248 COMPUTER STATISTICAL PROGRAM RESOURCES
C.3 CHOICES OF COMPUTER STATISTICAL SOFTWARE
In perhaps the most widespread use for academic and research work are major statis-
tical program systems such as SAS, Stata, SPSS, S-Plus, and so on. Their extensive
range of statistical programs over a wide range of disciplines and projects includes
many designed for or usable for biomedical and public health problems.
However, such major program systems may be ill-suited for individual users with
limited statistical backgrounds, small computers, or limited budgets. For individual
use either by students or researchers in the biomedical fields, program packages and
associated computer platforms of more limited scope are available.
Stata 10 is the current version of the Stata offerings. Stata’s program systems
and appropriate computer platforms are comparable in extent to other “mainframe”
offerings. But Stata’s current range includes two platform offerings for small or
moderate-size systems. The limited smallstata for minor projects and moderate-
scale Stata C are cost-effective choices for individuals and as home systems. Stata
is available for Windows, MAC 0s X, and UNIXLinux hardware platforms. Stata
program offerings start with core base capabilities and extend to specialized programs.
Minitab 15 is the current version of the low-cost Minitab system available for
many years. The Minitab range of programs is moderate, and use of the programs
is well documented. The system is in use in some academic settings and overseas
countries, and by individuals, both students and researchers. It is only available for
the Windows platform.
SAS-JMP 7 (and now JMP 8) is a distinct separate system provided by SAS. It
is particularly suitable for researchers and students because of the simplicity and
transparency of user commands and its extensive range of presentation modes and
graphics. It is only available for the Windows platform.
The R statistical program system is related to earlier S and its successor S-Plus
statistical program systems. R is an open-source program system, a free software
environment that can be obtained on-line via CRAN, the Comprehensive R Archive
Network. An important advantage is its continuing development by a consortium of
dedicated researchers; an advanced set of R routines is available for use with S-Plus,
for example. The possible disadvantage is that it is in continuous development by the
dedicated researchers, which can involve descriptions obscure to the casual user.
An early book by Dalgaard, Introductory Statistics with R, Springer-Verlag, 2002,
illustrates the language and capabilities. R is available for Windows, MAC 0s X,
and UNIX/Linux computer platforms.