Review
Review
Version 5.0 of Matlab represents a considerable enhancement over previous
version and an important contribution by MathWorks to technical computing
in general.
Matlab is a useful tool for scientific calculations, particularly those
involving sizeable amounts of matrix algebra. Although it is not as
adept as Mathematica at analytical calculations, it is unsurpassed in
settings that require exhaustive number-crunching.
The Matlab user interface is well thought-out. Matlab is, essentially, a
user friendly integrated development environment that consists of a
UNIX-style command-line window, a text editor for working on Matlab
programs, and a graphical window that appears to display plots or other
results of calculations.
Besides the original software, Matlab includes a significant number of
add-on packages, such as Statistical packages or DSP (Digital Signal
Processing) that make it an invaluable tool for scientists and
engineers.
Matlab's few weak points include the difficulty of changing the way
graphics look (as compared with Excel, for example), and the problems
associated with printing non-graphical results.
After extensive testing taht included two years of using Matlab in a
scientific research setting, I have to give the program four happy faces!
(stars are getting boring, right?)
:) :) :) :)