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Re: How should I start with mathematica?

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg85507] Re: How should I start with mathematica?
• From: "Steve Luttrell" <steve at _removemefirst_luttrell.org.uk>
• Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:09:38 -0500 (EST)
• References: <fobjom$mqj$1@smc.vnet.net> <fogj22$4dt$1@smc.vnet.net> <fojrke$gqg$1@smc.vnet.net> <200802101013.FAA17708@smc.vnet.net> <fopapm$b65$1@smc.vnet.net> <fope8d$ee1$1@smc.vnet.net>

"David Bailey" <dave at Remove_Thisdbailey.co.uk> wrote in message 
news:fope8d$ee1$1 at smc.vnet.net...
> Murray Eisenberg wrote:
>> At one of the conferences, there was much criticism over the statement
>> that WRI would no longer offer a printed "The Mathematica Book" as of
>> version 6.  The WRI defense was that 3rd parties would fill the gap.
>>
>> Well, 3rd parties haven't.  Maybe a bunch of books are about to appear.
>>   But so far it looks like WRI really dropped the ball on this.  Perhaps
>> WRI folks are so enamored with their "electronic/on-line only" mentality
>> that they just don't care about books any more.  A big mistake, IMHO.
>>
>> AES wrote:
>>> In other words, approaching a year after its introduction there is
>>> _still_ no really good, really usable, really readable, really
>>> straightforward introduction to all the amazing, but immensely complex
>>> and confusing, old and especially new features of the new 6.0 version of
>>> Mathematica available for either "newbies" or experienced users of the
>>> program, either online or (especially) in any printed _or printable_
>>> document(s).
>>>
>>> Given all the immense respect I have for the marvels of Mathematica
>>> (and, as an  aside, its stiff retail price), I still cannot comprehend
>>> how Wolfram can have let this happen.
>>
> Murray,
>
> I completely agree - can you remember who it was who wrote a
> "Mathematica book generator" and posted it here - if you can, I will add
> a link to it on my site, because that is all that we seem to have for
> the foreseeable future!
>
> I think WRI's approach to documentation is a real mistake. Newbies must
> find it almost impossible to get into the software. Also, some of the
> new features of 6.0 - such as all the new capabilities of Import and
> Export are almost buried and unusable because of poor, vague,
> Microsoft-style documentation.
>
> David Bailey
> http://www.dbaileyconsultancy.co.uk
>

I think the message you are looking for is this one from Thomas Muench:

http://forums.wolfram.com/mathgroup/archive/2007/Aug/msg00334.html

Stephen Luttrell
West Malvern, UK 

• References:
  • Re: How should I start with mathematica?
    • From: AES <siegman@stanford.edu>