Python In A Nutshell - Numpy essential

[Travis Oliphant]

I used to be one who really wanted Numeric in the Python core.  At this
point it is not critical to me.  Maybe someday, the multidimensional array
aspect of Numeric will be distributed with Python.  For now, though what
is needed instead is an easy to install package (which includes Numeric)
and provides a competitive numerical enviroment (something like SciPy
which is coming this summer...)

I'm happy to keep Numeric out of the core as it gives the math-heads more
control over it's optimization.

-Travis O.