When comparing Org mode for Emacs vs Nimbus Notes, the Slant community recommends Org mode for Emacs for most people. In the question“What are the best knowledge base systems for personal use?” Org mode for Emacs is ranked 3rd while Nimbus Notes is ranked 30th. The most important reason people chose Org mode for Emacs is:
Org mode started out as a simple outlining/note taking app. Then each outline heading can optionally be a TODO list item. And if you desire, you can add SCHEDULE and DEADLINE dates. (Schedule being the date you'd like to start the item.) You can customize the TODO states to add things like DELEGATED, WAITING, BLOCKED, etc.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Can be as simple or as complex as you want
Org mode started out as a simple outlining/note taking app. Then each outline heading can optionally be a TODO list item. And if you desire, you can add SCHEDULE and DEADLINE dates. (Schedule being the date you'd like to start the item.) You can customize the TODO states to add things like DELEGATED, WAITING, BLOCKED, etc.
Pro Libre/open source
Pro Cross platform
Emacs runs on all platforms, Windows, Linux, OSX, even Android and IOS
Pro Exports data to PDF, LaTeX, HMTL and other
You can even build presentation or blog from your data
Pro Supports tables with formules (quite powerful!)
Pro Plain text data storage
Future-proof.
Pro Inline image displaying
Pro Free but copyrighted
Pro Fast interaction
Once muscle-memory sets in, can be much faster to use than a point & click program.
Pro Uses Emacs
Pro All apps
Pro Easy categorization
An Evernote alternative where categorization is quite easy, as Nimbus Notes uses both a hierarchical folder structure and hashtags (#).
Pro Very easy migration tool for transferring from Evernote
There's a tool for Windows which lets users transfer their notes from Evernote to Nimbus. Here's a guide on how to do it.
Pro Feature-rich
Pro Free for private use
Does not restrict you to only two devices like Evernote does for its free version.
Pro Similar to Evernote but without the bugs
Pro Very good help desk
Excellent help desk advice and interaction when trying to find a solution to the data issue mentioned previously.
Pro Excellent Android, iOS and Windows apps
Cons
Con Obtuse documentation
The documentation assumes a level of understanding of basic Emacs usage that not all users may have.
Con Complicated to get started
Con Difficult to use as a database
For example, if you need to quickly populate client details on quotes, unfortunately its easier to find, copy & paste.
Con Not suitable for normal users
Not even a majority of software developers can be bothered to use Emacs (or VI, for that matter).
Con PDF export can be difficult
Latex assumes you're a (compliant) student, have to do a lot of research to get what you want out of it.
Con Uses Emacs (for those who prefer vi, menus, etc.)
Con No Linux version
Con Limited styling functions
There are limited ways to style/edit your notes (no font colors or sizes for example).
Con The interface is not as elegant as Evernote
The UI has a fairly outdated appearance, which isn't as smooth or intuitive to use as Evernote.