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

[William Adams]

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



This email message and any files transmitted with it contain information
which is confidential and intended only for the addressee(s). If you are
not the intended recipient(s), any usage,  dissemination, disclosure, or
action taken in  reliance on it is prohibited.  The reliability of  this
method of communication cannot be guaranteed.  Email can be intercepted,
corrupted, delayed, incompletely transmitted, virus-laden,  or otherwise
affected during transmission. Reasonable steps have been taken to reduce
the risk of viruses, but we cannot accept liability for damage sustained
as a result of this message. If you have received this message in error,
please immediately delete it and all copies of it and notify the sender.
------------------------- Info --------------------------
Mac-TeX Website: http://www.esm.psu.edu/mac-tex/
          & FAQ: http://latex.yauh.de/faq/
TeX FAQ: http://www.tex.ac.uk/faq
List Archive: http://tug.org/pipermail/macostex-archives/