TeX Live and MacTeX ⇒ Windows -> Mac OSX, BasicTex enough?

[mape2k]

Hello fellow Latex users,

I have am using (and loving) Latex on Windows with the MikTex distribution as well as TeXmaker as a front end. As I am an Engineering student, I use it to write up my thesis, papers and other homework. Also I am using the Beamer package to prepare presentations.

I recently switched to Mac OSX and of course, I would like to use Latex on my new laptop as well. From my understanding MacTex is the best way to go here. However, its quite a heavy package with a lot of additional stuff. Do I need all of that do run Latex the way I need it?
I found the BasicTex package, which is a light-weight version of the MacTex distribution. My current plan is to install that and keep on using Texmaker as my front end GUI. Does anybody here have experience with that combination? Does it work well, especially the installation of new packages (which is very easy with MikTex..>)?

the best from Germany,
mape

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi mape,

I'm not using OS X. I generally prefer a full installation to avoid problems. MacTeX can bring some extras you might like. I guess hard disk space is not a big problem today. I know that many OS X users like the TeXshop editor very much. It's simple and easy to use. If you like a complex editor with many features, Texmaker is of course a good choice.

By the way, I assume MacTeX 2011 will soon appear, since the development of TeX Live 2011, which is the base for it, will be frozen very soon.

Stefan

[mape2k]

Hello Stefan,

thanks for the quick reply. I am downloading both versions as we speak, but before I install a bloated version I wanted to check if the Basictex will work fine as well for my needs. I try to keep all my operating systems as slim as possible, thats the motivation behind my hesitation to install MacTex straight away. Also, I am on a 300gb SSD, space is not endless here (and especially not cheap!)

TeXshop has good reviews, thats true. But I would like to stick to Texmaker if possible, just because I have been working with it over the last year and I like it very much.

oh, and btw: I will be moving to Hamburg tomorrow to start my Masters thesis there

[Stefan Kottwitz]

SSD is great! I've got one in my Laptop.

BasicTeX is current and good, may be fine. Here's some information, perhaps you have already seen it: http://www.tug.org/mactex/morepackages.html. For example, BasicTeX could by upgraded using MacTeX additions.

I just don't know if package auto-installation works, though I guess tlmgr comes with it.

Stefan

[mape2k]

Thanks for the provided information, I have already seen the page. From whats written there, BasicTeX should provide all the necessary files to write and compile the TeX files I need. I just wanted to check the forums and see if anybody is using BasicTeX on Mac OS with Texmaker.

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Perhaps Mac users in the LaTeX subforum on the Mac dedicated site apfeltalk.de can talk about their experience.

Stefan

[mape2k]

Thanks for the suggestion, looks like a good place to ask around, I didn't find this forum through Google.