Re: selling lyx part 2

[Helge Hafting]

Martin A. Hansen wrote:
hello again
thank you very much for the input.
apparently noone have any slideshow presentations introducing lyx to the 
ignorant word user.
i hereby suggest we make one - and perhaps even include it in the documentation 
on lyx.org?
but first i will summon up the pro/con input from the mailing list:
pros:
=====
* easy to use and stable
* free
* well written and intelligent docs
* focus on content instead of layout
* the printed output is truely typeset giving nicer output
* table of contents, lists, etc are automatic (with no errors like word)
* superb bibliographies using bibtex
* cross references are awesome
* cross references (and citition dito) are automatically numbered and maintained
* departmental/group standard documents gets lean
* math equations are handled professionally
* journals may provide latex classes of thier own
* it is possible to make pdf files with pdflatex
* uses a text file format allowing for easy and full back compatibility
* encourages structured thinking with putting in the section and subsection 
when one starts writing
* tables and graphics within tables is possible
* minitoc is a nice feature
* great at placement of figures etc. no orphans.
* figure placement are superior and true to typesetting
cons:
=====
* lyx/word exchange is horrible
 

Rarely a problem though.  They can still keep word (or the free 
openoffice) around
for dealing with old documents and documents mailed in from word users.
All while using lyx for writing all their new documents. Sending 
documents to others?
Send a pdf, ehich everybody understands. 

* the word position in the printed doc is not the same as on the screen
 

True - but do you really care about that?  Usually you shouldn't need to.
Still, use view->dvi or view->pdflatex for a true preview.  And this 
preview really
is true, in contrast to some word previews that only approximates what you
get on paper.  (Well, perhaps word have improved since the last time I used
it in the mid-nineties . . . )

* a longer learning curve once you need to move beyond the basics
 

Longer than what?  Can you even do the same in word?
One can easily find examples of "this thing is easy in word and require two
pages of ERT in lyx"  But you can just as easily find things that is easy
in lyx and outright impossible in word.  Cross references between
several files?  That work even when you have several master documents
that include a different selection of subdocuments?  Where you get the
page numbers and chapter/section numbers right in all cases? :-)
* you will hit very quickly the ceiling of lyx and have your documents full of ERT
 

You will hit the limit and need some ERT, but lots of it? Quickly?  It 
looks like
French users have a problem here because they need ERT for some of their
oe-ligature, and some other languages may have similiar problems. Other 
than that,
I wouldn't say ERT is something you needs lots of. Not if you're lucky 
and your
language is well supported.

* latex is hard to debug. error messages are usually quite meaningless 
 

It sure is - but who needs to?  Usually not a lyx user, except when using
lots of ERT.  And then you know that the problem is in the ERT and 
nowhere else.

* lyx on windows is still a bit of a challenge
 

This is only a installation/packaging problem, right?  All we need is a 
couple of install
programs, one who install lyx with latex and everything, and another who
install lyx only for those who have latex already.

* not very many people uses lyx. you need to bring your own laptop with lyx 
always.
 

Only if you want to _write_ on someone else's pc.  Every pc can read
PDF, if you plan on bringing a CD/diskette to a meeting.  Quick notes 
can be written
in word (or easier - in plain text) and mailed home.  Then you paste it 
into lyx and
formats it nicely.


did i miss anything important in the above?
is it not a strong argument that the entire body of litterature within the 
sciences is typeset with latex? (is this true?)
 

It is an argument for people who write science/tech stuff themselves, or 
who easily can get latex
tips from their contacts in those communities.  Otherwise it is not a 
strong argument.


now for the layout of the slideshow (first the thinking/brainstorming part - 
your help is ugently needed!).
i will suggest something around 20 slides and if possible examplify all of the 
above pros. and of couse, one
should also mention the cons ...
1 cover slide
1 slide with introduction
1 slide with tex/latex/lyx history and use
some slides giving a graphical tour just like on lyx.org
a couple of slides showing how to insert citation references (this really seem 
to win peoples hearts)
a couple of slides on how to install lyx
1 final slide with pros and cons

suggestions to the composition of this slideshow is welcome - and if anyone 
have ideas to any particular slide, dont hesitate.
 

If you want to "sell" lyx, then focus on the pros and downplay the 
cons.  Of course you must mention
cons, as they may be showstoppers for some uses.  But not something 
you'd spend lots of time on!

Helge Hafting