jgarland@kean.ucs.mun.ca (08/24/90)
In article <595@oglvee.UUCP>, jr@oglvee.UUCP (Jim Rosenberg) writes: > I need to specify a statistics package. It's not clear exactly what we need-- > and it doesn't help that no one here has a good background in statistics. > The immediate application is to take test results from several different > sampling methods and see which ones correlate the best, but I can foresee a > continuing need for all kinds of things, requiring some flexibility. I *know* > PC Magazine ran a survey of statistics packages not too long ago, but my > magazines are in such a state of chaos it would take me weeks to find it. > Does anybody have the issue number handy? > > Any recommendations or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated; I realize > the information I've given above is hopelessly vague. We probably won't know > exactly what we'll need until we get a package and start playing. We > definitely some graphing capability in addition to statistics functions. I'll bet any money your business files contain the following letter: ________________________________________ Dear Jim-- I need a [computer system]. It's not clear exactly what we need-- and it doesn't help that no one here has a good background in [computing]. The immediate application is to [help us do arithmetic on our books], but I can foresee a continuing need for all kinds of things, requiring some flexibility. I *know* PC Magazine [ran surveys of computer systems and software] not too long ago, but my magazines are in such a state of chaos it would take me weeks to find it. Does anybody have the issue number handy? Any recommendations or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated; I realize the information I've given above is hopelessly vague. We probably won't know exactly what we'll need until we get a [computer system] and start playing. We definitely want some graphing capability in addition to [arithmetic] functions. Joe _________________________________________ And your reply was [or should have been] something like: _________________________________________ Dear Joe, GET A' EXPERT!!! There's any number of advanced graduate students who'll do a a dandy job for you--and you can get them fairly cheap. (Or send a plane ticket and retainer to me, but you'll find me more expensive!) Jim ________________________________________ I suggest that you take your own advice...it's lots cheaper in the long run. John Garland jgarland@mun Bitnet jgarland@kean.ucs.mun.ca Internet