Arranger is one of the most stable Palm applications that I've used, and it's incredibly easy to get started with. Arranger is priced at $19, and it's pictured in Figure B.

FIGURE B

Arranger's screen is very easy on the eyes.

Hi-Note
Hi-Note from Cyclos (at http://www.cyclos.com/hi-note.htm) has the distinction of being able to add drawings to your outlines, though only as separate items. However, these drawings do allow for text elements, making it a very useful program to have. Although Cyclos has no plans for a desktop interface, PCHi-Note (at http://www.thegrid.net/softessence/pchinote/pchinote.htm) and HiView for the Macintosh (at http://www.ewoks.net/palm/hiviewe.html) provide this functionality. Hi-Note also offers "left-hand compatibility" for the southpaws among us. The application is priced at $20, and it's pictured in Figure C.

FIGURE C

Hi-Note's drawing tools make it easy to add diagrams and maps to your outlines.

Info Select
Info Select (at http://www.miclog.com/ispdesc.htm) is not only the most expensive outliner reviewed here, but is also the one with the least-intuitive interface. While it works well with the desktop version of Info Select, the Palm application interface is difficult to navigate. There seems to be no particular functional advantage to this over other outliners, unless you happen to be a user of the Info Select desktop PIM (priced at $149.95). The one unique feature Info Select has, however, could be enough to make it worth the extra money. It has the ability to recombine changes to multiple outlines into one cohesive unit. Info Select is priced at $69.95 and is pictured in Figure D.

FIGURE D

Info Select for the Palm device isn't the powerhouse application that Info Select for the PC is.

Progect Manager
Released under the GNU Public License, Progect Manager (and, yes, it really is spelled with a 'g') is the least expensive of the outliners reviewed here. It's free, and available from http://sourceforge.net/projects/progect. This particular program is specifically designed for project tracking. Planned future enhancements include Gantt charts and a desktop interface. While synchronization with your To Do List is possible, there's no support for categories. Also, you can't drag and drop items. While there's a huge amount of potential for this program, at this point in time you get what you pay for. However, it's quite suited for simple projects and is very easy to use. Progect Manager is pictured in Figure E.

FIGURE E

Progect Manager is the freeware alternative for project management.

Bonsai
Natara Software's Bonsai (at http://www.natara.com/Bonsai/index.cfm) has the best desktop application in the current crop of Palm outliners. Bonsai also supports two-way synchronization and has the ability to edit in place, instead of requiring the user to go to a second screen. Synchronization options, however, are where Bonsai excels. For example, you can set up outlines to synchronize only with certain machines, which can be very useful in a multi-user office. Unfortunately, if you use your outliner as a hierarchal to-do manager, items that are checked off aren't deleted, though they can be hidden via filters. Another drawback to this otherwise excellent product is the inability to link to the To Do database from the desktop, although it can be easily done from the Palm device. It's priced at $24.95 and is pictured in Figure F.