Thanks for your elaborations. That confirms my suspicion on the algorithmic difficulty handling the ambiguity with 0 vs. 2Pi (and identifying branch cuts) automatically. Since it was my understanding that the algorithms for doing symbolic integration is fundamentally different from the normal way (i.e. FTC) I thought that there were some "tricks" involved in this that could be good to know. /J

Thanks for your elaborations. That confirms my suspicion on the algorithmic difficulty handling the ambiguity with 0 vs. 2Pi (and identifying branch cuts) automatically. Since it was my understanding that the algorithms for doing symbolic integration is fundamentally different from the normal way (i.e. FTC) I thought that there were some "tricks" involved in this that could be good to know. /J

There have already been requests for 2D math support but one thing I would like to to see is support to use LaTeX syntax (Together with some richer formatting, at least allowing bold/normal etc). There are already several mathematically oriented boards supporting the automatic generation of inline equation images generated from LaTeX code. For example, I try to help students at www dot mathhelpforum dot com and to write equations you just write the LaTeX and the server runs some script to get the image representing the particular math you want and includes that in the text. Assuming that the majority (?) of the people writing on MaplePrimes are proficient in TeX/LaTeX this would make postings a lot easier (and easier to read). Drawback is of course that copy and past of partial expression is not possible directly. However, mathhelpforum has good way around this. Clicking on an equation image pops up a separate window with the exact LaTeX code used to generate the image. Hence., allowing the copy and past from previous and once own postings. This can be a great time saver. If now only Maple 14 could support copy as LaTeX (as the competition does) this would be perfect :-) /J

"Copy as LaTeX" would be a very welcome addition to the "Copy as MathML" and would make life a lot easier so we don't have to a "dummy" conversion to LaTeX in the document. For general systems engineering some improvements to the integral (and discrete) transforms would be nice to be on pair with the competition. This means better handling of the type of functions that most often occur in real life system design and the ability to generate useful expressions. Right now Maple in many cases give astronomically large expressions which makes it more or less useless. Perhaps a better use of some "look-up" table for the ~10-20 most common (in engineering) occurring signals/function structures? Readability in the documentation. Some small changes would make a big difference. For example. When listing options, clearly put options in a separate column to the left and the explanation in a column to the right. As it is now options are more or less explained in whats look similar to running text.

... about calculators (and in my view the only reason they still hang around) is
the fact that they do have a purpose built keyboard. This makes entering math
(or rather calculations) so much faster than typing on a keyboard

For any more "serious" (e.g. complicated enough that I will not just be able to
write down a solution and then everything works) calculation I will always use
maple, matlab etc. whatever is most suitable. But, for quick back-of -the-
envelope checks where I cannot do it from the top of my head a calculator is
still useful.

Even handheld PDA with large touch (resistive touch - to get accuracy) screen
will probably be inferior to any old advanced calculator due to the lack of a
purpose built keyboard.

Unfortunately (?) the days where serious money and development time was
justified to engineer a calculator is gone and I personally seriously doubt we
will ever see the release of any new "top-of-the-line" calculator again - for
what will most likely be ~ 100my effort.  The market is simply not there to give
any ROI.

However it would be an interesting experiment to develop a more calculation
friendly HW keyboard and hook it up to a standard small netbook/laptop/desktop
running for example maple.

Perhaps even more radical, how about half of the keyboard just a touch pad to write on and the other side purpose keys. Thinking of it that would probably be an optimal math-input device for program like maple since handwriting recognition has gotten so good now a days.

/J