Re: missing thesaurus

I think you're putting your finger on a larger issue than might first
appear. Some users have need for little more than a "memory-jogger": a
list of words to remind them of the word on the tip of the tongue. But
others have in mind a concept that no term attaches itself to readily;
they need a more sophisticated and trustworthy treatment of
discriminated synonyms, often moving from the abstract to the specific
(as in the old Roget's and its clones).

As you say below, the software user can't usually get the expert version
and so relies on a trusted book. In my work, though, it means
maintaining my bondage to Windows, since I need to access "big name"
digital reference works that will never come in Linux versions (and
dictionary software, so far, is too tricky for Wine). The upshot for me
is endless rebooting from Linux to the Windows partition where all my
unabridged dictionaries/thesauruses reside.

Here's how Abiword figures in: I need to run Windows and Linux versions
in the two partitions and keep the files synchronized. Hoo boy.

At the same time, I want to say nice things about Aiksaurus, which has
been very helpful over the years. In some future paradise I'd have
Aiksaurus running on Abiword as well as toolbar links to major reference
applications. Since this will never be possible in a totally Linux
environment, I suppose this is a plug to keep maintaining the Windows
version of Abiword.

--Mark Richardson

r coyne wrote:
> I am struck by the fact that no one mentions the
> quality of thesaurus choices. A thesaurus is used
> only occasionally, when you are stuck for a word or
> feel vaguely that the word you have isn't quite what
> you want. So quality is more important than speed.
> Nor does the use of a thesaurus interact with the rest
> of the document in any serious way. Which makes going
> to the old-fashioned book a serious option; it may be
> very slightly slower than a computer version, but not
> enough to matter. When it comes to a thesaurus, my
> attitude is that I want one I know and like and trust,
> not whatever happens to be available for my computer platform.
>
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Received on Tue Aug 1 21:07:05 2006