Re: Mathematica 6 review [first impressions]
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg76384] Re: [mg76372] Mathematica 6 review [first impressions]
- From: Andrzej Kozlowski <akoz at mimuw.edu.pl>
- Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 05:56:39 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <200705200640.CAA06469@smc.vnet.net> <44A98897-08F0-45A1-B00C-549D188B92DF@mimuw.edu.pl>
In I made a mistake in example 2. It does illustrate my point but
being disconnected it is rather trivial from the point of view of
topology). A better one is this:
ContourPlot3D[((Sqrt[x^2 + y^2] - 2)^2 + z^2 -
0.3) ((Sqrt[(x - 6)^2 + (y + 6)^2] - 2)^2 + z^2 -
0.3) ((Sqrt[(x + 6)^2 + (y + 6)^2] - 2)^2 + z^2 - 0.3) -
3000, {x, -3 - 6, 3 + 6}, {y, -3 - 6, 3 + 6}, {z, -3, 3}, Contours
-> {0},
Mesh -> None, Axes -> False, ContourStyle -> Red, Boxed -> False]
Its a connected real algebraic surface of genus 3, and the fact
that Mathematica can create it at all, and that one can manipulate it
i real time is pretty impressive. ( However, in terms of performance
and accuracy it is still well behind Jens' MathGl3d ).
Andrzej Kozlowski
On 20 May 2007, at 17:16, Andrzej Kozlowski wrote:
> *This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate
> (tm) Pro*
> Its really strange but you seem to have missed the most obvious and
> very noticeable thing: the completelynew graphic engine. Jus tto
> illustrate it:
>
> 1. Make simple plot:
>
> Plot[Sin[x], {x, -2 Pi, 2 Pi}]
>
> Click on the graphic to select it. Now doble click on the graph of
> of the function. You can then drag the grtaph around with the
> mouse. triple click on the graph. You will see individual points
> that you can now edit to change the shape of the curve. Look under
> the Graphics menu. You will find a set of drawing tools that you
> can use to edit the graphic further.
>
> 2. Try this:
>
> ContourPlot3D[((Sqrt[x^2 + y^2] - 1)^2 + z^2 -
> 0.2) ((Sqrt[(x - 2.5)^2 + (y - 2.5)^2] - 1)^2 + z^2 -
> 0.2) ((Sqrt[(x - 5)^2 + (y - 5)^2] - 1)^2 + z^2 -
> 0.2) ((Sqrt[(x + 2.5)^2 + (y + 2.5)^2] - 1)^2 + z^2 -
> 0.2) ((Sqrt[(x + 5)^2 + (y + 5)^2] - 1)^2 + z^2 - 0.2), {x, -7,
> 7}, {y, -7, 7}, {z, -2, 2}, Contours -> {0}, Mesh -> None, Axes -
> > False,
> ContourStyle -> Green, Boxed -> False]
>
> This may take a bit of time, depending onthe speed of yoru computer
> but...
> try doing this with any previous version of Matheamtica (without
> the help of Jens Kuska's MathGl3D) Not to mention the fact that
> you can now rotate this thing in real time.
>
> And that's just a few of the most obvous (to me) new things.
>
> It seems to me you have missed the "raison d'etre" of Mathematica 6.0
>
> Andrzej Kozlowski
>
>
>
> On 20 May 2007, at 15:40, science2003 at libero.it wrote:
>
>> Premise: I use Mathematica. here and then -not everyday. Symbolic
>> calculus,
>> matrix algebra, with plotting, etc. are mine 80% activity on
>> Mathematica.
>> I was curious on the hype that mounted. I look around for "first
>> impression" reports. But I did not find many. So here is mine. Just
>> first (partial) impressions on a Win2k. I hope someone can add
>> others
>>
>> Installation (trial v.): It is a big one! At the end in the Wolfram
>> folder there are more than 800Mb, plus I guess the files spread in
>> Application data and (I hope just few of them) in the System.
>>
>> Interface: It did not change so much. I know that almost everyone say
>> it did. But inputs needed to be inserted as usual. I would say that
>> another system did change its interface (the one in Java) not
>> Mathematica.
>> The first thing (I guess a big one) that one notices is the
>> coloring code.
>> Helpful, but not amazing. Not all menus are in the same position. I
>> notice that "Palettes" have gain a place of first order (it was
>> before
>> under "File" at least in v4.x).
>>
>> Palettes: There are some new. One of it about layout (Document,
>> article, report, etc). But unfortunately I was unable to find the
>> main
>> I always used: Basic Calculations. This is a big miss! For a saltuary
>> user it helped to input correctly and carry on the job, without too
>> much mistakes. If it is not hidden somewhere this is certainly a
>> minus
>> of Mathematica 6. It was probably also in 5.2 (I do not have it):
>> it is possible
>> to add new palettes from your calculations. To add them it easy. I
>> was unable to find how to remove them! (probably the only way is
>> to go
>> in the folder where they are placed and physically remove them.)
>>
>> Help files: You have the opportunity to see the 5 minutes
>> introduction
>> to Mathematica 6. But the new helper system is indeed less helpful
>> of the
>> revious versions of Mathematica. Several links are for online
>> material.
>> Tutorials refer to (at least the one I met) to a online courses
>> (starting from $800!). Why they do not make tutorials online these
>> days! They will expand the possible user base and sell more copies!
>> Well this is a topic for next time. I notice also that the help is
>> also much slower than the old version. (My CPU is just 1100Mhz).
>>
>> Dynamics and cursors: I look at What new and the main thing that I
>> remember was sliders and dynamics. They are nice features that
>> already attracted - as I see - here much attention. I do not have the
>> competence to assess if they are also revolutionary. For my needs
>> probably not.
>>
>> Under the hood: in a fist impression after a day of experience I
>> cannot really assess them. I hope others can as I hope that others
>> can
>> tell more on "user experience", not just "expert experience"
>>
>>
>
- References:
- Mathematica 6 review [first impressions]
- From: science2003@libero.it
- Mathematica 6 review [first impressions]