beercia
Mechanical
- Jul 11, 2003
- 36
Is it worth it?
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I want upgrade to Mathcad 11 from Mathcad 2000
- Thread starter beercia
- Start date
- Status
I found Mathconnex - it is on the mathsoft website as aseparate download, and not on the mathcad 11 CD.
It took me about 10 days to get my activation code sorted out, and two goes - I had to re-install as a result of some other computer trouble (usual helpdesk hit 'n hope style of fixing problems) so the original activation code didn't work on the second install. Not impressed - does this mean that an arbitrary change to my registry could make mathcad fall over?!
Bung
Life is non-linear...
It took me about 10 days to get my activation code sorted out, and two goes - I had to re-install as a result of some other computer trouble (usual helpdesk hit 'n hope style of fixing problems) so the original activation code didn't work on the second install. Not impressed - does this mean that an arbitrary change to my registry could make mathcad fall over?!
Bung
Life is non-linear...
beercia:
One of my systems is running 98SE. Came with 256 Meg.
Last year it started bogging down.... got Out Of Memory messages, and lock-ups...
Monitored system resources and found that memory was getting used up ... 98SE is a memory hog.
Also noted that when apps closed, memory allocation wasn't being recalibrated.... so, as each new application was opened, memory consumption kept increasing....even though other apps were being closed.
Added another 256 Meg....and that brought me back to <50% consumption at the start... however... memory re-allocation wasn't happening when apps were closed.
Since discovered that Microsoft still hasn't fixed the problem of releasing memory when an application closes.
Supposed to be fixed in Win 2K... wasn't... supposed to be fixed in XP .... isn't.
Read an article about needing a memory manager to do the job that Microsoft should have done.
Now, no more problems.
Am running AMS's Fast DeFrag 2.0 Standard (freebie)
It actively defrags memory.
No more problems... and no problems whatsoever with 512 Meg on Win 98SE.
One of my systems is running 98SE. Came with 256 Meg.
Last year it started bogging down.... got Out Of Memory messages, and lock-ups...
Monitored system resources and found that memory was getting used up ... 98SE is a memory hog.
Also noted that when apps closed, memory allocation wasn't being recalibrated.... so, as each new application was opened, memory consumption kept increasing....even though other apps were being closed.
Added another 256 Meg....and that brought me back to <50% consumption at the start... however... memory re-allocation wasn't happening when apps were closed.
Since discovered that Microsoft still hasn't fixed the problem of releasing memory when an application closes.
Supposed to be fixed in Win 2K... wasn't... supposed to be fixed in XP .... isn't.
Read an article about needing a memory manager to do the job that Microsoft should have done.
Now, no more problems.
Am running AMS's Fast DeFrag 2.0 Standard (freebie)
It actively defrags memory.
No more problems... and no problems whatsoever with 512 Meg on Win 98SE.
- Thread starter
- #23
beercia
Mechanical
- Jul 11, 2003
- 36
jOmega
I had a memory manager (shareware) installed and things improved a bit but after the trial period ended things actually got worst, even after I uninstalled the memory manager. I will try your suggestion and see what happens.
Microsoft is notorious for not fixing bugs on subsequent versions of its software. I have seen the same problem with Excel (98 and 2000) where there is a range of cells that will not copy (either copy or move, I'm not sure which) correctly from other cell range. Same range on both versions. Apparently Microsoft only cares in bringing out "new" version after version of the same buggy software to keep the money flow coming without really caring if it is a good and quality product blaming the resulting consumer chaos on the "complexity" of the Windows platform. I' ve been a PC user since 1985 and have seen this happen over and over again to this platform (again, remember the security flaw fixes, fix after fix, problem continues).
By the way, have you noticed the strange back-off (it jumps from 96% back to 85 and the jumps to 96% again) that the scan bar makes when the blue screen disk scanner that comes with Win 98 nears the end of the hard disk scan? It happens to me after getting frequent messages from Windows 98 of impending freeze-ups due to "illegal program operations".
Mathsoft on the other hand has a terribly good software but sometimes has a very curious way of licensing its products to make the life of every user miserable. I have used most Mathcad versions right from 1.0 to 2000 ( mainly to calculate specific design problems in lieu of spreadsheets) and things keep getting worst with every new version that comes out. Improvements also are not always as intuitive as the original program was. Sometimes they get into a very complicated menu selection process specially when Mathcad interacts with external applications.
I had a memory manager (shareware) installed and things improved a bit but after the trial period ended things actually got worst, even after I uninstalled the memory manager. I will try your suggestion and see what happens.
Microsoft is notorious for not fixing bugs on subsequent versions of its software. I have seen the same problem with Excel (98 and 2000) where there is a range of cells that will not copy (either copy or move, I'm not sure which) correctly from other cell range. Same range on both versions. Apparently Microsoft only cares in bringing out "new" version after version of the same buggy software to keep the money flow coming without really caring if it is a good and quality product blaming the resulting consumer chaos on the "complexity" of the Windows platform. I' ve been a PC user since 1985 and have seen this happen over and over again to this platform (again, remember the security flaw fixes, fix after fix, problem continues).
By the way, have you noticed the strange back-off (it jumps from 96% back to 85 and the jumps to 96% again) that the scan bar makes when the blue screen disk scanner that comes with Win 98 nears the end of the hard disk scan? It happens to me after getting frequent messages from Windows 98 of impending freeze-ups due to "illegal program operations".
Mathsoft on the other hand has a terribly good software but sometimes has a very curious way of licensing its products to make the life of every user miserable. I have used most Mathcad versions right from 1.0 to 2000 ( mainly to calculate specific design problems in lieu of spreadsheets) and things keep getting worst with every new version that comes out. Improvements also are not always as intuitive as the original program was. Sometimes they get into a very complicated menu selection process specially when Mathcad interacts with external applications.
beercia
When was the last time you cleaned up your registry.
Also, you do know that it will be necessary to melt down and re-install about once a year.
Real Pain in the burro ... but it cleans up a lot of accumulated sins.
Keep your system/files backed-up ..
The proof of your words re: Microsoft - look at all the security patches.... almost daily ...
"Never enough time to do it right.... always enough time to do it over".... would seem to be their motto.
And is this their service policy :
"If our service isn't up to your standards, please lower your standards."
Go figure.
jO
When was the last time you cleaned up your registry.
Also, you do know that it will be necessary to melt down and re-install about once a year.
Real Pain in the burro ... but it cleans up a lot of accumulated sins.
Keep your system/files backed-up ..
The proof of your words re: Microsoft - look at all the security patches.... almost daily ...
"Never enough time to do it right.... always enough time to do it over".... would seem to be their motto.
And is this their service policy :
"If our service isn't up to your standards, please lower your standards."
Go figure.
jO
The v11 ODBC interface is better too. In 2001i it would read 2-3 sets of records and lock the computer so tight I had to pull the power cord and battery. A real pain when dealing with 100 sets of 20,000 points each. In v11 it never failed once.
Other than that I don't see much difference.
David
Other than that I don't see much difference.
David
TheWordforToffee
Computer
So I am informed, C-Dilla runs continuously even when MathCad isn't running.
If you uninstall MathCad, it doesn't remove C-Dilla.
You are allowed to make 2 installations of MathCad from disc, and use the automatic registration (one for your desktop one for your laptop). If you replace either machine you need to contact your MathSoft dealer to get your reinstallation activated.
I have also been informed by a usually reliable source that C-Dilla inserts itself into such a high priveledge level that it bypasses your operating system safety features, then 'permanently' opens a port onto the Internet which bypasses any firewall protection that you have in place. I am not in a position where I can actually verify that this is so, perhaps someone with more know how could provide a definitive answer to this point.
Dave R.
If you uninstall MathCad, it doesn't remove C-Dilla.
You are allowed to make 2 installations of MathCad from disc, and use the automatic registration (one for your desktop one for your laptop). If you replace either machine you need to contact your MathSoft dealer to get your reinstallation activated.
I have also been informed by a usually reliable source that C-Dilla inserts itself into such a high priveledge level that it bypasses your operating system safety features, then 'permanently' opens a port onto the Internet which bypasses any firewall protection that you have in place. I am not in a position where I can actually verify that this is so, perhaps someone with more know how could provide a definitive answer to this point.
Dave R.
I recently installed Mathcad 11 Service Pack 2 on my laptop that runs Windows 98. I had problems with the installation, as I was warned that I might have with Windows 98. The fix was to uninstall Mathcad and reinstall from the CD, then install SP1 and SP2.
I was really concerned that the registration would mess me up because this is the second computer that I have Mathcad 11 installed on. Much to my surprise, everthing went well. The registration process worked with no hitches, and the program works fine.
I was really concerned that the registration would mess me up because this is the second computer that I have Mathcad 11 installed on. Much to my surprise, everthing went well. The registration process worked with no hitches, and the program works fine.
Mathsoft has been relatively good about the licensing.
I've got V11 installed on 3 machines; called them up and they gave me a 2nd installation code for the 3rd copy.
My C_Dilla folder shows 44kB, with 3 licenses installed, so anything larger than that is an installation problem with Safecast
TTFN
I've got V11 installed on 3 machines; called them up and they gave me a 2nd installation code for the 3rd copy.
My C_Dilla folder shows 44kB, with 3 licenses installed, so anything larger than that is an installation problem with Safecast
TTFN
I usually do backups with Norton Ghost onto DVDs but sometimes if I don't want to hang around and change DVDs I backup to another identical hard drive. Mathcad 11 won't work on that hard drive even though it is in the same computer. It is a real pain.
In addition I had to restore my hard drive to a previous configuration due to crashes in Autocad 2004 and now I have to contact Mathsoft in order to reinstall Mathcad 11. Haven't gotten around to it yet.
The only useful feature on 11 that I even noticed over 2001i was the ability to "bump" regions around and get them lined up easier. Stick with 2000 or 2001i
As far as activation goes I am sure that there are code breakers in the military or secret services of the countries that are notorious for piracy who can get around that and create copies that don't need activation anyway. We all know who they are.
Just my 2 cents,
DPA
In addition I had to restore my hard drive to a previous configuration due to crashes in Autocad 2004 and now I have to contact Mathsoft in order to reinstall Mathcad 11. Haven't gotten around to it yet.
The only useful feature on 11 that I even noticed over 2001i was the ability to "bump" regions around and get them lined up easier. Stick with 2000 or 2001i
As far as activation goes I am sure that there are code breakers in the military or secret services of the countries that are notorious for piracy who can get around that and create copies that don't need activation anyway. We all know who they are.
Just my 2 cents,
DPA
JayMaechtlen
Industrial
ref 
ffice compatable spreadsheet for Linux"
Open Office has a pretty decent spreadsheet module, and it does read simple XLS sheets.
No idea how far the compatability extends, and for sure it won't have VBA...
regards
Jay
Jay Maechtlen
ffice compatable spreadsheet for Linux"Open Office has a pretty decent spreadsheet module, and it does read simple XLS sheets.
No idea how far the compatability extends, and for sure it won't have VBA...
regards
Jay
Jay Maechtlen
GregLocock
Automotive
The import and export facility in OO is actually pretty good, although it is not very good at charts, and as you say VBA is a non starter. The macro language in OO is enormously powerful, but, so far as I can tell, is the language that the applications themselves are written in, which means that quick hacks are out, for me at least. This may not be a bad thing in the long term, it would be nice to have a robust macro language.
Given that VBA is a simple language (conceptually) it surprises me that they have not put a translator in, at least for the bits that can be understood. At present it just includes the entire VBA code commented out.
Exporting is actually rather more succesful than importing. I exported a large complex sheet and I think it needed one edit to run properly. The sad truth is that when I had done so I realised that it ran much faster in Excel, and Excel doesn't crash nearly as often.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Given that VBA is a simple language (conceptually) it surprises me that they have not put a translator in, at least for the bits that can be understood. At present it just includes the entire VBA code commented out.
Exporting is actually rather more succesful than importing. I exported a large complex sheet and I think it needed one edit to run properly. The sad truth is that when I had done so I realised that it ran much faster in Excel, and Excel doesn't crash nearly as often.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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