[TMDH]

I'm wondering what the future holds for Bonsai Desktop. To be blunt, I love this software and consider it tops in its category. However, it seems the development has stopped. I have left this software probably 5 times and have returned every single time! It's simple and powerful and full of features. I know you guys don't like to announce your plans (not sure why?), but I hope I'm not alone in encouraging you to take this software to the next level.
The desktop software is really really good, but could use some additional features and some visual upgrades.
I'm not sure where the handheld market is going. I still use my Treo 700P even with some of its limitations. Windows mobile seems stuck in the mud. Seems google android, Apple Iphone, or Blackberry are the most popular. I know there are many Bonsai handheld users who are wanting to upgrade their hardware, but want Bonsai to go with them.

Hope all is well with you guys. I appreciate your software. Hope you continue to develop it or pass it on to someone who will. My intent is not to criticize, but to motivate. Thanks for listening to this one "power user's" opinion.

This post has been edited by TMDH: 23 January 2010 - 10:25 AM

[Richard Murphy]

I can assure you development is not stopped on Bonsai Desktop. I agree that progress has slowed considerably in the last year or two. The next major release of Bonsai Desktop will likely be a major overhaul of the app not only switching frameworks but also the programming language (i.e. major rewrite and porting of code). At this point, we are at the planning stage and know more or less what we would like to do but we have not begun the long development phase of the project. We also would like to wrap up the Windows Mobile version before starting on the desktop development. At this point, that is all of the detail I can share.

[TMDH]

Richard,
That is great news. If you guys decide to open it up to feature requests, I'm sure the Bonsai faithful will oblige. I've seen many cool features on other software that would be neat to incorporate. However, I don't consider it good taste to mention other software names in a forum unless asked by the host. I look forward to your future version and thanks for your candor.

This post has been edited by TMDH: 23 January 2010 - 10:24 AM

[AlfRamos]

It seems that you have it all wrong, the software must use the device that best suits its functionality, I myself recently downgraded from Palm Pre to the Palm Treo 755p because as much as the Pre and Iphone are neat they are not as functional for me, I believe that Bonsai requires a keyboard so in that respect I would stick with keyboard based phones, but I wouldnlt sell myself short either-devlpp them all but off set the risk seperately. Lastly I wouldn't discount a comeback bt Garnet OS either

[severe]

I concur and I know there are many users out there that feel the same. Even if the Palm OS version dies and the Windows Mobile version is aborted, the desk top is far too important a platform to abandon. A little tweaking to allow complex queries / filters and this product is vastly more usable than any combination of database / spreadsheet in managing complex projects.

Regarding handhelds, I have 3 upgraded (glass screens and big batteries)TX's in stock that I intend to use until the bitter end. It is a shame that Palm failed to understand how to keep up or simplify Graffitti for the average user. Maybe some day we'll see handhelds that rectify these flaws but I cannot image finger-driven devices matching the ability to manage large amounts of data. I need a pocket computer to handle business data, not a communicator to look at images or tap-out tiny chit-chat.

Anyway, I'm / we're hoping Natara hangs in there.

[yurkennis]

Richard Murphy, on 22 January 2010 - 02:02 PM, said:

The next major release of Bonsai Desktop will likely be a major overhaul of the app. ... We also would like to wrap up the Windows Mobile version before starting on the desktop development.

Richard, is that correct to conclude that support for a next smartphone platform (after WM--e.g. Android / iPhone / Blackberry / whatever else) can be expected even in beta not earlier than the rewritten desktop app will be released?

[kennethmgreen]

Richard Murphy, on 22 January 2010 - 02:02 PM, said:

I can assure you development is not stopped on Bonsai Desktop. I agree that progress has slowed considerably in the last year or two. The next major release of Bonsai Desktop will likely be a major overhaul of the app not only switching frameworks but also the programming language (i.e. major rewrite and porting of code). At this point, we are at the planning stage and know more or less what we would like to do but we have not begun the long development phase of the project. We also would like to wrap up the Windows Mobile version before starting on the desktop development. At this point, that is all of the detail I can share.

Is above still applicable? Richard's post is almost a year old. I feel nervous and sad when I read the "Is Bonsai/DayNotez dead?" type threads and no response from Natara. Or see the latest Natara blog post dated June 30, 2010. Or the "What's New" statement on Natara's website that lists as most recent news: 9/23/09 - Version 5.0.3 of Bonsai Desktop is available. It's been months since either Richard or Bryan have posted on the forum. Forum activity in general is like a ghost town. Go to the members listing for the forum. There are 159 pages of results (at 20 members per page). If I click the Use advanced filters button and filter on members with a post count greater than 10 who have posted in the last year, I get 32 members (at least two of which are staff). The forums here used to thrive with interesting, helpful topics.

Am I being stubborn and naive by holding out hope that Natara software development is chugging along? I've been a loyal user for many years and still don't think there is a better Windows outliner available than Bonsai. But is it time to move on and look for alternatives?

[slwenglish]

kennethmgreen, on 06 January 2011 - 01:05 AM, said:

Is above still applicable? Richard's post is almost a year old. I feel nervous and sad when I read the "Is Bonsai/DayNotez dead?" type threads and no response from Natara. Or see the latest Natara blog post dated June 30, 2010. Or the "What's New" statement on Natara's website that lists as most recent news: 9/23/09 - Version 5.0.3 of Bonsai Desktop is available. It's been months since either Richard or Bryan have posted on the forum. Forum activity in general is like a ghost town. Go to the members listing for the forum. There are 159 pages of results (at 20 members per page). If I click the Use advanced filters button and filter on members with a post count greater than 10 who have posted in the last year, I get 32 members (at least two of which are staff). The forums here used to thrive with interesting, helpful topics.

Am I being stubborn and naive by holding out hope that Natara software development is chugging along? I've been a loyal user for many years and still don't think there is a better Windows outliner available than Bonsai. But is it time to move on and look for alternatives?

Hello Kenneth,

I've been in touch directly with the Natara team, because we've all been wondering about the future and I'll be coming up to the moment when I have to abandon Palm later this year - when my company issues me with a Windows 7 laptop. Without broadcasting the detail a private conversation, it's only fair that we loyal users should know that Natara DO still have plans for Bonsai. However, it sounds like any updates will still need a lot of work, to fit with the new mobile hardware platforms out there, so I imagine it will be a while before we get to see the result of their work.

Stéph

[Dwight]

slwenglish, on 06 January 2011 - 01:26 PM, said:

Hello Kenneth,

I've been in touch directly with the Natara team, because we've all been wondering about the future and I'll be coming up to the moment when I have to abandon Palm later this year - when my company issues me with a Windows 7 laptop. Without broadcasting the detail a private conversation, it's only fair that we loyal users should know that Natara DO still have plans for Bonsai. However, it sounds like any updates will still need a lot of work, to fit with the new mobile hardware platforms out there, so I imagine it will be a while before we get to see the result of their work.

Stéph

FYI, I am considering upgrading to Windows 7, but I don't want to loose sync with my Palm TX (or the three backups or the Centros and Treos, etc...) Searched "Palm Desktop Sync with Windows 7" and there are several links that indicate folks have figured out how to keep the sync functionality, including using Desktop v 4 and using USB. Maybe you won't have to leave Palm when you move to Windows 7 after all.

Regards,
Dwight...

[slwenglish]

Dwight, on 17 January 2011 - 08:39 PM, said:

FYI, I am considering upgrading to Windows 7, but I don't want to loose sync with my Palm TX (or the three backups or the Centros and Treos, etc...) Searched "Palm Desktop Sync with Windows 7" and there are several links that indicate folks have figured out how to keep the sync functionality, including using Desktop v 4 and using USB. Maybe you won't have to leave Palm when you move to Windows 7 after all.

Regards,
Dwight...

Thanks, Dwight. I tried your search phrase - It doesn't look simple (bearing in mind that I don't have admin rights on my laptop), but maybe more research will give me confidence that I can persuade my IT guys to sort it out for me.

So, this may give me a temporary way forward. Could still do with Bonsai or similar on a modern device, when my E2 wears out, of course...

Stéph