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OneNote

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Org Mode

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OneNote vs Org Mode: What are the differences?

Introduction

OneNote and Org Mode are two popular tools used for note-taking and organization, but they have several key differences. In this markdown, we will explore and highlight six specific differences between OneNote and Org Mode.

  1. User Interface: OneNote provides a visually appealing and intuitive interface, resembling a paper notebook with sections and pages. On the other hand, Org Mode primarily uses plain text files with a minimalistic and command-driven interface, making it more suitable for users comfortable with text-based interfaces.

  2. Cross-Platform Compatibility: OneNote is available on various platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, ensuring seamless synchronization across devices. In contrast, Org Mode is primarily built for Emacs, a text editor, so it works best on platforms where Emacs is supported, making it less accessible for users on other operating systems.

  3. Collaboration and Sharing: OneNote offers robust collaboration features, allowing multiple users to simultaneously work on the same notebook, share notebooks with others, and easily collaborate on projects. On the contrary, Org Mode lacks built-in collaboration features, primarily focusing on personal organization and productivity.

  4. Organizational Structure: OneNote utilizes a hierarchical structure with notebooks, sections, and pages, allowing users to create a clear hierarchy for their notes. In contrast, Org Mode relies on a powerful outlining system, enabling users to organize their notes with headings, subheadings, and other hierarchical elements, providing more flexibility in structuring information.

  5. Integration and Extensibility: OneNote integrates well with other Microsoft Office applications and offers various productivity features. On the other hand, Org Mode is extremely extensible and customizable, allowing users to leverage its powerful ecosystem of add-ons, extensions, and various plugins to enhance functionality and tailor the tool to their specific needs.

  6. Export and Portability: OneNote provides limited options for exporting notes, primarily allowing users to export to HTML, PDF, or Word documents. In contrast, Org Mode offers multiple export options, including HTML, PDF, LaTeX, Markdown, and others, enabling users to easily switch between platforms or tools without losing their data or formatting.

In summary, OneNote offers a visually appealing interface, collaboration features, and compatibility across multiple platforms, while Org Mode excels in its flexible organizational structure, extensibility, and export options. The choice between them ultimately depends on personal preferences, required features, and the intended use case.

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Pros of OneNote
Pros of Org Mode
  • 1
    Works great with OneDrive
  • 1
    Syncs quickly
  • 1
    Dark mode
  • 1
    Search text in images (OCR)
  • 1
    Agenda and Calendar
  • 1
    Suitable for long documents
  • 1
    Portable across platforms
  • 1
    Works in CLI via Emacs
  • 1
    Export to md, html, odt, LaTeX etc
  • 1
    GTD Concept
  • 1
    To-Do-Lists/Organiser
  • 1
    Note-taking
  • 1
    Intuitive
  • 1
    Easy formatting

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Cons of OneNote
Cons of Org Mode
    Be the first to leave a con
    • 1
      Not many editors have org mode support other then Emacs

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    - No public GitHub repository available -

    What is OneNote?

    Get organized in notebooks you can divide into sections and pages. With easy navigation and search, you’ll always find your notes right where you left them. It gathers users' notes, drawings, screen clippings and audio commentaries. Notes can be shared with other OneNote users over the Internet or a network.

    What is Org Mode?

    It is used for keeping notes, maintaining TODO lists, planning projects, and authoring documents with a fast and effective plain-text system

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    What companies use OneNote?
    What companies use Org Mode?
    See which teams inside your own company are using OneNote or Org Mode.
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    What tools integrate with OneNote?
    What tools integrate with Org Mode?

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    What are some alternatives to OneNote and Org Mode?
    Evernote
    Take notes to a new level with Evernote, the productivity app that keeps your projects, ideas, and inspiration handy across all your digital devices. It helps you capture and prioritize ideas, projects, and to-do lists, so nothing falls through the cracks.
    Asana
    Asana is the easiest way for teams to track their work. From tasks and projects to conversations and dashboards, Asana enables teams to move work from start to finish--and get results. Available at asana.com and on iOS & Android.
    Google Keep
    It is a note-taking service developed by Google. It is available on the web, and has mobile apps for the Android and iOS mobile operating systems. Keep offers a variety of tools for taking notes, including text, lists, images, and audio.
    OneDrive
    Outlook.com is a free, personal email service from Microsoft. Keep your inbox clutter-free with powerful organizational tools, and collaborate easily with OneDrive and Office Online integration.
    Google Docs
    It is a word processor included as part of a free, web-based software office suite offered by Google. It brings your documents to life with smart editing and styling tools to help you easily format text and paragraphs.
    See all alternatives