I would like this to be microscope independent ideally

Perhaps http://www.quartzy.com can be useful.

Quartzy and similar tools are cloud-based, means the data will be saved on the company's servers. I would not recommend to upload research data into the cloud. Maybe this sounds paranoid, but no one can guarantee that they won't be used or stolen. I don't want to charge anybody, but I'd like to have my data on my external HDD.

If the data are not that sensible, cloud-based services can be used, of course. Unfortunately, I didn't use any other software so far, so I would be also interested in some interesting advices.

I've found Evernote (http://www.evernote.com/) to be a good system. Cross-platform, with great iOS and Android apps.

Thanks Janos I had a look at Quartzy and other systems but I cant find one that does a good job of tracking day to day cell culture.

Dogan, i think a cloud based system is the way to go. I dont think security is too much of an issue as the web company would not stand to keep their business if any information leaked. I do get your point about local storage though so it would be good to find a system with local backups

Adam, I have used evernote for years but not for experiment logs. Its fantastic for searching and indexing my journal articles though. Do you add your notes direct or do you take photos of paper notes?

Add notes directly, generally through iPad app when in cell culture. Keep one note per experiment and update it as I go along. Journal articles are tucked away separately in Papers 2 (http://www.papersapp.com/), which, together with Scriviner (http://www.literatureandlatte.com/), completes my holy trinity of academic software.

It's up to you, David.

Cloud-based tools are wonderful, except the data security. Nothing is as secure as data saved on an external HDD. Furthermore, you are also dependant on an internet connection. It's not just the security issue, even when the companies give their best to avoid data leakages. They can always happen. But I am not here to convince you.

I just wanted to state out the disadvantages of cloud-based solutions. ;-)

I am not sure what you mean by cell documentation - you mean your experiments, or the cell lines stored in your lab? And are you looking for a free programme or can you actually buy one? (I ask this because some online programmes tend to give the single-user version free and have you pay for the integration with other users' accounts). One such programme is this: http://www.labguru.com/ though I preferred its predecessor that is no longer available.

I tend to prefer the online methods, since IF anyone hacked their servers he would have to a) pick my data to interpret over an ocean of other information, which means I'm a needle in a field full of haystacks, b) he would have to be a biologist to even be interested (but we already established he is a hacker, so what are the chances?), c) he would have to spend hours trying to revise all my experiments, read the literature to make sense of it so that d) he could publish my paper before me IF I was near publishing - though he'd probably have trouble doing that, since he wouldn't have a single piece of materials to do revisions with. That's my risk with online storage. Vs the risk of my external HD being stolen, damaged, getting a virus. Statistically speaking, I'll take my chances with online storage anytime - the only thing that really worries me with it is the chance the company providing it closes unexpectedly.

Hi Phoebe, by cell documentation I mean the notes taken about the stock cell lines during routine culture i.e. what the cells looked like, what passage they are at, how I split them etc. All the routine stuff that fills up my labbook but is not specifically associated with one experiment.

Labguru seems more tailored to specific experiments, but maybe I am not using it correctly? What was better about its predecessor (I never had the chance to try this)?

Well, if it's only information that is useful for a short time (since we get fresh cells after a while) I'd go old school and post a table on one of the cell culture room walls or something like that! (since you are already noting down essential info in your lab book).

I don't remember the differences between the two tools well, as I had compared them when labguru had just come out and that was a while ago, but in LabLife you could draw your constructs and share with your labmates, and that was very very useful in my lab (which was unfortunately strictly pen and paper based).

Weirdly enough, I just saw this: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cell-culture/id585332692?mt=8 and thought I'd come here and post it for you to see - I don't have an ipad so you'll have to find out if it's any good! :)

I decided that nothing quite met my requirements so built http://www.CellKulture.com to scratch my own itch. This is an ELN dedicated to cell culture note taking. I wanted something that made taking the tedious routine cell culture notes quick and easy and would allow the current state of the cell cultures to be shared with the whole lab.

Not trying to spam, merely bringing this discussion to a close for anyone looking for a similar solution.

 labfolder is perfect for what you need. A great piece of web-based software (run through a browser) ideal for documenting and sharing data with colleagues. Great pricing for either individuals or groups and a free trial too. 

https://www.labfolder.com/