From: mek@guinan.psu.edu (Mark E. Kotanchek)
Subject: Re: mathematica (FrameMaker/FrameMath)
Organization: Penn State Center for Academic Computing
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 14:38:54 GMT

In article <1992Oct14.161756@suned1.nswses.navy.mil>  
dnf@suned1.nswses.navy.mil (David N Fukes) writes:
> In article <21133@plains.NoDak.edu>, mooney@plains.NoDak.edu (Timothy  
Mooney) writes:
> |> In article <1992Oct9.142218.8972@mail.cornell.edu>  
Ray-Zimmerman@cornell.edu (Ray Zimmerman) writes:
> |> )In article <39201@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> Anand Rao,  
ee52fas@sdcc15.ucsd.edu
> |> )writes:
> |> )>i need a software package that will let me write up lab reports,
> |> )>print
> |> )>mathematical symbols on my laser printer, do circuit diagrams, make
> |> )>tables and other things you do when writing up lab reports.  can
> |> )>anybody reccomend one to me? is mathematica anygood for this sort  
of
> |> )>thing? thanks.
> |> )>
> |> )>-anand
> |> )
> |> )No, I'm afraid Mathematica is not the type of package you're looking
> |> )for.  It sounds like FrameMaker would be a good choice for you.  You
> |> )can find out more by contacting "comments@frame.com" or checking out
> |> )the comp.text.frame newsgroup.
> |> )
> |> )By the way, I use both FrameMaker and Mathematica.  I like  
FrameMaker
> |> )for the kinds of things you mentioned.
> |> )
> |> ) Ray Zimmerman            \ 397 Theory Center, Electrical  
Engineering
> |> 
> |> Not to nitpick, but I believe that FrameMaker has a pretty hefty
> |> pricetag (I've heard it's about $1000).  That certainly wouldn't be
> |> within THIS student's budget.
> |> 
> |> Tim Mooney
> |> 
> |> -- 
> |> In 'Real' Life:                      aka Tim the Enchanter, MPtQftHG 
> |> Timothy Mooney                        
-----------------------------------------  
> |> mooney@plains.nodak.edu              +    "I'm DISAPPOINTED!" - Otto
> |> NDSU Fargo ND.                       +     		A Fish  
Called Wanda
> |>  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
-----
> 
> FrameMaker is actully closer to $600--not exactly a bargain, however.
> -- 
> David N. Fukes
> NSWC, PHD Code 4V12
> Port Hueneme, CA 93043-5007
>             Any statements/opinions made here are not the Navy's.

Here at good ol' PSU FrameMaker has an academic price of $247 for NeXT,  
Mac, PC, Sun, etc. which is a bargain when you consider that the $247 gets  
you pretty powerful document publishing, word publishing, and drawing  
capabilities as well as a very good symbolic processor.

I use Mma for heavy-duty symbolic stuff on the NeXT but for basic  
scratching I use FrameMaker's FrameMath symbolic processor which lets me  
work DIRECTLY with typeset equations containing Greek symbols and does the  
mechanics of the algebraic manipulation providing I tell it what to do  
(e.g., factor this term out of the expression or subexpression). IMHO it  
kicks Mma's butt with respect to ease of use AND effectiveness in  
engineering and design.

Now if only I could get a program with the ease of use of FrameMath (or  
its predecessor, Milo), the graphics of Mma, the correctness of Maple, and  
the smarts of Derive (especially w.r.t. defining variables on intervals)  
life would be good....

Until then, Toodles,

Mark.
--
Mark Kotanchek
Guidance & Control Dept - 363 ASB
Applied Research Lab/Penn State
P.O. Box 30
State College, PA 16804