I think I am going to need this
mathStatica is perhaps the most comprehensive solution for mathematical statistics on Mathematica. At least that’s how they bill it. It does include additional distributions, improved distributional plots, and simplified ways to deal with moments, cumulants, etc.
Just look at this example … I am impressed.
Parameter-Mix Distributions
The notation:
![[Graphics:Images/mix_gr_1.gif]](http://www.mathstatica.com/examples/Mixtures/Images/mix_gr_1.gif)
denotes a
distribution in which parameter
(instead of being fixed) has an
distribution. We wish to find the unconditional distribution of
…
Given: The pmf of
is
:
Given: The pdf of parameter
is
:
Then, the parameter-mix distribution is the expectation
with respect to the distribution of Θ. The solution with mathStatica is simply:
with domain of support:
![\"[Graphics:Images/mix_gr_8.gif]\"](\"http://www.mathstatica.com/examples/Mixtures/Images/mix_gr_8.gif\")
![\"[Graphics:Images/mix_gr_11.gif]\"](\"http://www.mathstatica.com/examples/Mixtures/Images/mix_gr_11.gif\")
![\"[Graphics:Images/mix_gr_13.gif]\"](\"http://www.mathstatica.com/examples/Mixtures/Images/mix_gr_13.gif\")
![\"[Graphics:Images/mix_gr_14.gif]\"](\"http://www.mathstatica.com/examples/Mixtures/Images/mix_gr_14.gif\")
![\"[Graphics:Images/mix_gr_15.gif]\"](\"http://www.mathstatica.com/examples/Mixtures/Images/mix_gr_15.gif\")
On the other hand, you do hear loud and clear complains about the business model on the Amazon site. You want to order the software? You pay a very reasonable price of $89 for academic license, but you are obligated to buy this book, which is bundled with a crappy 1.0 Basic version of the package that only works with Mathematica 4.x
That’s not all. You are "encouraged" to upgrade to the current version 1.5 Gold for $$. But 1.5 is only compatible with Mathematica 5.2, not with 6.x. The new version 2.0 is "coming out" next month, but still … can’t they figure out some work arounds? It’s not like they heard nothing about the Mathematica 6.0 upgrade.
I will just wait until 2.0 comes out, I think. Meanwhile, it’s tempting…
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm e
You might be warned that the software uses a password which is linked to a single Mathematica License number and if you do as I had and initially installled it at your work to try it out (in my case where I was working on a single short term project) you will not be allowed to install it on your own machine.
There is no terms of use or EUL end user license agreement anywhere in the process of installation or otherwise…
You would think that if you contacted the company that they would be happy to have you use the software again and have access to it and perhaps become the long term customer… but no they have a policy once installed you buy the upgrade to Gold and nothing else no further conversation, we will not issue another password! You used up you one chance and that is that very hard line, even though I do not have access to the mathStatica anywhere else no is in use anywhere else any longer they do not care!
This was a hard line policy coming initially from the support person named Josh, so I thought that he was just a bit over the top… until I got to Dr. Colin Rose himself… he is an absolute belligerent rude bully who is totally full of himself, with no idea how to treat customers, and maintained his hard line… even to the point of telling me it was privilege that the software was bundled with the book and that I had not purchased anything in regard to their software… I have neve encountered such an obnoxious asshole in all of my professional life as this guy!
I will never do any business with this company ever again, and the thought that I had of using it in teaching my next and any future classes is out the window… I would never expose my student to such group as these guys…
The other down side is that the company is in Australia, so you have the time difference as well as having little recourse with them being on the other side of the world… they also seem to have a disdain for Americans!
I am sure there are better products out there and those coming from better behaving companies, who are up front enough to clearly state their policies! This one is completely obscured and can only be found on their website after the fact… totally deceitful, and lacking professionalism! das.ashish41 at gmail dot com
August 26th, 2008 at 10:49 pm e
Ashish,
Thanks for the input. I am sorry you had to go through this. I, too, have been a little uncomfortable about the business model and the speed at which they update their product.
In terms of what it can do, it’s still probably one of the best around. But now that I have written most of what I needed for the project, it’s less relevant. I will keep an eye on it but will think twice before jumping on it.