'm finding them very useful — where else does a modern man write down what he needs to do or remember? Writing on pieces of paper tends to invite the chance of them getting thrown out. I would also like to be able to sync them between my desktop and laptop, as I switch between them constantly.
I also agree with A.B.'s mention of being able to alarm the notes. I don't use things like Task Schedular or calendars to do things like that, because it's too much effort whereas Sticky Notes is just so simple and easy.
you can change the font size by ctrl + shift < to decrease and ctrl + shift > to increase
Awesome freeware alternative: Stickies (zhornsoftware.co.uk/stickies). I've been using this program for years and it supports just about everything one could ever need (always on top, alarms, sleeping,changing the font)…
Apple achieved Sticky Note perfection long ago. Yea yea, I know. Anytime anyone says anything positive about Mac it's automatically dismissed as fanboy-ism, regardless of merit. But whatever, here's the facts: The Mac sticky notes are EXACTLY what they should be: always saved like real pieces of paper (i.e., you never have to save, just quit and when you re-open, bam: your content is there). The default font is small and subtle, but can be easily changed to anything on a word-by-word basis. Robust tools for opening, arranging and organizing hundreds of open and partially-open stickies with the click of a button. Oh and you can paste everything plus the kitchen sink into a Mac sticky: pictures, websites, even video clips.
It's like Windows saw this 8 years ago with the roll-out of OS-X, tried to copy it, and missed the concept completely. The Windows sticky notes are atrociously bad. I'm not biased, these are facts. Feel free to argue.
See http://www.desktop-post-it-notes.net/content.mv… for the latest desktop post it notes review
You can use microsoft word or notepad for changing the font in the sticky note
Try Notes Agent – http://www.desktop-post-it-notes.net/
It has always on top, transparency…etc even built in with Artificial Intelligence!
Right click the sticky on the taskbar and choose pin to taskbar. It will add it to the taskbar as a permanent app, similar to the shortcuts.
Thanks for share .Great site
you do realize that you can change the font, just go into a program, say MS word, and use times new roman font, type anything, ASDFASDF would work, and copy and paste into the sticky note, don’t hit space, type anything aftewards, tadaaaa, u got times new roman in sticky notes :p…
also u can change font by the MS word trick or hitting CTRL+SHIFT > or <
i just keep it 12 cuz im lezy
I am certainly no computer (or any other type)of genius, but I changed the font by going to the “search programs and files” line of the start button, typed in “font” found the “segoe” font as that is what it is and since I found I couldn’t delete it, I hid it. (on the bar at the top)And that works-at least for now. Thanks for all help.