[Techtalk] "I need to use Windows because ..."

[Nils Philippsen]

On Sat, 2002-08-10 at 20:09, Suzi Anvin wrote:
> 2) Data analysis tools.  I needs an SPSS (Statistical Package for the 
> social sciences) clone for linux.  Something that can do complex 
> ANOVA's, correlations on a large number of variables, hierarchical 
> regression equations, factor analysis, etc.  and spit out all the 
> numbers into a pretty presentation ready forms.  (and pretty please add 
> a scripting language that is actually useful for writing in equations 
> the program doesn't have?  please?)  I've had people ask which *excell* 
> functions I need a database program in  Linux to emulate (which means 
> they don't even have that many functions?).  LOL.  Excell has a lot of 
> stats, but it won't let you set enough parameters, and it doesn't do 
> complex multivariate stuff.  I know many students over many fields, 
> including some in mathematics and physics, that use this software to do 
> data analysis, so while it may be specialized, it isn't rare.  EVERY 
> university has a liscence for it, as far as I know.
> 
> I know this one is asking for something more specialized than the 
> average user needs, but it is something I need.  :)  I'm thinking that 
> GNUmeric looks wonderfully modular and could be used as the starting 
> point to create this.  And I'm learning C as we speak...  But I would be 
> so thrilled if it existed and I didn't even know it!

There is a project called "PSPP"
(http://www.gnu.org/software/pspp/pspp.html) which interprets SPSS
language, but apparently doesn't do all things SPSS does (yet).

> 3) turbo tax clone.  I can't afford to pay for an accountant to actually 
> write up the whole tax thingy for me, although our family taxes are 
> complex enough that we often consult with someone on the details. 
> Filing by hand would be unreasonable by now.  I know this would be a 
> VERY difficult project, especially since it changes every year.

Well, here in Germany I know of at least one tax program for Linux. I
know that doesn't help you much ;-/.

> 4) still struggling with general laptop peripheral issues.  Linux laptop 
> and USB support sucks.  Sorry, it just does.  I am having trouble with 
> scanner support, camera support (had trouble getting Gphoto2 to install, 
> *sigh*), reading flash cards (it simply doesn't recognise them), CD 
> drive support for things like rescue CD's (*big sigh*) and have yet to 
> play with the palm pilot software but I worry about that too...  I can't 
> leave my USB CD drive plugged in for the constant stream of packets it 
> sends back and forth with the OS, which slows the machine to a crawl, etc