Quick Note for Windows 8 review

Quick Note covers one of the app gaps that Windows 8 is going to have to fill in order to become a proper portable OS for PC, laptop and tablet - that of lightweight note taker and clipboard. You can use it as a simple notepad, to record your to-do lists, and as a place in which to clip interesting web tidbits. See all: Windows app reviews.

The ability to jot down simple notes is one of the principle benefits of tablet PCs. The ability to organise and search such notes can be a killer app - it certainly beats paper and pen. Even on a static desktop PC, a digital to-do list is a lot more useful (and less ugly) than a scrap of paper. Windows 8 has no native note-taker, and although Word 2013 can be used for this task, that's very much in sledgehammer and nut territory. Made by Diigo Quick Note is a simple, free app that fulfils an important purpose, you can find it in the Windows Store. (See also: Windows 8: the complete guide.)

Open up Quick Note and it looks exactly like the native Notes app for iOS - like a brown and yellow jotting pad. You can create and edit notes from within the app, or take advantage of Windows 8's universal navigatory 'contract' and right-click to take notes.

Quick Note lets you attach notes to your home screen, which will be useful. A single click could take you from booting to to-do list, for example. And bearing in mind that Windows ultraportable laptops and tablets are designed to remain always on and in sleep mode, this could be a quick action.

You can also simply click to add web content to notes. And if your device allows it, you can jot down notes with a stylus or pen, and the Quick Note app will recognise them. To an extent (editing your notes is at least straightforward).

As with all Windows 8 apps, there is a Share menu in the Charms. This allows you to mail notes or 'share' them via Quick Note (in essence, this simply duplicates the note). We can't imagine too many occasions wherein you would need to share a note via social media, but it would be nice to have the option.