Notivo is a private, per-person notebook for managers. Capture feedback, commitments, and 1:1 context as it happens — from web, iOS, WhatsApp, email, ChatGPT, or Claude — then get it back later, organized by person.
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Which is more popular?
Based on our record, Obsidian
seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned
1532 times
since March 2021.
social mentions
1,532 vs 0
Note Taking popularity
98% vs 2%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 44
Base details
Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.
Local-first Obsidian stores your notes locally on your device, giving you full control over your data and enhancing privacy.
Markdown Support Obsidian uses Markdown, making it easy to format text and compatible with many other text editors and tools.
Bidirectional Linking You can create bidirectional links between notes, which helps in building a knowledge graph and navigating related information more easily.
Customizability Obsidian is highly customizable with community plugins, themes, and various settings to fit different workflows.
Graph View Provides a visual graph view of your notes and their connections, aiding in understanding relationships and discovering insights.
Offline Access Since the notes are stored locally, you can access and edit them without an internet connection.
Possible disadvantages
Learning Curve Obsidian can be complex and overwhelming for beginners due to its extensive features and customizable nature.
Sync Limitations While local-first is great for privacy, it requires additional steps or third-party solutions for syncing across devices.
No True Real-time Collaboration Obsidian lacks native real-time collaboration features, making it less suitable for collaborative work compared to cloud-based solutions.
Limited Mobile Features The mobile version of Obsidian, while functional, is not as robust as the desktop application, potentially hindering productivity on the go.
Dependence on Plugins Many advanced features require the use of third-party plugins, which could lead to compatibility issues and reliance on community support.
Performance on Large Vaults Performance might degrade with a very large number of notes or complex graphs, impacting usability.
Customization Open Shell provides extensive customization options, allowing users to modify the Start menu to fit their preferences, from design to functionality.
Familiar Interface It offers a classic start menu which is familiar to users of older Windows versions, making it easier for them to navigate.
Open Source Being an open-source project, it allows for community contributions, making it more transparent and potentially more secure.
No Cost Open Shell is free to use, providing a cost-effective solution for users who want a different Start menu experience without paying for software.
Regular Updates The project is fairly well-maintained, receiving updates that add new features and fix potential issues, improving user experience over time.
Possible disadvantages
Compatibility Issues There could be compatibility problems with certain Windows updates or third-party applications, requiring troubleshooting and fixes.
Learning Curve While it offers many customization options, new users might find the settings and customization process overwhelming and confusing initially.
Community Support As an open-source project, it relies heavily on community support rather than professional customer service, which can be a drawback for users needing prompt assistance.
Resource Usage Though generally lightweight, Open Shell can consume additional system resources, which might be impactful on less powerful machines.
Analysis
An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.
ObsidianOpen Shell
Overall verdict
Overall, Obsidian.md is an excellent tool for users looking for a versatile and powerful note-taking application. Its unique features such as backlinking, markdown support, and robust customization options make it a favorite among knowledge management enthusiasts.
Why this product is good
Obsidian.md is considered good by many users because it is a powerful knowledge management and note-taking application that leverages Markdown for document formatting. It allows for bi-directional linking between notes, which helps in creating a network of interconnected ideas, often described as a 'second brain.' Its ability to support plugins, themes, and robust graph visualization also adds to its appeal. Additionally, it stores notes locally, ensuring privacy and data ownership, while being cross-platform compatible across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Recommended for
Knowledge workers who need a powerful tool to organize and connect their thoughts.
Students who are looking to create a structured and visually interconnected note system.
Writers and researchers who benefit from linking related ideas and maintaining detailed notes.
Tech-savvy users or developers who appreciate the local storage and open ecosystem for plugins and customization.
Overall verdict
Open Shell is considered a good tool for those who desire a more traditional Start Menu experience on modern Windows versions. It is reliable, versatile, and generally well-received by the community for resurrecting the familiar interface from previous Windows iterations.
Why this product is good
Open Shell (formerly known as Classic Shell) is appreciated for its ability to bring back the classic Start Menu functionality to Windows, particularly for users who prefer the interface design and usability of older versions of Windows. It provides a customizable menu, various skins, and additional enhancements for the Start Button, File Explorer, and Internet Explorer. The software is lightweight, free, and open source, allowing for a high degree of personalization and adaptability.
Recommended for
Users who prefer the classic Windows Start Menu.
Individuals who are not satisfied with the default Start Menu on newer Windows versions.
Users seeking a highly customizable and lightweight menu solution.
Technical users who appreciate open-source software and want to tweak their system appearance and functionality.
Anyone upgrading from older Windows versions who wants to maintain a consistent user interface experience.
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This app is the kind of thing that, if you’re into it, will have you exploring its various ins, outs, and add-ons for days and weeks on end. Obsidian uses the Markdown format for its notes (which means they can be...
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The reasons live somewhere else: in practice notes in an Obsidian vault, one note per convention, with the repos it has held in. A note starts as an idea, moves to trialing, and only becomes enforced once I've applied it again in a few...
- Source: dev.to
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2 days ago
It's the team version of the second brain you build with Obsidian and Claude.
- Source: dev.to
/
6 days ago
Mine and yours first Obsidian plugin
The first time I downloaded Obsidian was about two years ago and I really liked the concept of storing everything locally in simple markdown files without unnecessary clutter.
- Source: dev.to
/
5 days ago
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