How I did it: First I decided that I'm not going to slave away with a word processor to write my thesis. Then I installed MikTeX, which makes the Windows machine LaTeX capable. Then I downloaded the Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX and LaTeX for Word Processor Users (which tells one how to do something with LaTeX starting from the way one would do it in a word processor.) Then I started producing my own documents, the first being a presentation done with a PDF. I don't use a tool with a graphical user interface, but a text editor that allows me to execute command-line programs.

Lessons & tips:

• Just do it. It might seem daunting at first, but only practice will make it come right.
• One can use the Beamer class (or one of the other) to make presentations using LaTeX. LaTeX can free you not only from Word, but from PowerPoint too!

Resources:

• CTAN, the Comprehensive Tex Archive Network. There's a mirror near you!
• MikTeX
• The internet, which overflows with examples and tutorials on LaTeX
• WordPad, a nice text editor with syntax highlighting for LaTeX and customizable commands.
• The LaTex manuals.

Jan 03, 2009, 10:48PM PST | 0 comments | 1 cheer