What are some decent alternatives to SAS for statistical software?
Any straightforward statistical package will do ya. SAS isn’t really a statistical package any more, and a lot of the cost comes from the extra functionality it has for businesses. If you just need to do OLS, logit, and principal components or similar, you can use any statistical package. I’ve used several: R Upsides: free, open-source, can do anything. Generates fabulous graphics as well. Downsides: command-line oriented, might require an extra step to get data into it. Command-line orientation isn’t really a downside since that’s how you should be running, but you’ll likely see it as one. Object-oriented nature can get annoying when you just want to get work done. Cost: $0.00 Stata Upsides: Well-supported and extensible. Useful compromises between proper command-line orientation and sissified point-n-click. Command line allows any nonambiguous abbreviation. Decent graphics. Downsides: Might have to take an extra step to get data in (whatever –> CSV –> Stata). Expensive documentatio
I would not suggest any of the smaller packages like Minitab or Statgraphics. It will do what you want, but *any* statistical package will run OLS and logit. Part of what you want with a statistical package is a large and active user base, so that you can bet that other users will be writing new routines that you can use and so that you can usefully google for solutions to problems. Unless the people on the phone line are statisticians, direct phone support isn’t going to be much help. However, users helping each other deal with a problem three years ago is a fabulous resource. That means Stata, R, or SPSS, and SPSS trails in this regard by a long shot.
