duncan@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Shan D Duncan) (02/07/89)
I thought some people might be interested in the answers I received from Tomas G. Rokicki <rokicki@polya.Stanford.EDU> about AmigaTeX. Based on responses from the net, use of TeX on a Unix system, and Tom's answers, I decided to invest in this software. ->> my qestions -> tom's answers -> > (1) I use emacs with all of its assorted tex/latex/bibtex enhancements, -> > how close can micro type emacses (emaci?) come? (i.e. how much would I -> > have to give up working solely on the amiga?) -> Not very. The commands are all there, but there's no such thing as a -> `shell buffer'. On the other hand, with the Amiga you can have one-key -> to preview capability . . . -> > (2) Given these configurations, how large a document can be -> > processed in 1mb? -> > a) Latex only -> As big as you can store on your media. Perhaps a document so big -> that it plus its dvi file occupies an entire disk, if you prune the ->`system' disk down enough. -> > b) Latex + editor -> > c) Latex + editor + previewer -> > d) Latex + editor + previewer + Arexx -> None of these others will run side by side in 1mb; LaTeX just -> requires too much memory. Another 2mb would make all of them -> quite nice. -> > (3) Given condition d above what combinations of hardware is -> > necessary? Minimum configuration and "optimum". -> Minimum for (d) would be 1.5mb---providing your editor file was -> sufficiently small. Optimum would be 2.5-3 megabytes. -> > (4) All I really need at the moment is the previewer since -> > everything else is already available on our system. More -> > than anything else the previewer is what makes your -> > implementation stand out. Is there a pricing structure in -> > place for just the previewer and a limited set of fonts with -> > options to upgrade? Or must it be the whole package? -> Well, it's actually kind of slow downloading the dvi file to -> preview. Unfortunately, I don't have any sort of way to break -> the system apart like that---the previewer fonts are six of the -> disks. -> > (5) If a large monitor is used (i.e. Viking) could two pages -> > be displayed side by side? ( I imagine getting source on -> > one side (in editor) and previewer output on the other -> > would be no problem given sufficient memory ). -> Sure, no problem. As a matter of fact, you can do this in 640x400--- -> but of course, things aren't very large. There are site licensing -> terms available, but they start at $1500 . . . hate to be an ogre. -> > (6) Is mg2 available with an arexx port? Or is the version of mg1 -> > found on the fish disk the latest? Suggested editor? Uedit? CED pro? -> > DME? -> mg1b is still the way to fly, until I get the mg2b code again. -> Any of the editors you mention would work fine---if DME gets an -> ARexx port. -> If you really live in Emacs, then I'd probably use mg and get whatever -> enhancements you need made to it. -> > (7) What is the latest version of: -> > Amigatex -> Currently 2.9. But you'll never notice any difference. -> > Latex macros -> 2.09 (25 Jan 1988) -> > Bibtex etc. -> 0.99i -> > (8) Payment options. Cash. Check. Money Order. Credit Card. -> Cash. Check. Check preferred. Money Order. -> > If you would like for me to relay your replies to the net, I would -> > be glad to. -> Thank you for the questions. I'm sorry if I appear overly rigid--- -> I'm actually not. If you'd like to discuss any of the above, please -> do; I'm always happy to talk. And you're welcome to forward whatever -> you think is appropriate to the net. -> -tom With support like that how can one go wrong! Now does anyone know if the Arexx port in DME is going to be updated (DME is version 1.35, Arexx port is from 1.29)? NOT that I am complaining! Just curious. Gee since there is a Vi command set for DME is there an EMACS set? :-) Wordperfect? Wordstar? Sprint :-) :-) :-) :-) I LIKE DME - thanks Matt! Shan duncan@csd4.milw.wisc.edu ---------------------------------------------------- Just a biologist who had to live with AppleIIe's, PC-clones and a Sperry 1100 for TOO long!
UH2@PSUVM.BITNET (Lee Sailer) (02/08/89)
One could get the impression from those answers that AmigaTeX *requires*
1.5--3MB. For those just getting their foootsies weet, let me point out
that ATeX can be used on a 512K Amiga with 2 floppies, and it's not too bad.
What do you lose? LaTeX (no loss, in my opinion9-) and side-by-side
editing, TeXing, and Previewing. Still quite usable, in my opinion.
leeejkst@cisunx.UUCP (Eric J. Kennedy) (02/09/89)
Speaking of AmigaTeX, Radical Eye Software's new BBS is up and running. It was pretty empty when I called, but that's to be expected, since I think I called the day it was turned on. It looks good, though, and I'm happy to see it. If you own AmigaTeX, give it a call! I'll let Tom post the number if he wants--in any case all owners should have received the number in the recent newsletter. ------ Of course I have no affiliation with Tom, Radical Eye Software, Don Bluth, er, Knuth, etc.; except as a happy owner of AmigaTeX. -- Eric Kennedy ejkst@cisunx.UUCP