I use microsoft office onenote, came with my copy of microsoft office 2007 ultimate.
Provides a great note program that is great for organizing notes for my coursework, and also provides a little icon on my startbar near the clock, that uses minimal system resources and when clicked open up a small blank window for typing notes in (or using a mic to record notes). This program then automatical saves that note when closed which can be viewed later on when needed.
