Ecologgers: Many thanks for sending me your references about the inadequacies of Excel as a statistical package. Before my inbox gets too full, however, let me remind you that my original query pertained to calculation errors (e.g., does Excel multiply matrices incorrectly? Does it round answers improperly? etc.). I have no interest in using Excel as a statistical package. Some of the references you've sent me do indeed pertain to calculation errors (e.g., incorrect random number generation, imprecise solutions for probability distributions, incorrect calculations of ranks, etc.). I'm very appreciative.
I draw a distinction between routine calculation errors and incorrect or inadequate statistical analysis. If the former is a problem, then it would seem to me that Excel has little or no value as a spreadsheet. For the record, let me also say that I do not work for Microsoft, and as a Mac user, I have no particular fondness for Microsoft products. Cheers, Steve Brewer At 9:53 AM -0500 9/12/06, Steve Brewer wrote: >I've heard numerous complaints about calculation >errors by Excel, but rarely are these complaints >accompanied by specific examples. I have used >Excel for matrix calculations and have not >encountered any problems. I don't dispute the >existence of these errors, but I would like to >see specific examples, so I can check for myself. > >Thanks, > >Steve Brewer > > > >At 7:16 AM -0700 9/12/06, Abraham de Alba wrote: >>Dear Ecologgers, >> >>Do wonder if said program POPTOOLS does take into >>account several calculating biases that Excell, >>excells in. Or if the objetive is only for >>demostration purposes, didactic demostration, etc ??? >> >>I myself use excell only for simple data manipulation >>on excell, nothing else. >> >><P>Abraham de Alba Avila</P> >><P>Terrestrial Plant Ecology</P> >><P>INIFAP-Ags</P> >><P>ðAp. postal 20,</P> >><P>ðPabell¤n Arteaga, 20660</P> >><P>ðAguascalientes, MEXICO</P> >><P>ðTel: (465) 95-801-67, & 801-86 ext. 118, FAX ext 102 >>alternate: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>cel: 449-157-7070</P> >> >>__________________________________________________ >>Do You Yahoo!? >>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >>http://mail.yahoo.com > > >-- >Department of Biology >PO Box 1848 >University of Mississippi >University, Mississippi 38677-1848 > >Brewer web page - http://home.olemiss.edu/~jbrewer/ > >FAX - 662-915-5144 >Phone - 662-915-1077 -- Department of Biology PO Box 1848 University of Mississippi University, Mississippi 38677-1848 Brewer web page - http://home.olemiss.edu/~jbrewer/ FAX - 662-915-5144 Phone - 662-915-1077
