which windows python to use?

[John Salerno]

Brian Blais wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> Are there any recommendations for which Windows python version to use?  
> I'd like to see a pros-and-cons description of each, given that 
> different uses might dictate different versions.  The versions I know 
> (and there are surely more) are:
> 
> 1) download from www.python.org
> 2) enthought
> 3) activepython

FWIW, I would stick to the 'authentic' version of Python (i.e. the first 
choice). Not that the others are much different, I don't think, but like 
you said you'll have the newest version from python.org.

Also, as a newcomer to Python, I find it more helpful to have to do some 
things manually, such as installing extra packages/modules that might 
already come with the other distributions. This way, you learn how to do 
these things, and you also get a better idea of what really comes with 
Python and what is bundled on by the other companies. ActivePython is 
also touted because it comes with an IDE for Windows, but again, it's 
better to write your code by hand at first and really learn what you're 
doing.