I agree that STATA is the leader on statistical packages. Also I understand
that it has to find a way to support itself. Nevertheless, for some of us in
developing countries often is a burden not to be able to get the upgrades
and last versions. The truth is, I believe, that STATA will make much
greater benefit that what it does if it were open source. I'm sure that some
financial mechanism could be found to support the infraestructure and I
almost sure that it's development is not due to copy rights, and maybe a
faster and broader development could be reach in an open source format. Just
think on STATA as a vaccine, it is in some way a need.
Manuel
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 2:05 PM
Subject: st: RE: Problem areas
> I apologize to any Statalist reader who may have thought that I plan to
send
> any "dirt" I hear about to Stata's competitors. Quite to the contrary, I
> suppose that I am one of the most vocal advocates of Stata to the general
> statistical community. I use Stata almost exclusively to demonstrate
statistical
> topics that I write about in books, articles, and courses. I also
frequently
> refer to its many capabilities in my Section Editor's Notes column for
The
> American Statistician (TAS).
>
> During the 8 years that I have been software reviews editor for TAS, we
have
> not published a separate review of Stata. We've had many reviews in which
> Stata has been compared with other packages on some type of capability;
e.g.
> GLM, GEE, survey stats, exact statistics, and so forth. But Stata has
never
> been reviewed as a standalone package. So I'm taking on the task of
writing such
> a review. I know the good points - and they are many. But I do not
> intend for the review to simply be an advertisement for Stata - it would
> have little worth, and would undermmine my credibility.
>
> I know of some capabilities that I'd like to see added to Stata, and I'm
> aware of a few little problem areas. But I may have missed something. If
there
> are some statistical issues that may need to be addressed, I'd like to
point
> them out. As it is, I so far have some 19 typewritten pages listing
> capabilities -- with examples of its power, comprehensiveness, and
excellent support. I
> have two paragraphs discussing of a couple of items that are not part of
> "official" Stata, but that are nevertheless available through user
written
> programs. There are also two other statistical capabilities that are not
yet in
> Stata that I mention. As it is, few packages have either of them.
>
> There may be other points that I discuss, but the end result is that
Stata
> is a superb package that is continually providing users with better
> statistical, programming, graphic, and data management tools. It's
support system is
> second to none.
>
> ==========
> As I mentioned, no one package can do everything. If it could, it would
> likely be too unwieldy to use. But Stata Corp is making the attempt to
provide
> its users with the tools required to address their specific needs. There
is
> absolutely no question about its desire to respond to the desires of its
users
> -- and has continually made new versions and incremental
> enhancements available to its user base. Just think about some of the
> positive features of being a Stata user:
>
> 1. Free tech support
> 2. Ability to correspond to other users and to Stata staff via the
StataList
> 3. Can take very reasonably priced web-based courses on programming, etc
> 4. Can now read full fledged textbooks specifically devoted to explaining
> some aspect of statistics, including graphics, data management, and
> ML programming. Stata Press books provide Stata users with excellent
> support. Take a look at Sophia Rabe-Hesketh's newly released book on
> "Multilevel and Longitudinal Modeling Using Stata". It is one of the
> best texts I've ever read on the topic. Truly excellent. A host of other
> books are being prepared.
> 5. Annual Stata Users conferences in North America, Europe, and
> Australia/NZ.
> 6. A relatively easy-to-learn programming language which can be used to
> program nearly any statistical procedure conceivable. Stata's ML and
matrix
> (Mata) capabilities are superior. I know of no other higher level
> statistical
> progamming language easier to use, or with the comprehensiveness of
scope.
> 7. A refereed professional journal (Stata Journal) that provides
excellent
> support
> on using Stata. Previously, beginning in 1991, Stata sponsored the STB
that
> provided users with a number of useful programs, and provided overall
> support.
> Like the STB, users are encouraged to contribute articles and programs to
> the SJ.
> 8. Web-based access and links to other sites -- excellent web support.
For
> example,
> the UCLA support site provides programs and tutorials on using Stata -
for
> free.
> 9. And many other features...
>
> Well, enough for now. I encourage you to read the review if interested.
It
> is to
> be published in the November issue of The American Statistician.
>
> =========
> As a side comment: there were several comments that I received about
> capabilities that
> were lacking. Well, in some cases Stata did have the procedures. I
pointed
> them out.
> I was also able to show another reader how to program in Stata in order to
> obtain their
> desired statistical tool. And I also intend to send the (short) list of
> desired enhancements to Bill Gould for his consideration.
>
> Joe Hilbe
>
>
> *
> * For searches and help try:
> * http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
> * http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
> * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
>
*
* For searches and help try:
* http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
* http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
* http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
