Rahmanism

I installed llama3 the LLM from Meta on my MacBook M2 and tested it locally. You can download it from https://ollama.com/ and install it on your machine. I used the model 8b, which needs 4.7GB of download. My machine’s CPU has 12 cores, which didn’t go so high most of the time. A few gigs of RAM was enough to use it in terminal with just me as the only user. Here is my first talk with Meta’s LLama3.

Tell me about Obsidian the note-taking app.

Obsidian is a popular note-taking app that has gained a significant following among writers, students, and professionals

alike. Here’s an overview of what makes Obsidian unique:

Key Features:

1. Graph-based notes: Obsidian uses a graph database to connect related ideas, concepts, and notes. This allows you to create a web of interconnected thoughts, making it easier to explore relationships between different pieces of information.
2. Bi-directional linking: You can link any note or idea to another note or idea, creating a two-way connection. This enables you to traverse your notes in both directions, facilitating deeper insights and connections.
3. Tags and folders: Obsidian allows you to categorize your notes using tags (keywords) and folders (physical containers). These organizational tools help you quickly find specific notes and ideas.
4. Daily Notes: A unique feature of Obsidian is the daily note-taking habit. You can create a new note each day, and Obsidian will automatically link it to the previous days’ notes, creating a journal-like experience.
5. Markdown support: Obsidian supports Markdown formatting, making it easy to add headings, bold text, lists, and more to your notes.
6. Drag-and-drop editing: You can reorder your notes by dragging and dropping them into new positions on the canvas.
7. Search and filtering: Obsidian’s search function allows you to find specific notes or ideas using keywords, tags, or phrases.

Benefits:

1. Improved organization: Obsidian’s graph-based approach helps you connect related ideas and concepts, making it easier to see the relationships between different pieces of information.
2. Enhanced creativity: The app’s unique linking system enables you to explore new ideas and connections by traversing your notes in both directions.
3. Faster research and discovery: Obsidian’s search and filtering features make it easy to find specific notes or ideas, allowing you to quickly identify patterns and insights.
4. Personal knowledge management: By connecting related ideas and concepts, Obsidian helps you build a comprehensive understanding of your own thoughts and ideas.

Availability:

Obsidian is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. You can start with the free version and upgrade to the premium plan (Obsidian Vault) for additional features, such as offline access and advanced search capabilities.

Overall, Obsidian has gained a reputation for being an innovative note-taking app that helps users connect their ideas in meaningful ways, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to organize and explore their thoughts.

What about its cons?

While Obsidian is a powerful and unique note-taking app, it’s not without its limitations and potential drawbacks. Here are

some of the cons:

Cons:

1. Steep learning curve: Obsidian’s graph-based approach can be overwhelming at first. It takes time to understand how to use the linking system effectively, which might be frustrating for those who prefer a more traditional note-taking experience.
2. Visual clutter: With many notes and links, the canvas can become visually cluttered. This can make it difficult to focus on specific ideas or connections.
3. Limited formatting options: While Obsidian supports Markdown, the formatting options are limited compared to other note-taking apps like Evernote or OneNote.
4. No built-in audio recording: Unlike some other note-taking apps, Obsidian doesn’t have a built-in audio recording feature. You’ll need to use an external recording app or service if you want to capture audio notes.
5. Limited collaboration features: While Obsidian allows you to share individual notes or ideas with others, it doesn’t offer robust collaboration features like simultaneous editing or commenting.
6. No offline access for free version: The free version of Obsidian requires an internet connection to work, which can be a limitation if you prefer to take notes without worrying about connectivity.
7. Occasional performance issues: Some users have reported occasional performance issues, such as slow loading times or crashes, although these seem to be relatively rare and often resolved with updates.
8. No support for tables or spreadsheets: Obsidian doesn’t currently support creating tables or spreadsheets within notes, which might be a limitation for those who need to organize data in this way.
9. Limited search functionality: While Obsidian’s search function is decent, it can still be limiting if you’re trying to find specific information across multiple notes or ideas.

Workarounds and Tips:

1. Start with the free version and gradually move to the premium plan (Obsidian Vault) as you become more comfortable with the app.
2. Use tags and folders to organize your notes and keep them visually separate from each other.
3. Focus on a specific project or idea, rather than trying to tackle too many topics at once, which can help reduce visual clutter.
4. Experiment with different link types (e.g., links, hashtags, or keywords) to find what works best for you.
5. Use external tools or services to record audio notes if you prefer.

Keep in mind that these cons are relatively minor compared to the benefits Obsidian offers. If you’re willing to invest time and effort into learning the app, you may find it’s a valuable tool for your note-taking needs.

Which one do you suggest, Obsidian or Notion?

What a great question!

Both Obsidian and Notion are powerful tools that can help you organize and connect your thoughts, ideas, and projects. While they share some similarities, each has its unique strengths and weaknesses.

Here’s a brief comparison:

Obsidian:

• Strengths:
• Unique graph-based approach for linking related notes and ideas
• Excellent for personal knowledge management and exploring connections between concepts
• Simple, intuitive interface
• Weaknesses:
• Limited formatting options (Markdown only)
• No built-in audio recording or table/spreadsheet support
• Steep learning curve due to the graph-based approach

Notion:

• Strengths:
• Highly customizable and adaptable to different use cases
• Supports various formats, including text, images, audio, videos, and more
• Robust collaboration features for working with others
• Cross-platform compatibility
• Weaknesses:
• More complex interface compared to Obsidian (may take time to get used to)
• Can be overwhelming due to the sheer number of features and options

So, which one is better?

If you:

1. Value a simple, intuitive interface for personal knowledge management or exploring connections between concepts, Obsidian might be the better choice.
2. Need a more flexible and customizable tool for various projects, tasks, and collaboration, Notion could be the way to go.

Ultimately, it depends on your specific needs, preferences, and goals. You may even find that you want to use both tools in combination, depending on the project or situation.

Here’s a fun thought experiment: Imagine you’re trying to decide between Obsidian and Notion for managing your personal knowledge management system (PKMS). Which one would you choose?

I used to use Notion before, but the offline mode wasn’t good. It almost always needed internet. And it was a heavy burden for my laptop’s CPU. Now, I’m using obsidian, it’s good and light and everything but having notes online and synced needs a premium account. Besides, the security is weak. Notes are stored in MD file (which is good in a sense), but everyone who has access to the computer can see the files without using the app and without me noticing.

I understand your concerns about Notion’s offline mode and Obsidian’s online storage and syncing requirements. Notion’s offline mode, while promising, did seem to require an internet connection more often than not, which can be frustrating when you’re in a meeting or working on a project without internet access. The fact that it was also resource-intensive for your laptop’s CPU is another important consideration.

Regarding Obsidian, I completely understand your concerns about online storage and syncing. While the ability to sync your notes across devices is convenient, it does raise questions about data security and privacy. You’re right that the files are stored in Markdown format, which can be accessed by anyone with access to your computer or device. This lack of protection can be a major concern for sensitive information.

It’s great that you’re being mindful of these issues and considering the pros and cons of each tool. Here are some suggestions:

1. Explore alternative note-taking apps: If you’re concerned about online storage and syncing, you might want to look into other options that offer offline capabilities or more robust security features.
2. Consider a third-party backup solution: To mitigate the risk of data loss or theft, you could set up a third-party backup service to store your notes securely off-site.
3. Use a password manager: To add an extra layer of protection to your Obsidian notes, you could use a password manager like 1Password, LastPass, or KeePass to encrypt and secure your login credentials.
4. Evaluate Obsidian’s premium features: While the free version of Obsidian might not meet your security concerns, the paid version (Obsidian Vault) offers additional features that may address some of these issues.

What are your thoughts on these suggestions? Are there any specific requirements or concerns you have regarding a note-taking app that I haven’t mentioned yet?

And it suggested the “Bear” note taking app instead in the end!