>>>>> "GG" == Gus Gassmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>> There are plenty of reasonable FREE packages, ViSta and R come
>> to mind.
GG> That's all fine and good, but I can see kenmlin's point. Yes,
GG> excel is lousy at statistics, yes, their attitude towards
GG> errors in the software stinks, and, yes, there are real
GG> statistical packages available for students at little or no
GG> cost. However, in a business school I have absolutely no
GG> illusion that any of my students will ever be
GG> statisticians. They will be consumers of statistics, and they
GG> will occasionally produce simple statistics themselves. I
GG> teach the use of minitab in my classes, by I feel that I would
GG> be remiss if I didn't also teach them how to use excel (and
GG> warn them about potential pitfalls), since there is no reason
GG> to suspect that they will have acess to a statistical package
GG> once they are out in the workforce.
I've got no problems, generally with excel. Just don't make me use
it, since there is no reasonable way to provide an audit trail of what
was done. However, part of the reason for suggesting the two packages
is that they CAN use excel files.
Note that I've just suggested 2 cross-platform, freely available
alternatives. There is no reason NOT to have access to either product
in the workplace (since both will work on macs, windows, (and while
vista's support isn't as good here) unix).
So now, the question becomes, why bother with minitab, since you could
provide training on software that they can have available (Excel, and
R or ViSta).
best,
-tony
--
A.J. Rossini Rsrch. Asst. Prof. of Biostatistics
U. of Washington Biostatistics [EMAIL PROTECTED]
FHCRC/SCHARP/HIV Vaccine Trials Net [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-------------- http://software.biostat.washington.edu/ --------------
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