Notion vs Obsidian // Databases vs Dataview | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Notion and Obsidian have different approaches to note-taking, with Notion emphasizing hierarchy and organization, while Obsidian offers a freeform, interconnected network of ideas.

Key Insights

• 📝 Notion revolutionized note-taking with its interface, customizability, and API, but the choice between Notion and Obsidian comes down to which tool matches the user's thinking process.
• 🗂️ Notion's hierarchical structure requires users to decide where to place a note before writing it, potentially influencing their thought process, while Obsidian allows for a bottom-up approach, with notes being created first and organized later using tags and links.
• 🧠 Obsidian's Graph view visualizes interconnected ideas, resembling a real brain, and is favored over the File Explorer for easier navigation and relevance.
• 💼 Notion's databases offer structured organization but require users to anticipate future needs, while Obsidian's community plugin, Dataview, turns all notes into a dynamic database, allowing for on-the-fly categorization and property assignment.
• 📚 In Notion, creating separate databases for different categories can lead to limitations when you need to access data across categories, whereas in Obsidian, Dataview queries can provide customized subsets of data without the need for separate databases.
• 🎯 Notion suits specific and limited use cases, such as work documentation or personal wikis, where structure and mapping are crucial, while Obsidian excels in facilitating serendipitous connections and accommodating the complexity of human thought.
• 🔌 Obsidian's plugin ecosystem, including Dataview, enhances its flexibility and customization options, making it a powerful tool for users seeking dynamic note-taking capabilities.

Transcript

• I first started using Notion in 2019 for work and I quickly started using it in my personal life as well. I loved, and still love, really, the interface, the customizability, the API, and just how friendly the Notion team has always been to this day. I think that Notion revolutionized note-taking in so many ways. So why am I using Obsidian today ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Notion's hierarchical structure influence the way users think about and organize their notes?

Notion's hierarchical structure prompts users to decide where to put a note before writing it, which can lead to extensive categorization and may limit the flexibility to view information from different perspectives later on. Users are encouraged to start from the top and work their way down.

Q: What advantages does Obsidian offer in terms of finding and organizing notes?

Obsidian takes a bottom-up approach, allowing users to create notes first and decide where they fit later. Through the use of tags, links, and the community plugin Dataview, users can connect notes to multiple topics, making it easier to find and view information from different angles.

Q: How does Obsidian's Dataview plugin enhance the note-taking experience?

Obsidian Dataview turns all notes in a user's vault into a database without the need for pre-determined categories. Users can add metadata on the fly, decide how they want to view the data, and create customized queries to see specific subsets of information. This flexibility and adaptability make it easier to uncover connections between notes and explore different perspectives.

Q: When is Notion a better choice for note-taking compared to Obsidian?

Notion is well-suited for specific and limited use cases, such as internal documentation or personal wikis focused on a narrow area of expertise. It provides a structured environment for mapping out and organizing information comprehensively, ensuring that no important details are overlooked.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Notion follows a hierarchical structure and asks users to decide where to put a note before they even write it, while Obsidian encourages a more bottom-up approach, allowing users to create notes first and decide where they fit in later.

• Notion's databases require pre-determined categories, making it challenging to access information in different ways later on. Obsidian's community plugin, Dataview, turns all notes into a database, allowing users to add metadata on the fly and easily customize how they view the data.

• Notion is best for specific and limited use cases, while Obsidian is ideal for open-ended, complex thinking and making serendipitous connections between topics.