Rethink Box Notes as a Collaborative Tool

Many of the comments about Box Notes, and the shortcomings that make them seem only marginally useful to me, arise from them being treated/implemented as something totally "other", compared to other file types that one might load into Box.

Unlike other files, Box acts as if Notes all belong together rather than in the user's folder structure, and they have their own type of page or tab that is confusingly different from the standard Box interface, rather than simply opening up in an editing window if the user wants to make changes. An editing window would be much more intuitive, and would help users not lose track of where they started in the folder structure.

As for editing, Box Notes should have roughly the same capabilities as e-mail or a blog post. I've seen some snarky replies from Box staff about how Notes are not intended for creating flyers or complex page layouts -- what a ridiculous response to the formatting suggestions. Just provide the formatting capabilities that people might have expected from e-mail or a blog editor (or even a discussion forum) say, 5 years ago. That means table and cell shading, more than 3 or 4 sizes of fonts (and a monospaced "code" font as someone else suggested, more than 16 rather light and garish colors, and probably bullet and numbered lists. And maybe inclusion of an image, but even that would be a luxury.

Box will never be a real collaboration tool in the general sense, but if Box Notes can be Not-Confusing and can accommodate lists, a little more font-size control, and some color in tables for legibility or emphasis, then the Notes can be used more effectively for collaborative outlining, planning, status-tracking, etc.

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