
Notion vs OneNote: Does Notion Live Up to the Hype?
In this video, I look at whether Notion deserves all the hype it's been receiving. Notion brings together notetaking, work management and tracking, tasks, wikis, Kanban boards, and more into one place. I'll compare Notion to my current notetaking tool, Microsoft OneNote, which is built-in to Windows 10 and part of Microsoft 365. If you are studying or need to take notes during presentations, courses, and meetings, then a notetaking app like Notion is vital for getting the most out of your time. But not all notetaking apps are made equal, so it's important to understand the differences between them and which features are going to be most important for you. ************************************** Get Microsoft 365* ************************************** Microsoft 365 Family: https://amzn.to/34tnS6J Microsoft 365 Business Standard: https://amzn.to/34tENpP ************************************** Gear* ************************************** Canon M100 mirrorless camera: https://amzn.to/3i72VGP Rode Procaster microphone: https://amzn.to/3wHxXJn Elgato Key Light: https://amzn.to/3i38ciS Elgato Key Light Air: https://amzn.to/3wH5CTt DaVinci Resolve Studio with Speed Editor bundle: https://amzn.to/3wH1sen #Notion #OneNote #Microsoft365 #productivity ā Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:49 OneNote vs Notion 02:20 How does OneNote work? 03:06 OneNote UI and features 06:49 OneNote pros and cons 08:36 How does Notion work? 10:35 Notion UI and features 17:20 Notion pros and cons š Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/windowsbusinessweekly š© Connect with me on social media: - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winbizweekly - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellmartinsmith/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/smithrussell š§ Sign up to the Windows Business Weekly newsletter here: https://www.windowsbusinessweekly.com/newsletter * Some of the links in this description pay me a small commission to support my channel but it doesn't change the price for you!
Notion vs OneNote: Does Notion Live Up to the Hype?
Introduction to Notion and OneNote
In this section, the speaker introduces the topic of comparing Notion and OneNote as note-taking tools. They highlight that OneNote is a free tool that comes with Windows 10 and is part of Microsoft 365, while Notion is described as a more advanced note-taking tool.
Why Notion is Different from OneNote
- Notion is referred to as a "note-taking tool on steroids" and has gained popularity among productivity enthusiasts.
- The speaker mentions Ali Abdul promoting Notion as the next best thing in productivity.
- While both tools are note-taking apps, Notion offers more features and capabilities compared to OneNote.
Purpose of Note-Taking Tools
- Having a place to jot down ideas, brainstorm, or take notes during meetings or presentations is important for everyone.
- Storing and organizing information in a structured way becomes essential for easy retrieval in the future.
- The speaker shares their experience using OneNote but expresses dissatisfaction with its effectiveness for organizing and structuring notes.
Requirements for an Effective Note-Taking App
This section focuses on the requirements for an effective note-taking app based on the speaker's needs.
Key Requirements for Note-Taking App
- Ability to take notes using various devices such as keyboard, mouse, or smartphone.
- Structured storage of notes with the ability to link ideas together.
- Quick access to previously taken notes when needed in the future.
- Importance of organizing and structuring notes effectively for productivity and value extraction from presentations, courses, meetings, etc.
How OneNote Works
This section provides an overview of how OneNote works and highlights its user interface.
User Interface of OneNote
- OneNote has a user-friendly interface organized into notebooks, sections, and pages.
- Different types of elements can be added to pages, including text, images, PDF documents, URLs, YouTube videos, math equations, and printouts.
- Information can be tagged and easily searched for in the future.
Storing Notebooks in OneNote
This section explains the options for storing notebooks in OneNote.
Storing Notebooks in OneNote
- The speaker demonstrates using the Windows 10 app version of OneNote that comes pre-installed with Windows 10.
- Notebooks can be stored either in the cloud or locally on a PC depending on the version being used.
- Multiple notebooks can be opened and switched between within OneNote.
Structure of Notes in OneNote
This section discusses the structure of notes within OneNote and highlights its limitations.
Structure of Notes in OneNote
- Notes are organized into sections and pages within notebooks.
- The speaker showcases a typical page with various unstructured information dumped onto it.
- Lack of organization makes it difficult to locate relevant pieces of information later on.
Ineffectiveness of Referencing Notes in OneNote
This section emphasizes the ineffectiveness of referencing notes created in OneNote.
Ineffectiveness of Referencing Notes
- While notes created in OneNote may work to some extent, they are not the most effective or productive way to refer back to them later.
- Lack of organization hinders easy retrieval and utilization of notes for future reference.
Exploring Features in OneNote
This section briefly explores some features available in OneNote.
Features in OneNote
- Standard text tools like bold, bullet lists, and numbered lists are available.
- Various elements can be inserted into pages, such as tables, files, printouts, pictures, equations, stickers, and integration with Outlook.
These notes provide an overview of the transcript by summarizing the main points discussed. The timestamps provided help to navigate through the video for further reference.
Overview of OneNote and its Use with Tablets
In this section, the speaker discusses the use of OneNote with tablets and pens. They mention that while highlighters and markers can be used on a desktop device, they are more suitable for tablet use. OneNote provides a blank canvas for drawing and organizing information in an unstructured way.
- OneNote is primarily designed for tablet users who prefer using a pen for note-taking.
- The application allows users to draw and write on a blank canvas.
- While notebooks, sections, and pages provide some structure, it is up to the user to organize their notes effectively.
- Using OneNote effectively requires effort and time investment.
- The interface of OneNote seems to be designed around tablet and pen usage.
Limitations of OneNote and Introduction to Notion
This section highlights some limitations of OneNote, such as detached notebooks and the need to search for specific information. It introduces Notion as an alternative solution that addresses these issues.
- Notebooks in OneNote can become detached from the application itself, leading to potential loss of notes.
- Finding specific information within notebooks can be challenging.
- Notion is suggested as a better solution for traditional note-takers who primarily use keyboards or mice.
- Notion offers features like toggle lists, workspaces with various templates, simple database setup, and an intuitive user interface.
Exploring Notion's Features
This section focuses on the features offered by Notion that make it a preferable alternative to OneNote. It includes toggle lists, workspaces with templates, databases with automatic linking capabilities, and customization options.
- Toggle lists in Notion allow users to expand or collapse sections of their notes for better organization.
- Workspaces in Notion offer various templates for different purposes, such as wikis, tables, databases, and document lists.
- Databases in Notion are easy to set up and automatically handle linking between columns.
- Notion's user interface may initially seem overwhelming but becomes easier to navigate with time.
Setting Up a Workspace in Notion
This section demonstrates how to set up a workspace in Notion using templates. The speaker showcases their engineering workspace as an example.
- Notion provides various pre-built templates for workspaces.
- Workspaces can be customized and modified according to individual needs.
- The speaker's engineering workspace includes sections like content calendar, skillshare notes, to-do list, roadmap, list of documents, and meeting notes.
The remaining part of the transcript is not included in the provided text.
Thoughts on Notion as a Note-Taking Tool New Section
In this section, the speaker discusses the usefulness of Notion as a note-taking tool and how it can be used to organize information effectively.
Using Notion for Course Notes
- Notion allows users to link courses and materials, making it easy to access relevant information.
- The speaker demonstrates how they have linked their YouTube videos to specific courses in the materials column.
- Each course entry includes timestamps indicating when the entry was created.
- The speaker mentions using the toggle feature in Notion, which functions similarly to a bullet list. It allows for expanding and collapsing sections of notes.
- Blocks in Notion work on a block system, allowing for easy organization and formatting of text.
- Blocks can be moved around and formatted like in Word documents.
- Different block types, such as headings or standard text, can be selected.
Creating Toggle Lists in Notion
- To create a toggle list, the user simply needs to press slash (/) and select "toggle list" from the options.
- Toggle lists allow for creating collapsible hierarchical structures within notes.
- Subheadings can be added within toggle lists by using tab indentation.
Features of Notion
- Color coding, tables, databases, and templates are available in Notion for various purposes such as work tracking management or content calendars.
- Different views can be selected to switch between different ways of displaying information (e.g., table view).
- Templates provided by Notion offer a wide range of options for tracking activities and projects.
- Members and settings provide connections and integrations with other tools.
Limitations of Notion
- One limitation mentioned is that there is no integration with Microsoft 365 and Teams, which may be a downside for some users.
Exploring More Features of Notion New Section
In this section, the speaker continues to explore additional features and functionalities of Notion.
Customizing Templates and Views
- Templates in Notion can be customized to suit individual needs.
- Different views can be added and customized for specific purposes.
Additional Features and Integrations
- Notion offers various connections and integrations with other tools.
- The speaker mentions that there may be other integrations available that are not listed in the interface.
Conclusion New Section
In this section, the speaker concludes their thoughts on using Notion as a note-taking tool.
Ease of Use and Learning Curve
- The speaker finds Notion to be relatively easy to use, with a minimal learning curve.
- Users who are not familiar with this type of environment may require some training to fully grasp its functionalities.
Final Thoughts on Notion
- Notion provides a comprehensive set of features for organizing notes effectively.
- While it may not have integration with Microsoft 365 and Teams, it offers various other connections and integrations.
- The speaker acknowledges that they are still exploring and experimenting with Notion's capabilities.
New Section
In this section, the speaker discusses the benefits of using Notion for note-taking and organization.
Benefits of Notion
- Notion allows for structured organization using blocks and tables, avoiding the unstructured mess that can occur with other note-taking tools like OneNote.
- It offers a wide range of features such as kanban boards, to-do lists, calendars, wikis, and database tables.
- The flexibility of Notion makes it well-suited for organizing and structuring notes efficiently.
- The block-based layout, databases, toggle lists, and overall feel of the application make it enjoyable to use.
New Section
In this section, the speaker discusses some limitations and additional advantages of using Notion.
Limitations and Additional Advantages
- One major downside is that Notion does not integrate with Microsoft 365. However, it is possible to use both Notion and Microsoft 365 side by side.
- Notion is free to use, making it accessible to everyone. However, there are subscription plans available for those who want access to more features or storage.
- The speaker encourages viewers to give Notion a try as it has the potential to completely change their note-taking and studying habits in a more effective and efficient way.
New Section
In this section, the speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to engage with their video content.
Conclusion
- If viewers found value in the video content or enjoyed it, they are encouraged to give it a thumbs up and subscribe to the channel for similar videos on tech and productivity.
Please note that the transcript provided does not contain specific timestamps for each bullet point. I have associated the timestamps based on the information provided in the transcript, but they may not be entirely accurate.