You can use a template and delete branches you don't want. Although rearrangement of branches following deletions is not automatic it is just one click away. You can add notes to branches for more detailed information.

This is also quite a decent drawing program. You can connect objects and use a variety of fills. There is a lot of included clipart and it's very easy to add any other graphics. Formatting is very easy and there are a large number of customisable whole-map formats included. It is easy to include objects from other programs, such as an Excel chart.

It will export to PDF and various graphic formats, as an outline to Word and as a web page (including image maps). It will export to PowerPoint. It will even export to an iPod.

You can plan and then export an outline. You can easily set a priority on different branches (each representing a task). You can import tasks from Outlook.

There is a brainstorming mode with a timer should you want it. Rearranging and moving branches is easy although it can get a bit messy unless you keep clicking the 'arrange' button. You can make maps very visual which will help with remembering them.

You can use a template and delete branches you don't want. However rearranging is not automatic so you have to drag branches around after deleting others. Results are bright and you can have lots of pictures. Different style to the others.

It is easy to lay information out clearly. It's easy to add other elements such as clipart (there is a lot included) and there are drawing tools. You can connect objects and thus draw flowcharts too.

Inspiration has limited export facilities. It will save as a picture in various formats but won't naturally link with any other programs.

There are lots of templates that can make it easy to get started, particularly for students. It does outlining very nicely and can export to a variety of programs.

There is a brainstorming mode that works well. It's fairly easy to rearrange your ideas and group concepts together. Learning new topics is nice as there is lots of clipart and Inspiration's style lends itself to this. It would be nice if it was easier to bring in elements from other programs. It also lets you draw concept maps.

Very easy. You can start with a template and delete branches you don't need. Rearranging is automatic and it keeps pictures with the branches. Lets you concentrate on the IEP itself without getting distracted by formatting or file operations.

It's easy to colour branches and add bubbles and pictures. There is a disappointing amount of clip art included with this version compared to the previous version. However there are no drawing facilities. MindManager maps are very distinctive and they do all tend to look the same.

MindManager exports to PowerPoint and with a lot of thought you can produce interesting and unusual presentations. It is ideal for producing web pages (such as a lot of this site) and will do image maps and hyperlinks.

You can plan a project and then link with Outlook - tasks can be synchronised between the two programs. It will also work with Project but I don't have that program so haven't been able to try it. You can also export an outline to Word (and other programs) if you're writing an essay.

The way MindManager works makes it easy to focus on the ideas and avoid being distracted by formatting issues.

There is a brainstorming mode but it is so easy to enter branches anyway it's not that necessary. It's easy to rearrange branches so you can brainstorm and then organise your thoughts. Similarly with learning new topics although here it would be nice if you had more control over the formatting and could easily draw diagrams or even lines onto the maps.

You can use templates and rearrangement is automatic, so you can concentrate on the IEP. There are a decent amount of pictures now, and it's not too difficult to add your own. The map keeps itself organised very nicely so it's easy to work your way around it.

Crisp and clean and encourages users to click on branches. A decent amount of clipart is supplied and you can format the branches in many different ways, although you can't drag them to exactly where you want them.

You can export to PowerPoint and to different graphic formats.

What is unique to this program is it will produce independent interactive web pages.

You can import from Project and export to Project, Powerpoint and Word. You can have many different kinds of documents as integral parts of the map.

It is very easy to focus on ideas and to rearrange them.

There isn't a brainstorming mode but it's so easy to add a branch it doesn't matter. It's easy to rearrange branches. Because the program encourages you to click on branches to expand them, they're more interactive which lends itself to learning. You can format the branches easily to make different ideas stand out.

You can't use a template so you need to remember to do 'Save As' for each new IEP. Rearrangement is automatic but deleting branches is fiddly. Very limited number of pictures.

Crisp and clean, with a variety of predefined formats for the branches. You can rearrange branches to how you want them. Although you can link to picture files, it's not intuitive.

You can export to HTML, PDF & graphic formats, and import MindManager files.

It is easy to focus on ideas. The HTML export can be used as an outline.

Good for getting ideas down and for sorting and arranging them later.

Because you initially work in a text outline, which is then converted to a map when you click a button, although this program could be used for writing IEPs, it wouldn't have the visual magic while 'writing' them that appeals to me and more particularly to students.

Produces very crisp and clear maps that can be modified in limited ways. Gets information across in a methodical rather than picturesque way (which might be what you want, of course).

It can export to text outlines, HTML (including image maps) and various graphic formats).

You can easily outline ideas and export them as a text file. This could then be used as the basis for a new document, but you're working in a text rather than visual mode the whole time.

It is a good way of organising your ideas and thoughts, but again, it works in a text mode not a visual one, only converting to a mind map when you tell it to.

You could use this program to write IEPs but you can't use templates, so you would have to 'Save As' for each new IEP. You can't add pictures or format in very many different ways, so the IEPs wouldn't be too visual.

This program presents information in a different way to mind maps (see the next two boxes) although there is some overlap with Inspiration. You can't make the maps very pretty but you can make them very clear, and export them as text outlines or images.

The structure of a concept map doesn't lend itself to linear planning (that's its strength) and so using this program to plan a piece of writing would be great in the initial stages (see next box) but would then need a bit of work.

A concept map is fantastic for thinking. It's all about linking ideas together. A concept map of what a concept map is, is here. What this program can also do, which seems to be fairly unique, is let you host maps on the internet or network that can then be edited by anyone you give access to, so ideas can really be shared and take off.

You can't use a template so you need to remember to do 'Save As' for each new IEP. Rearrangement is automatic. There are quite a few pictures but it's difficult to add extra ones and I just can't work out how to easily resize pictures without having to resize the text box too.

You can have curvy branches which makes it possible to produce mind maps that look almost hand drawn. You can make very pretty looking maps and present information in really clear ways.

You can export to HTML, PDF & graphic formats, Powerpoint and Keynote, MindManager (XML) and OPML and import MindManager files.

It is easy to focus on ideas. The program will keep out of the way if you want it to, and let you just get your thoughts down onto the screen. You can then export in OPML (outlining mark-up) or a variety of other formats.

Good for getting ideas down, clarifying them and sorting them.

There isn't a lot of difference between Novamind, Visual Mind, Inspiration, ConceptDraw MindMap and MindManager. Because of the automatic rearrangement and use of templates, ConceptDraw MindMap, Visual Mind and MindManager ever so slightly have the edge over Novemind.

ConceptDraw MindMap has by far the best options for presenting data. It will export in lots of formats, and it's built-in formatting and drawing tools mean you can be very artistic if you want to be, or let the program do most of the arty work for you. Novamind produces the most authentic looking mind maps and (to my mind) the most pleasing to the eye.

For websites, all these programs will make a page for you, but MindManager will make a whole site, and VisualMind produces unique interactive pages.

For writing, any of these programs will help.

MindManager will sync with Outlook.

The paid for programs will link with a variety of programs but VisualMind and MindManager are by far the most comprehensive, and could become an integral part of your 'system'.

All of these programs will help you get your thoughts down. It really comes down to personal preference, budget and computer system.

You can 'draw' a mind map, using shapes and lines, but you have to build it up element by element. (See Visio, below.) It's only really useful for mind mapping for very occasional use.

There are lots and lots of templates, covering almost every type of diagram you could think of, and dozens (literally) that I had never thought of. If you're a bit stuck and need some inspiration, the templates in this program could well provide a kick start to your creative thinking.

There is a lot of clipart and a wide variety of templates. You can manipulate shapes very easily and get them to resize automatically. There are strong drawing tools and it is easy to produce good looking diagrams.

See above. Strictly speaking Inspiration doesn't produce diagrams that look like mind maps - they are bubble diagrams. However it has enough similarities with the 'real' mapping programs that I've included in that section.

Inspiration is designed for bubble diagrams and does them very well. It is easy to add pictures and to format the bubbles. There are lots of education-based templates to get students or yourself started. It can also draw flow charts easily but does not help you much with arranging the layout.

There is a lot of clipart. It is very education-orientated. You can add your own shapes and pictures but in a limited way.

There is a mind map template but you have to build up the diagram element by element. (E.g. you drag a branch across, then rotate it to point in the direction you want, then add your text.)

There are lots and lots of templates. Visio is really well set-up for all these kinds of diagrams, and a lot more too. It gives you lots of help with laying out diagrams which is especially useful for flow charts. Like ConceptDraw, it could provide you with a kick start to your thinking.

There is a lot of clipart and links to other programs (especially other Microsoft ones) are very strong, both for importing and exporting. It is very easy to draw nice looking diagrams. Shapes don't automatically resize as you type in text. There is a huge range of different diagrams available.

As with most of these other programs, it's possible to draw a mind map but it's only really practical for occasional use.

There are lots of templates and a growing . OmniGraffle is a pleasure to use and deceptively powerful. It gives you lots of help with laying out diagrams which is especially useful for flow charts. It can help you organise your thoughts and present them in an elegant way.

There isn't any clipart but it's easy to add graphics from elsewhere. Links to other programs are strong and the program is very well integrated with the whole Mac system. It is very easy to draw nice looking diagrams.

Technically possible but not recommended.

Lots and lots of templates especially if you get the 'Business and Charting' library. It is fairly easy to lay out diagrams. SmartDraw is designed for these sorts of diagrams (and a lot more) and does them very well, in a similar way to ConceptDraw and Visio.

There is a lot of clipart and very strong links to other programs (especially Microsoft ones). It helps you draw graphs, tables, forms and lots more. You can produce very nice looking diagrams very easily.

Probably easier to use pen and paper.

There are no templates but you can draw shapes easily and lay them out by hand.

Many shapes resize as you type in text. There are lots of formatting options. Links with other programs are strong because the drawing tools are a part of those other programs.