Comments on: Open Thread http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/ Dedicated to the mathematical arts. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:34:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ars Mathematica » Blog Archive » Abstract Algebra Textbooks http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53585 Ars Mathematica » Blog Archive » Abstract Algebra Textbooks Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:28:27 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53585 [...] comments, Grétar Amazeen asks: Is Langs Algebra a good book? I just got it in the mail and I´m going to [...] [...] comments, Grétar Amazeen asks: Is Langs Algebra a good book? I just got it in the mail and I´m going to [...]

]]> By: michael http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53569 michael Mon, 09 Jul 2007 20:20:18 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53569 to Grétar Amazeen: Oh dear god no. Walt may be able to elucidate my own private war with Lang...Certainly Megan can. If you haven't already gone all the way through a book like Dummit and Foote, then I think reading Lang is a TERRIBLE mistake. Textbooks should be written to impart information...not to occlude it. to Grétar Amazeen:

Oh dear god no. Walt may be able to elucidate my own private war with Lang…Certainly Megan can. If you haven’t already gone all the way through a book like Dummit and Foote, then I think reading Lang is a TERRIBLE mistake. Textbooks should be written to impart information…not to occlude it.

]]> By: sigfpe http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53544 sigfpe Mon, 09 Jul 2007 01:24:44 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53544 > Your experience leaves me thinking me and the laptop-users around me might just be a bit clumsier or less careful than other users I treat my laptops pretty respectfully (I no longer open them up). Actually, I just realised there was another laptop I owned for just a few weeks. It failed, and due to the manufacturer, Acer, employing evil blood sucking undead people in technical support, they managed to engineer things so that I ended up paying for a repair that should have been under warranty. Luckily the retailer had some principles and took the accursed thing back off my hands. (I'm sorry, that was probably offensive. I'm sure vampires are much nicer people than Acer customer service staff.) > Your experience leaves me thinking me and the laptop-users around me might just be a bit clumsier or less careful than other users

I treat my laptops pretty respectfully (I no longer open them up).

Actually, I just realised there was another laptop I owned for just a few weeks. It failed, and due to the manufacturer, Acer, employing evil blood sucking undead people in technical support, they managed to engineer things so that I ended up paying for a repair that should have been under warranty. Luckily the retailer had some principles and took the accursed thing back off my hands.

(I’m sorry, that was probably offensive. I’m sure vampires are much nicer people than Acer customer service staff.)

]]> By: Val http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53465 Val Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:57:07 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53465 > Sounds impressive, but the mathematician in me would like to know how many you’ve seen not malfunction. You're right. For perspective, these 16 computers have been among 6 people. This is basically family and close friends who uses laptops, and myself. And at the moment, among these people, I've seen 3 laptops that haven't malfunctioned, and I want to say "yet". The other 3 people have had their current laptops sent away for repairs at some point after purchase. Personally I'm at my 3rd laptop, I bought it after my 2nd became unusable. Your experience leaves me thinking me and the laptop-users around me might just be a bit clumsier or less careful than other users. > Sounds impressive, but the mathematician in me would like to know how many you’ve seen not malfunction.

You’re right.
For perspective, these 16 computers have been among 6 people. This is basically family and close friends who uses laptops, and myself. And at the moment, among these people, I’ve seen 3 laptops that haven’t malfunctioned, and I want to say “yet”. The other 3 people have had their current laptops sent away for repairs at some point after purchase.

Personally I’m at my 3rd laptop, I bought it after my 2nd became unusable.

Your experience leaves me thinking me and the laptop-users around me might just be a bit clumsier or less careful than other users.

]]> By: h http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53457 h Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:02:19 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53457 <p>If you don't want to learn algebra for the first time, or review it, but insted seeing how algebra fits into the bigger picture of mathematics, I would recommend Shafarevich's "Basic notions of algebra".</p> If you don’t want to learn algebra for the first time, or review it, but insted seeing how algebra fits into the bigger picture of mathematics, I would recommend Shafarevich’s “Basic notions of algebra”.

]]> By: ComplexZeta http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53362 ComplexZeta Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:50:08 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53362 I'm in a similar situation (going to start graduate school in the fall), and I'm also using Lang's Algebra to review algebra. I think for our purposes it's a fantastic book for two reasons: 1) his treatment is really nice and concise; 2) he has lots of interesting examples from all over mathematics that makes reading it less boring than reading most other algebra books would be. But if you want to learn algebra for the first time, I'd recommend a different book (probably Dummit and Foote). I’m in a similar situation (going to start graduate school in the fall), and I’m also using Lang’s Algebra to review algebra. I think for our purposes it’s a fantastic book for two reasons: 1) his treatment is really nice and concise; 2) he has lots of interesting examples from all over mathematics that makes reading it less boring than reading most other algebra books would be.

But if you want to learn algebra for the first time, I’d recommend a different book (probably Dummit and Foote).

]]> By: Grétar Amazeen http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53355 Grétar Amazeen Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:09:23 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53355 Is Langs Algebra a good book? I just got it in the mail and I´m going to use it to brush up on my algebra before I start graduate school. I´ve heard that he uses his own private nomenclature, is that something I´ll have any problems with? thanks Is Langs Algebra a good book? I just got it in the mail and I´m going to use it to brush up on my algebra before I start graduate school. I´ve heard that he uses his own private nomenclature, is that something I´ll have any problems with?

thanks

]]> By: John Armstrong http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53315 John Armstrong Thu, 05 Jul 2007 06:55:31 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53315 Yeah, sounds like just the sort of thing Serge would do/say. Seriously, guy could be a bit of a d*ck. Yeah, sounds like just the sort of thing Serge would do/say.

Seriously, guy could be a bit of a d*ck.

]]> By: Jonathan Vos Post http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53307 Jonathan Vos Post Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:26:56 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53307 What are you complaining about with your newfangled laptops? My problem is that I've lost most of the decks of punchcards that I used on my school's IBM 1130 starting in 1966-1967. It was the first American transistorized mainframe. Ran Fortran IV. Came in two models: one with 4K of memory, one with 8K. Most customers asked: who could possibly use 8K? What are you complaining about with your newfangled laptops? My problem is that I’ve lost most of the decks of punchcards that I used on my school’s IBM 1130 starting in 1966-1967. It was the first American transistorized mainframe. Ran Fortran IV. Came in two models: one with 4K of memory, one with 8K. Most customers asked: who could possibly use 8K?

]]> By: sigfpe http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53304 sigfpe Thu, 05 Jul 2007 02:49:22 +0000 http://www.arsmathematica.net/archives/2007/07/04/open-thread-3/#comment-53304 > For the past 5 years I’ve witnessed 16 laptops malfunction, making them impossible to use. Sounds impressive, but the mathematician in me would like to know how many you've seen not malfunction. Anyway...in an attempt to build a statistically significant sample: For personal use I've primarily used a laptop for 10 years or so - that's 4 laptops. Only one failed, and that was shortly after the time I opened it up to see what it looked like inside... > For the past 5 years I’ve witnessed 16 laptops malfunction, making them impossible to use.

Sounds impressive, but the mathematician in me would like to know how many you’ve seen not malfunction.

Anyway…in an attempt to build a statistically significant sample: For personal use I’ve primarily used a laptop for 10 years or so - that’s 4 laptops. Only one failed, and that was shortly after the time I opened it up to see what it looked like inside…

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