Re: Re: Print[Plot] vs Print[text,Plot]?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg88165] Re: [mg88108] Re: Print[Plot] vs Print[text,Plot]?
- From: "W_Craig Carter" <ccarter at mit.edu>
- Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:56:49 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <fueep7$bai$1@smc.vnet.net> <fuhqvc$rh5$1@smc.vnet.net>
On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 5:27 AM, AES <siegman at stanford.edu> wrote: > In article <fupm41$s4n$1 at smc.vnet.net>, Helen Read <hpr at together.net> > > > There are a *lot* of extremely useful things "New in 6.0" that are very > > much worth the effort to learn. > > > > Yes, I totally agree. > Yes, I think we can all agree > > You and I, I'm afraid, just think differently. > > How dull the world would be if this were not the case. > > --and can read in the evening, or on my next plane trip, or in the > dentist's waiting room, or during a particularly dull meeting > > --and can thereby get an _overview_ --- a _roadmap_ -- a _preview_ --- > of these useful new things, to let me know what I need to dig into > further to meet my particular, specific needs as a user (and which of > these I won't immediately need and can ignore). I agree there is a need for such a primer. I wonder if the size of the market would justify the labor and resources of writing it--I don't know. I do recall reading the original Wolfram book cover-to-cover to familiarize myself with the language. It was this reading experience that allowed me to abandon my previously familiar lisp-oriented symbolic language for Mathematica. One day of concentrated reading allowed me to attempt things in Mathematica, that I could have easily done in the language that was familiar to me. I don't think Wolfram has any intention to write a physical book for 6.0. I am of two minds about this: I do think that reflective and effective reading is best done away from the screen which has too many distractions; however, I think the habit of reading paper and ink will continue to diminish and improve our use of resources and eliminate the need for n-th editions. In any case, the original Mathematica book probably weighs less than a kilogram, that I see you can buy for $0.42 a copy. It still contains a useful guide for learning the structure on which 6.0 is built; it can be read in one day. It could be tossed in the recyling bin after a flight. W. Craig Carter PS: I am hoping that my currently immobility, due to a broken leg and newly installed hardware, will soon finish. Becoming more active in this group has been an effective way to stave off the boredom, and helped me think about new problems and solutions. I am very far from being expert, but participating has proved an effective means to improve my skills and, hopefully for my course that relies heavily on Mathematica, teach better. Unfortunately and fortunately, my impending de-incarceration will jolt me back to my regular three 8 hour/day jobs.