Why matlab is so expansive?

Matlab is my favourite language right now, and I'm working in a lab that uses Matlab mostly. However I notice that lots of the labs in the university are switching to R, mostly because it's free. I really don't like this switch, but more and more labs are asking for R program experiences. I think the matlab is loosing lots of users, so here is my real questions: shold I switch to R like others?

[Adam]

This doesn't seem like the right forum to be asking that. If you have a free choice then the choice is yours. I don't pay for my own Matlab license since I use it at work so I have never looked into R, but I would be surprised if it offers anywhere near the level of depth that Matlab does with the availability of all the toolboxes Matlab has.

Universities seeking to cut costs may be using R, but I doubt companies serious in wanting to use mathematical software would be using free software instead of Matlab.

[John D'Errico]

The fact is, the cost of a MATLAB license is relatively small compared to the cost of wages for a year for a professional.

[dpb]

"...the cost of a MATLAB license is relatively small compared to the cost of wages"

Extremely good point but it's amazing how hard it is to obtain the authorization for the actual cash outlay whereas salaries are fixed costs the middle manager doesn't answer for in most organizations. Altho I've not actually explored recently, I'd guess one could easily layout $30k or so for a new workstation time add a bunch of toolboxen and all, couldn't one? That's big enough to be seen most places I've been.

I bought the last license I had on a contract as direct charge and the client didn't care that it reverted to the organization for which I was working at the time so it didn't cost them a thing for the initial purchase but I still had a heckuva time getting even the maintenance renewals paid for out of corporate overhead.

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

The price of a student license for MATLAB is comparable to the price of a textbook, at least here in the US, so I don't think people should think it's price is out of line for a student. For me, it's my most expensive software but I know engineers here who pay a lot more - I've heard of things like $40,000 per seat per year.