Re: [PLUG] off-topic: SAS/SPSS/SQL training worth it?

[mmalten@comcast.net]

> If you're the kind of person (like me) who can learn effectively without
> formal training and you have access to a working SAS installation I'd
> save my money and learn from the online documentation and
> experimentation.  The idea of giving SAS $2700 gives me the
> heebie-geebies, but thats just me.

Agreed,  I know if I had a tutorial at home, I could learn it, but I see a 
double whammy.

a) I don't have the access.  I specificially looked up SAS on Freshmeat & 
Sourceforge.

b) I suspect if I had a piece of paper saying "Mitch learned this" it 
would go a long way.  Brainbench offers certification (?) for SPSS and 
SQL.  Does anyone know how Brainbench is viewed?
> My opinion of SAS itself:  It's a powerful program and has a lot of
> advanced functions available (which is good if you have use for them),
> but the SAS language was designed back in the 60s/70s mainframe days.
> While they've added stuff since then, the language really shows its old
> age.  All variables must be 8 characters or less.  The statement for
> hard coding records of data is the "cards" statement (referring to punch
> cards).  SAS has a GUI but it is a complete piece of %^&*#.  I never
> used the GUI except to access the online documentation.

Since most scientists cling to C or Matlab, I suspected that said 
something about SAS.

> Well that's my 2 cents on SAS.

If I get to a PLUG meeting, I'll give you a nickel.  You've been worth it.

Mitch
___________________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Linux Users Group         --        http://www.phillylinux.org
Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
General Discussion  --   http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug