Martin A. Hansen wrote: > 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
I'd really focus this a bit more, since it is my personal "killer" argument: The LaTeX output is way better than word's output from a typographical point of view. Especially with pdflatex, you are able to produce highly professional output, including straightforward macrotypographical (very good page layout, intelligent setting of floating objects, good line breaking algorithm, paragraph-based instead of the line-based thing of word, mostly good dealing with widows/orphans) as well as microtypographical features (ligatures, character protuding, font expansion, possibility to use high quality [type1] fonts) etc. [1] Also, the quality of the pdf files is quite good. I got very good feedback from the printers which had to deal with my files. I also submit acrobat-created word-pdf files from time to time, and almost anytime, something is fishy with the file (which might of course be due to my missing skills). [1] The con, though, is that LaTeX cannot handle what German typographers call "Registerhaltigkeit" (i.e. that the lines on each page [recto and verso] are all vertically aligned the same). I know that this is information overkill for beginners. Just show them two outputs (of word and LyX). Almost anytime I have done this, people told me that they "feel" the LyX output looks better. Than you might try to explain them why. Also, use a beamer presentation. Since I switched to beamer, I always get the following reaction after the talks: "please tell me how I can do this and that with power point". > * table of contents, lists, etc are automatic (with no errors like word) > > * superb bibliographies using bibtex * index generation * The modular structure of LaTeX. Word is a big beast which can theoretically do anything, but in practice, it's just too bloated and lots of the features are half-baked. In LaTeX/LyX, you just load the packages you need for your given task, and you often have the choice between several packages with specific pros/cons for your specific task (which might of course be irritating for beginners). The selection of things is very good, there are packages for critical editions, for law stuff, for chemistry, for several languages, linguistics, presentations, fiction, letters, cookbooks, chess, typesetting music and so on. And those packages have been developed by people who really know what is needed, i.e. the scientists themselves. * LyX restricts the possibilities to tweak the layout (which is mostly a pro, because basically it means that you are hindered from messing it up) > cons: > ===== > > * lyx/word exchange is horrible > > * the word position in the printed doc is not the same as on the screen > > * a longer learning curve once you need to move beyond the basics > > * you will hit very quickly the ceiling of lyx and have your documents full > of ERT > > * latex is hard to debug. error messages are usually quite meaningless > > * lyx on windows is still a bit of a challenge > > * not very many people uses lyx. you need to bring your own laptop with lyx > always. * especially in human sciences, LaTeX and LyX is almost unknown, so you finally have to stick with word. I am not aware of a single journal in my subject that accepts latex files, not to speak about the proceedings. * Some tools missing (e.g. grammar checking, thesaurus in other languages than English) Jürgen
