LaTeX, MS Word, asking questions, LyX (was Re: [OS X TeX] 1/2" margins)

William Adams will.adams at frycomm.com
Thu Oct 12 13:08:51 EDT 2006


On Oct 12, 2006, at 12:54 PM, Alain Schremmer wrote:

> I also hasten to add that I got here immense help for questions  
> that even I, but with hindsight, see as fairly trivial. But I  
> recall wondering why there couldn't be something, call it LaTeX  
> Light, that could be learned as fast as, say, MS word and /that/  
> got me almost flamed.

The thing is, LaTeX and MS Word are fundamentally different, the one  
is a markup / typesetting system, the other a word processor.

LyX is a much more apt comparison / replacement, and one which I  
think compares very favourably --- actually, I really believe it's  
the most innovative opensource desktop application yet.

> The way I see it the LaTeX community is a club and one "not for the  
> faint of heart". So, if someone is willing to "pay his/her dues", s/ 
> he will get all the help in the world from the club members. But a  
> club it is and a club it wants to remain. (Again, same in  
> mathematics. In French, the club is called "les forts en math".)

Well, the Lord helps those who help themselves. Why should people be  
any different? This is a public forum and it behooves those asking  
for help to be considerate of the time and efforts of others, doing  
all that they can up-front to be prepared and follow the rules and  
expectations of the community, working w/in the established framework.

William

-- 
William Adams
senior graphic designer
Fry Communications



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