The Windows version of Maple V4 for example due to its complexity requires a lot of resources, so it should at least be run on a Pentium CPU and at least 16 MByte [sic !] of RAM. (Maple V4 users working on other architectures such as VAX or DEC encountered the same demand of resources.)
Release 4 features a new worksheet interface which was completely redesigned. Calculations may now be nicely presented including hyperlinks, different styles for headlines, text and the like. An example:
(Release 3 users at the beginning might get some problems acquainting with it. There are 25 different styles for Maple in- and output, such as headlines, calculations, text, etc. - although usually only four are needed. So you have to pick out the concerned style which often becomes tiring.)
Patches for various versions have been released to correct most problems of the original Release and are available at Waterloo Maple's Website: http://www.maplesoft.com/Company/Patch.html.
There are still some things to be changed in the next Release of Maple V, for example in Release 4 for Windows there are still no 'Maple command' menus or mouse-based plot editing capabilities like those found in Mathcad (e.g. integrating a function via menu or labeling the graph of a function). You still have to use TEXTPLOT([x, y, `text`], align= ...) commands or the various options of PLOT for the user-defined display of a graph.
Conclusion: In a mathematical sense Release 4 is much better than Release 3. If you have got a fast computer with enough memory and want to use Maple V Release 4 for educational or standard mathematical purposes then this is definetely the right choice.
By courtesy of Waterloo Maple Inc. some very useful information on the Student Edition of Maple V Release 4 is provided below. Also at the bottom of this page you will find a list of worldwide distributors of Maple V.
Is there a Student Version of Maple V Release 4?
Yes, Waterloo Maple Inc has created a version of Maple V R4, The
Power Edition, especially for students. This is appropriate, both
in power and affordability, for undergraduate students in university
and for secondary & high school students. The Student
Version
is published for the US market by Brooks/Cole and for non-US sales
by Springer Verlag.
How does the Student Version differ from the Professional
Version
of Maple V Release 4?
The differences between the Student & Professional Versions
of Maple V R4 are given in the table.
There are some limits on the size of problems that can be solved
using the Student Version. It is not appropriate for
larger
problems, typically found in a research or engineering setting,
but is more than adequate for most undergraduate students.
For learning, exploration & solving most undergraduate
problems,
the limits are no practical impediment.
The Student Version limitations are as follows:
In practice these mean that the Student Version is not suited
for numerically intensive calculations such as some large eigenvalue
problems, which require the extension of digits for a meaningful
answer, & problems where the number of algebraic objects
exceeds the limit.
The Student Version includes the entire Maple V library of ~3,000
functions & all of the mathematical knowledge and capability
of Maple V. Students can move readily between university labs
running the Professional Version & their own Student Version.
On some platforms the Professional Version of Maple V includes support for multiple worksheets running with independent kernels and OLE. The Student Version does not include these. It also includes several indicators that it is a Student Version; the prompt reads 'STUDENT >', a footer on printouts indicates the Student Version was used, as also do the start-up splash screen & Windows titles.
Must I be a student to buy the Student Version?
Yes, you must be a registered student at a university, college
or secondary school. Suppliers may ask for proof of student status
at purchase.
What machines do Student Versions run on?
The Windows version runs under Windows 3.1, Windows 95 or Windows
NT on 386, 486 & Pentium machines. The Mac version runs
under
MacOS 7.1+ on 68030-compatible or PowerPC systems .At least 8MB
RAM & 18MB Hard Disk Space are needed.
| Student Version | Professional Version | |
| Maple V's library of ~3000 functions | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum Size of Expressions | 8,000 | 128,000 |
| Maximum Number of Floating point Digits | 100 | 500,000 |
| Maximum Array Dimensions | 3 | No Limit |
| Multiple Maple V Kernels | No | Yes |
| Supports OLE 2.0 (Windows version) | No | Yes |
| Includes Share Library | No | Yes |
| Includes command-line version & March (see *) | No | Yes |
| Maple V command Prompt | STUDENT > | > ( & User customizable) |
| Other 'Student Version' indicators | On printouts, window titles, & start screen | -- |
| Hardware & Operating Systems | ||
| Minimum RAM required | 8 MB | 8 MB |
| Hard Disk Space | 18 MB | 18-36 MB |
| Uses coprocessor if present | Yes | Yes |
| Networked version | No | Yes |
| Windows 3.1/95/NT | Yes | Yes |
| Mac/ PowerPC Mac | Yes | Yes |
| UNIX | No | Yes |
| Support & Documentation | ||
| Books included with software | One book, see ** below | 3 Waterloo Maple books |
| Technical Support | No | Yes |
| Upgrade path to next release & intermediate patches | No | Yes |
| Upgrade path to Professional Version | Yes | -- |
| Student ID required | Yes | No |
** Springer Verlag's Student Version comes with 'The Maple V Learning Guide', Brooks/Cole Version comes with their 'Flight Manual'. The Professional Version comes with 'The Learning Guide', 'The Programming Guide' and 'The Maple Handbook'.
| Australia | Belgium | Brazil |
| Chile | Czech Republic | Denmark |
| Finland | France | Germany |
| Hungary | Ireland | Israel |
| Italy | Japan | Korea |
| Malaysia | Mexico | Netherlands |
| Norway | Poland | Saudi Arabia |
| Singapore | Spain | Sweden |
| Switzerland | Taiwan | Turkey |
| United Kingdom | United States | |
| For countries not listed above please contact Christine Ericson. | ||
MAPLE V RELEASE 4 V 01.11 current as of January 15, 1997
