Obsidian vs Kortex: What's the difference?

Summary

In this video, the creator compares two popular knowledge management tools, Cortex and Obsidian, based on their pricing, writing experience, setup process, and overall impact on productivity. Cortex is praised for its intuitive, visual interface and minimal setup, which fosters immediate focus on writing and thinking. Obsidian, while powerful and highly customizable, is noted for its steep learning curve and potential for procrastination due to excessive configuration. The video aims to help users choose the tool best suited for their specific needs, with the creator's personal preference leaning toward Cortex for its simplicity and efficiency.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Pricing Comparison**: Obsidian is free for personal use, while Cortex offers a free tier with more storage and features on paid plans ($10 for core). Obsidian’s add-ons (Sync, Publish) are $8 each per month, potentially adding up to $12/month for both.
• 😀 **Quick Start with Cortex**: Cortex allows immediate writing without setup, focusing on minimal configuration, whereas Obsidian can require extensive setup and plugin installations, which can lead to procrastination.
• 😀 **Cortex’s Visual and Spatial Thinking**: Cortex supports spatial thinking by allowing multiple panes to be open at once, letting users visualize and arrange ideas, which aids in natural connections and idea development.
• 😀 **Markdown and Link Features in Obsidian**: Obsidian excels with powerful Markdown support and bidirectional linking, making it great for technical documentation and academic work.
• 😀 **Setup Process**: Cortex has a low barrier to entry, allowing users to get started quickly, while Obsidian’s setup can take more time, especially with custom plugins and configurations.
• 😀 **Avoiding the Productivity Trap with Cortex**: Cortex’s minimalist design discourages over-organization and distractions, helping users focus on writing rather than perfecting the system.
• 😀 **The Risk of Over-Organizing in Obsidian**: Obsidian offers extensive customization options but can lead to analysis paralysis if users focus too much on setting up the perfect system instead of writing.
• 😀 **Choosing the Right Tool**: Choose Cortex if you want to focus on writing with minimal setup and need spatial thinking features. Opt for Obsidian if you require advanced features, control over your system, and can dedicate time to configuration.
• 😀 **Impact on Writing Output in Cortex**: Cortex fosters more time spent writing, with fewer barriers to starting. Ideas flow naturally as users organize their thoughts organically during the writing process.
• 😀 **Obsidian’s Strength for Technical Work**: Obsidian is ideal for users who need powerful features for long-term research, technical documentation, and high-level customization, especially for academic work.
• 😀 **Cortex’s Superpower for Idea Generation**: The speaker emphasizes how Cortex unlocked a new level of efficiency in their brain, especially for visual thinkers who benefit from organizing ideas through multiple panes and spatial relationships.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the comparison between Cortex and Obsidian in the video?

The comparison focuses on the pricing, features, writing experience, setup phase, and productivity implications of both tools, with the goal of helping viewers determine which tool suits their personal writing and thinking needs.

How does the pricing of Cortex compare to Obsidian?

Obsidian offers a free personal use version, with additional costs for commercial use and add-ons like sync and publish. Cortex has a free tier with limited features and paid tiers starting at $10 per seat for the core plan, offering more storage and advanced features.

What are the main advantages of Cortex's writing experience over Obsidian's?

Cortex offers a more intuitive and immediate writing experience with no complex setup. It allows for quick idea capture and multiple panes for visual thinking, which makes the process more organic. In contrast, Obsidian has a steeper learning curve due to its reliance on plugins and Markdown.

What is the setup phase like for Cortex compared to Obsidian?

Cortex has a minimal setup phase, requiring little to no configuration to start writing. Obsidian, however, involves a more complex setup, particularly when choosing plugins and organizing notes, which can lead to analysis paralysis and delay getting started.

What is the 'productivity trap' mentioned in the video, and how does Cortex help avoid it?

The 'productivity trap' refers to spending excessive time setting up tools and organizing notes rather than actually writing. Cortex helps avoid this by focusing on a simple, streamlined interface that encourages users to start writing immediately, without getting distracted by customization.

What kind of user would benefit more from using Obsidian?

Obsidian is ideal for users who need advanced technical features, have a clear organization system in mind, and are willing to invest time in setting up and customizing their note-taking environment. It is also great for those who prefer complete control over their setup and file storage.

Why does the speaker prefer Cortex over Obsidian?

The speaker prefers Cortex because of its intuitive design, focus on spatial thinking, and its ability to quickly move from idea capture to writing. Cortex's minimal setup and visual thinking features, such as multiple open panes, enhance the writing and idea development process.

What does the speaker mean by 'spatial thinking' and how does Cortex support it?

Spatial thinking is the ability to understand and process information through spatial relationships, or how things relate to each other in space. Cortex supports spatial thinking by allowing users to work with multiple panes, visually arranging and connecting ideas in real-time, much like organizing physical papers on a desk.

How does Cortex help users with idea development and writing output?

Cortex helps users by facilitating a smooth transition from capturing ideas to writing them out. The tool's visual layout and simple capture system allow ideas to develop naturally, and users can focus more on content creation than on organizing or customizing their system.

What are the main differences between Cortex and Obsidian in terms of customization?

Obsidian offers extensive customization options through plugins, themes, and Markdown, allowing users to build highly personalized systems. Cortex, on the other hand, has a more minimalist approach with limited customization but focuses on ease of use and quick idea development, making it more suitable for users who prioritize simplicity and speed over customization.