Re: Context, LaTeX, or an XML for academic writing?

[Tobias Wolf <towolf@gmail.com>]

> As John already pointed out: Using "pdflatex" this is also possible with
> LaTeX (well, both use PDFTeX behind the scenes).

That was what I meant of course. I always avoided DVI by using PdfTeX.

> Well, the question is how much you want to change; I think one can (in
> both cases) live with the defaults provided (plus some minor changes).
> The defaults in LaTeX are arguably better, ConTeXt on the other hand
> allows changes much easier. I have also the feeling that ConTeXt's
> figure placement is better - at least I had so far not as much problems
> as with LaTeX. (In LaTeX frequently all figures are collected at the
> very end of the document -- or in between when one does a \clearpage.)

Exactly these were my considerations. The topic this time forces me to
include many graphics and placement with LaTeX often depends on either
luck or browsing through many obscure packages that try to alleviate
the situation. On the other hand does the ConTeXt default look rather
"bare-bones" and I'm afraid that I'll lose myself  in micro- and
macro-tweaking.

> One reason to favour LaTeX is that many publishing houses are accepting
> LaTeX submission, while for ConTeXt less so. This is maybe less a
> problem for BSc/MSc theses, but for PhD theses, where one frequently
> includes some (own, published) papers, this means extra work. Having
> said that, I have written my diploma (~ MSc) thesis in physics using
> ConTeXt and I do plan to do so for my PhD as well.

That will be less of an issue for me (The paper that will be published
based also on my findings is formatted in Word(TM)).

> I can send you the environment I used;¹ the layout could probably done
> better, but I think (hope) that it looks quite ok; I used Latin
> Modern/Computer Modern at 12pt on A4. (For my PhD theses I'll use
> probably use octavo/A5.)

It looks quite nice. At first the baselines seemed a bit fuzzy in
acroread but that was an illusion I guess. I you sent me your thing to
have a peek at that would surely be very instructive. Go ahead,
please!

- Tobias