The New Sudoku Players' Forum

[lunababy_moonchild]

So, puzzlers (is that a word?) do you think that solving using paper and pencil is easier or is using the Pappocom program easier?

I know that using a computer generated solver is the easiest method of all but I'm not talking about that, I just want to know if it's harder to solve on paper than on Wayne's Soduko program.

Luna

[Norb]

Depends if I need to use pencilmarks

pencilmarks - program
in my head - paper

The ones in the newspaper I get (Manchester Evening News) are easy enough for me to do in my head

Obviously if I'm after doing an hour or two's sudoku, I'll use the program rather than print out

However the wife prefers me to print a batch out for her to do at her leisure

[Roz]

Depends if I need to use pencilmarks

pencilmarks - program
in my head - paper

I don't think I could possibly do them without pencilmarks , therefore I prefer the program.

[Guest]

NO

[jonallen1966]

If I use the computer program I would be too
tempted to cheat and get the solution!

I use computers all day, so I prefer to
just use pencil and paper.

[IQ]

Generally, I'd refer to use paper. Of course, it's probably easier to use Wayne's program, or even the program I made, recently, that only requires you to put in the numbers in the right places and click "solve" ;). But generally I'd solve them on paper.

[ebrannelly]

Why use either program or pencil and paper - just use excel. Set it up and it checks it as well

[abailes]

I have exactly such a thing which I would love other people to test for usability. I have advertised it on http://www.sudokubuddy.co.uk (N.B. I need to sort out this website properly rather than spending all my time solving puzzles). There are seven 'levels' of help, from nothing at all (but convenient boxes for notes and things) to giving you all the options in particular cells and allowing you to focus on the harder techniques yourself. It sometimes solves 'Fiendish' by itself, but rarely. I usually use Level 2 which just checks for error entries (e.g. double numbers in a row/column/box) but nothing else.

Just send me a message at andrew@sudokubuddy.co.uk if you want it. Don't worry about the fee listed on the website, I'd like to get some more people to test it right now.

[lobby__boy]

i don't have the program (only 17, no real means of getting it as of yet, anyone feeling charitable?), so i'm sticking with pen and paper myself. it's nice to have something to think about during school as well. pencil marks aren't bad on paper though, it gets a little annoying sometimes if the boxes are too small.

[Lindy]

I prefer paper. I like to carry magazines around with me and puzzle while travelling.

[Roz]

i don't have the program (only 17, no real means of getting it as of yet, anyone feeling charitable?)

Don't forget the monthly contest on this page.
You might get lucky!

[lobby__boy]

hmm...i think i already entered this month (the puzzle looks familiar), but i'm not sure. is there any way i can check?

[lunababy_moonchild]

I must say I'm surprised. I thought that it would be harder to solve on paper - the only means of checking being manually.

Thanks everybody for your replies.

Luna

[lobby__boy]

manual isn't really all that bad. it takes all of like 1 minute...a breeze in comparison to doing the puzzle. see the topic about solving puzzles done on paper. it's under general/puzzle.

[Pi]

I like to do them using an excel spreadsheet that puts in the pencil marks for you, they aren't hard to make really.