contributed by Thomas L. at 04:30 PM on February 05, 2004.
Reading the NYTimes little article about Google in Libraries, makes we wonder: How are people organizing their bookmarks? Google is great yes, but there is much more to be said for a well organized collection of useful links, especially when it comes to internet-ready reference.
So: How are we organizing our bookmarks?
Since the summer of 2003 I have been strictly using Mozilla as a browser, and am continually wowed by some of the powerful plugins it has. I use the NewsMonster plugins for RSS feeds. Recently, I am finding that Mozilla needs better bookmark organizing functions (All web browsers need better bookmarking functions!)
Does anyone have a experience with Power Marks???
Any other software useful for this task....Just wondering...
Comments
Thomas: Some of us have very disorganized bookmarks. Any hints/tips? I think it's a good post. kg
Posted by: kaurag | February 5, 2004 11:28 PM
I am actually way overdue on a bookmarks cleanup myself. I have always just added and deleted folders to my bookmarks and stuck links into them as I see fit. I like this because once a link has been bookmarked, the link will always auto-fill in my URL when I type it, so I am often hitting Ctrl+D. But I am TIRED of this approach. I posted the bit on bookmark organizing software because I too am looking for a better interface to my bookmarks. It would be nice to be able to search them via keyword. I think a lot could be done to enhance bookmarks on web browers. One idea would be to pass bookmarks on to others, or even better share bookmark files in realtime, so that if your friend adds a bookmark, so do you. I know that there are people working on Mozilla plugins for 'Bookmarks + History' at MozDev
I just recommend that everyone switches to Mozilla, and fools around with some of the many available plugins, and shares info about new and useful browser development. :)
Posted by: tl | February 6, 2004 12:28 PM
A number of years ago there was a program called "The brain" (or something like that). It, among other things, was a way to organize bookmarks, local files, etc visually. It was sort of like Plumb Design's Visual Thesaurus. I can't remember the name of the company, and am guessing they might be out of business, but I might have a copy of the program on a disc somewhere if you might be interested.
Posted by: michael | February 8, 2004 06:25 PM
I have since found a Mozilla plug-in called Weblinks which allows anyone to share anyone elses links via their Mozilla browser. I haven't finished loading all my links, but I will notify this list when I have - and will be happy to share. Also I recently came accross a nice link/bookmark sharing interface called del.icio.us, with a nice interface, but I fear too much of an emphasis on the 'popularity' of a link rather then the 'classification' of a link.
Posted by: t_l | February 13, 2004 11:38 AM
Yahoo's companion toolbar plugs into most browsers. It is accessible via the My Yahoo pages, so the toolbar is not REQUIRED, just a login to your Yahoo account. It remembers bookmarks, and the organization of them is as good as you are willing to make it.
My organization:
Top level has five folders (more than eight gets confusing) plus the 12 links I use most often: 'What time is it right now', bank and credit card account logins, cell phone login, etc.
My folders are:
1) Dating/Gifts/Travel
2) Music
a) Lyrics
b) Playlists
3) Personal
a) Computers
b) Bartending/Parties
c) Friends
d) Quotes
4) Search Engines
5) Work
a) HR
b) Money
c) Computers
It's not the best, but it works for me. I organize it 2-3 times per year, which is pretty close to enough.
I try to differentiate between links to constantly active information (slashdot, news, accounts), and content that is important to me to store forever (gift ideas, trivia, computer tips).
How do you organize yours?
Posted by: Brett | August 10, 2004 12:38 PM
Brett - it is really interesting to see your bookmark structure. I'm sure it makes total sense to you to have Dating, Gifts, and Travel all in one folder, but I don't see the connection. Another example why there isn't one perfect solution to any problem.
Currently I have 8 top level folders. Two are for topics I am currently/was recently researching (right now Auto repair and content management systems). These folders will get moved or deleted eventually, depending whether I've solved the problem, lost interest, or have a continuing interest and move the folder to a permanent location. I have another folder of affiliate links for another website I run. Another folder for "Fun" that includes weird/fun links, blogs, people I know in real life, and designs I really like. Another folder for "Future" which contains links to job hunting info, grad school info, and info on cities I was considering moving to. The IE "Links" folder (which I display on the browser toolbar) contains sites I visit every day. There is a "Topics" folder with sub-folders for a variety of topics I am continuously interested in (compared to the top level folders for current/passing fancies). Finally, a "Utilities" folder for script reposititories, computer maintenance/help desk stuff, all my banking info, and other stuff like that.
Posted by: michael | August 10, 2004 09:55 PM
Due to the proliferation of comment spam, I've had to close comments on this
entry. If you would like to leave comment, please use one of my recent
entries. Thank you and sorry for any inconvience caused.
Comments
Thomas: Some of us have very disorganized bookmarks. Any hints/tips? I think it's a good post. kg
Posted by: kaurag | February 5, 2004 11:28 PM
I am actually way overdue on a bookmarks cleanup myself. I have always just added and deleted folders to my bookmarks and stuck links into them as I see fit. I like this because once a link has been bookmarked, the link will always auto-fill in my URL when I type it, so I am often hitting Ctrl+D. But I am TIRED of this approach. I posted the bit on bookmark organizing software because I too am looking for a better interface to my bookmarks. It would be nice to be able to search them via keyword. I think a lot could be done to enhance bookmarks on web browers. One idea would be to pass bookmarks on to others, or even better share bookmark files in realtime, so that if your friend adds a bookmark, so do you. I know that there are people working on Mozilla plugins for 'Bookmarks + History' at MozDev
I just recommend that everyone switches to Mozilla, and fools around with some of the many available plugins, and shares info about new and useful browser development. :)
Posted by: tl | February 6, 2004 12:28 PM
A number of years ago there was a program called "The brain" (or something like that). It, among other things, was a way to organize bookmarks, local files, etc visually. It was sort of like Plumb Design's Visual Thesaurus. I can't remember the name of the company, and am guessing they might be out of business, but I might have a copy of the program on a disc somewhere if you might be interested.
Posted by: michael | February 8, 2004 06:25 PM
I have since found a Mozilla plug-in called Weblinks which allows anyone to share anyone elses links via their Mozilla browser. I haven't finished loading all my links, but I will notify this list when I have - and will be happy to share. Also I recently came accross a nice link/bookmark sharing interface called del.icio.us, with a nice interface, but I fear too much of an emphasis on the 'popularity' of a link rather then the 'classification' of a link.
Posted by: t_l | February 13, 2004 11:38 AM
Yahoo's companion toolbar plugs into most browsers. It is accessible via the My Yahoo pages, so the toolbar is not REQUIRED, just a login to your Yahoo account. It remembers bookmarks, and the organization of them is as good as you are willing to make it.
My organization:
Top level has five folders (more than eight gets confusing) plus the 12 links I use most often: 'What time is it right now', bank and credit card account logins, cell phone login, etc.
My folders are:
1) Dating/Gifts/Travel
2) Music
a) Lyrics
b) Playlists
3) Personal
a) Computers
b) Bartending/Parties
c) Friends
d) Quotes
4) Search Engines
5) Work
a) HR
b) Money
c) Computers
It's not the best, but it works for me. I organize it 2-3 times per year, which is pretty close to enough.
I try to differentiate between links to constantly active information (slashdot, news, accounts), and content that is important to me to store forever (gift ideas, trivia, computer tips).
How do you organize yours?
Posted by: Brett | August 10, 2004 12:38 PM
Brett - it is really interesting to see your bookmark structure. I'm sure it makes total sense to you to have Dating, Gifts, and Travel all in one folder, but I don't see the connection. Another example why there isn't one perfect solution to any problem.
Currently I have 8 top level folders. Two are for topics I am currently/was recently researching (right now Auto repair and content management systems). These folders will get moved or deleted eventually, depending whether I've solved the problem, lost interest, or have a continuing interest and move the folder to a permanent location. I have another folder of affiliate links for another website I run. Another folder for "Fun" that includes weird/fun links, blogs, people I know in real life, and designs I really like. Another folder for "Future" which contains links to job hunting info, grad school info, and info on cities I was considering moving to. The IE "Links" folder (which I display on the browser toolbar) contains sites I visit every day. There is a "Topics" folder with sub-folders for a variety of topics I am continuously interested in (compared to the top level folders for current/passing fancies). Finally, a "Utilities" folder for script reposititories, computer maintenance/help desk stuff, all my banking info, and other stuff like that.
Posted by: michael | August 10, 2004 09:55 PM