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STATISTICA has enjoyed a remarkable and unmatched record of reviews and awards, specifically: STATISTICA has received the highest rating in EVERY comparative review in which it has been featured since its first release in 1993. The following page contains a detailed summary of every known review of STATISTICA, various awards received throughout the years, and published user comments.
"An upgrade which will pay for itself in very short order" - a review in Scientific Computing World (06/2007) 
In a review of the recently released STATISTICA version 8, the Statistics Software Reviewer for Scientific Computing World describes the many areas of new functionality that have been added to STATISTICA, including new statistical procedures, graphics, and system features including the general usability . The author states that the new features are "substantial..and there is a good spread of on board additions to the statistics capabilities." Scientific Computing World plans on taking a more in depth look at the new STATISTICA Automated Neural Networks module later but the current review concludes after an initial set of tests that this new module provides both a "boost in capability" while also being a "considerable step forward in usability." This review of STATISTICA 8 concludes by saying "at the bottom line this is an upgrade which will pay for itself in very short order through both enhanced capability and more, deeper, more intuitive usability." Please click here to read the full review New features in STATISTICA 8
STATISTICA is truly a leader among statistical packages. a review in The American Statistician, February 2007 
In an review of STATISTICA by Dr. Joseph M. Hilbe, software review editor for The American Statistician, the author states that "STATISTICA provides its users with a vast array of capabilities, some of which cannot easily be found elsewhere" and he praises the strengths of the STATISTICA package in a wide area of applications, including graphical analysis, data mining, six sigma methodology, quality control statistics, design of experiments, multivariate analysis, and non-parametric methods. Three examples of representative analyses, and accuracy tests were given and Dr. Hilbe has concluded that for those whose interest is in multivariate modeling and data mining "STATISTICA is truly a leader among statistical packages." The review also mentions that "the many cutting-edge techniques available to users should allow modeling of a wide range of data situations" and that such methods as neural networks, CHAID, C&RT which are part of STATISTICA are usually found in separate, standalone packages and having them included as part of one software system provides the user with a "variety of methods, just a keystroke apart...one can readily see why the package builds loyalty."
STATISTICA Data Miner wins in a comparative study at the University of Bielefeld (Germany), February 2007 
In a Diplomarbeit (an equivalent of the US Masters Thesis) defended in February, 2007 at the Department of Economics and Applied Informatics at the University of Bielefeld (Germany), a quantitative, comparative study was conducted to assess the functionality and performance of STATISTICA Data Miner and another leading data mining application.*** In this comprehensive, 136-page technical report summarizing a meticulously performed study, the author, Patrick Goetze (under direction of Prof. Dr. Thorsten Spitta and Prof. Dr. Reinhold Decker) compared the two software programs on a large number of quantitatively defined dimensions, following criteria derived from ISO Software Quality Norms. The comparison includes three general categories of dimensions: "Usability" (ISO9126-1, ISO9241-10 and -11), "Overall Functionality" (ISO9126-1), and "Quality in Use" (ISO01, p.12). While the study refrains from concluding with an explicitly recommendation about the superiority of either application, adding the ratings assigned to the two programs across all dimensions makes STATISTICA Data Miner the clear overall winner. *** The producer of this other data mining application has requested that their name not be publicized by the Department of Economics and Applied Informatics in context of this review but that name and the detailed results are still available to the public at the University of Bielfeld.
STATISTICA's use in finance and economics discussed (Scientific Computing World 01/2007)
In an article on the use of mathematical and statistical software for finance and economics, F. Grant mentions the need for "speed, solidity and maintainability" - the needs which STATISTICA meets well. STATISTICA Data Miner is mentioned as having users in banking and finance, and its ability to access specialized R functions is discussed. Grant concludes by stating that "the extent of actual or potential scope for use of physical sciences models in finance and economics seems to be unlimited."
PROCEED discussed in article regarding the design and testing of products (SCW 01/2007)
Synopsis of the article. This article discusses software applications in the fields of engineering and physics to aid the design and testing of products. The benefits of such simulation include improved design, lower production costs and greater efficiency As production processes generate more data than ever before, engineers require software that can efficiently analyze these this data and convert them into useful information. StatSoft offers software that can use those data and take a direct role in the experimental process of engineering. For example, designers of generators have used StatSoft software to simulate vibrations and deflections, coupling electromagnetism and solid mechanics. StatSoft's PROCEED was developed as part of a collaboration with Caterpillar, the mechanical engineering company, to calculate the optimum parameters in complex product (e.g., engine) design such as reliability, fuel usage, or power. It can do multiple simultaneous optimizations, and will optimize the parameters to a range of values, rather than a single value, which might be difficult and costly to implement. The statistical models used are often complex and non-linear. For this, STATISTICA uses data mining techniques including neural networks or recursive partitioning methods (tree methods) that are specifically geared to a large number of parameters. These powerful techniques could not have come at a better time for engineering. Robert Eames, Director of Business Development at StatSoft, says: 'We're at a critical point in history; this is the convergence point from a number of processes. So many processes pump data out at an enormous rate and every manufacturer has huge databases. Over the past decade data mining algorithms have progressed until the modeling of this data was possible.' 
STATISTICA praised in a review in a leading journal for biologists (Biologist, 10/2006) 
In a review written for users of statistical software in biological science, Dr. Graham Smith (a Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University, UK)
praised virtually all aspects of STATISTICA - its analytical comprehensiveness, graphics, and UI/system features. The graphics in STATISTICA
were praised as "excellent and clearly outperform the perfectly functional, but more limited, graphics capability of " other applications.
It was also noted that the "full analytical power of STATISTICA is excellent." Dr. Smith notes that in STATISTICA, the graph and analytical
output is managed in sophisticated multi-tabbed tree-based workbooks or reports and as an OLE server (i.e., STATISTICA graphs can be embedded
and edited from inside other applications). Smith goes on to say that the StatSoft website has an excellent on-line statistics manual
(http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/stathome.html)
and the STATISTICA help is particularly good for the statistical novice.
Caterpillar Inc. reduced rotating machinery anomalies by nearly 45% using PROCEED (Quality Digest, 9/2006) 
Leading manufacturers are looking for ways to apply advanced quantitative analysis and modeling techniques to help their employees create better products. This in-depth article describes how Caterpillar, Inc. - one of the leaders in manufacturing technology - used predictive data mining on their mountains of data that they have been already collecting to uncover the manageable process parameters most important to the quality outcomes of finished products.
Like many large companies, Peoria, Illinois-based Caterpillar has developed sophisticated data-collection techniques. A single manufacturing plant can use thousands of gages, sensors and other automated devices to collect data from machines and other manufacturing equipment. However, much of the massive amounts of data the company collected for monitoring hundreds of process parameters went largely unused.
Caterpillar has recognized that certain combinations of settings of process variables could potentially produce highly desirable outcomes, but the "rules" that govern the relations between the settings and their outcomes are usually very complex and not known to even experienced engineers. What combinations of knobs need to be turned and in which direction? What design features need to be modified and by how much? What exactly in the manufacturing "stream" needs to get adjusted, altered, tuned or tweaked to positively affect the quality and compliance outcomes?
Building on years of experience with SPC and Six Sigma quality initiatives, engineers at Caterpillar are now deploying PROCEED - a cutting edge data-mining and modeling software developed with StatSoft Inc. ( www.statsoft.com) - that empowers enterprise wide quality control and improvement. The software has helped Caterpillar's manufacturing and design engineers use empirical data to achieve significant quality and performance improvements.
A breakthrough in PROCEED overcomes a critical barrier in deploying data mining in manufacturing: making the specific recommendations from the predictive models relevant to practical implementation. Included with PROCEED is not only a highly intelligent computational engine that searches for root causes and optimizes process parameters but also a set of graphical tools to help users interact with the virtual process models. The user interface offers a mechanism that allow engineers to "poke" the model with what-if scenarios so that they can see the implications of their actions in a safe (virtual) environment.
For example, the software has managed to identify a subset of variables that caused trim balance outcomes during finished product testing - a very complex problem that could not be solved using traditional methods. "The model allowed the Caterpillar team to determine that a reduction in run-out of two interacting features on the assembly would reduce [the occurrence of] trim balance problems by approximately 50 percent," says Bill Matthews, a manufacturing engineer at Caterpillar.
 Click here to read the entire article
StatSoft announces that STATISTICA has Won Scientific Computing's 2006 Reader's Choice Awards for Statistical Software. (Scientific Computing, July 2006) 
StatSoft is pleased to announce that STATISTICA has been chosen as the top statistical software provider by Scientific Computing in their annual Reader's Choice Awards. Each year since 1992, Scientific Computing magazine has asked readers to vote for technical computing products that they deem to be the very best. Scientific Computing's readers are challenged to consider such factors as product quality, reliability, ease-of-use, technical support, and value. Win Noren, International Operations director for StafSoft, notes that, “This is an honor for StatSoft and it speaks to the quality of our development, service, and sales teams. We're very pleased that readers have given STATISTICA a gold ranking, which is the highest ranking for analytical software.”
“Eureka!” StatSoft's PROCEED praised in an in-depth review Tooling and Production Magazine (Software Solutions, May, 2006) 
This article provides an in-depth look at the PROCEED software platform and how it is currently being used by large manufacturing companies such as Caterpillar. The review details PROCEED's analytical approaches, the various ways in which they can be applied, and the optimal outcomes that the software produces. “Until now, data analysis techniques have been limited to one or two variables. That has changed thanks to new software developed by Caterpillar and StatSoft Inc…Together, the two companies created PROCEED software…for the modeling, optimization, and simulation of complex manufacturing processes…"PROCEED software goes beyond the traditional methodologies to link variables from three or more facets of a given process. The higher-order analysis helps produce "actionable information" that allows engineering and production managers to create and compare what-if scenarios.”
Caterpillar's Tony Grichnik states that PROCEED's “key is gaining insight from the data's knowledge and then coupling the knowledge to actions.”
The article discusses how PROCEED uses “traditional knowledge extraction methods to help manufacturers derive and validate simple to complex causal relationships between manufacturing processes and product quality outcomes...PROCEED software provides an interactive software environment to optimize the production process to achieve the best results along multiple outcomes...The software also reduced the expensive and time-consuming finished product testing at Caterpillar. The ROI is derived from decreased invetment in test equipment and personnel to perform the test, increased product throughput from the reduction of the time-consuming testing, and reduction of expensive rework and scrap by reducing the rate of product failures.”
Click here to read the entire article
STATISTICA Data Miner receives the top rating in comparative review, "Data Mining Tools: Which One is Best for CRM?", Dr. Nisbet (DM Review, March, 2006) 
In March 2006, Dr. Robert Nisbet reviewed six leading data mining applications and rated them according to a comprehensive list of analytical functions and data management capabilities. STATISTICA has received the highest total number of points (1,950). Dr. Nisbet's concludes that using STATISTICA Data Miner is "almost a no-brainer! Non-statisticians and/or non-data miners take heed! This system takes most of the 'magic' out of data mining ...for the vast majority of potential users among business analysts, it is a great blessing."
Some of Dr. Nisbet's additional comments include: "This tool represents the next step in the continuous evolution of a complete statistical package." "(STATISTICA is) a joy to use." "The data mining (DM) module is seamlessly integrated with the classical statistical capabilities." "The data mining (DM) module...uses a series of graphical programming panes. These programming panes are arranged in the order of the data mining process: data access, data preparation, modeling, and report. Building data mining process flow through these panes is very easy and intuitive." "STATISTICA-DM has virtually every statistical and data mining algorithm that you can think of, even a Support Vector Machine." "Users who want a rich variety of linear and nonlinear statistical techniques, and who want to be able to do classical data mining within the same integrated interface will be most comfortable with this tool set." Please click here to view a table of rankings.
STATISTICA's top classification in a "Comparative Statistical Software Review" (SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING, February 2006) 
In a comprehensive comparative classification of statistical software published by Dr. J. A. Wass (a statistician at Abbott Laboratories), 11 featured general statistics packages were divided into three categories based on the functionality that they offer:
While the review offers no comparative ratings or rankings within each of the three categories, Dr, Wass praised not only the comprehensiveness of STATISTICA and its "we do it all" approach (he states that it took him the entire evening just to go over the list of features of STATISTICA), but also the menu-driven user interface of the application that makes all the extensive functionality so easily accessible to the user.
Praises for STATISTICA 7.0 and the latest release of STATISTICA Data Miner applications, Scientific Computing World by Felix Grant (December, 2004)
In a review article in the December, 2004 issue of Scientific Computing World, Felix Grant offers praises for the latest release of STATISTICA (7.0). During a consulting project at a large plant engaged in manufacturing milled steel containers, Mr. Grant found STATISTICA well suited for large-scale projects. He also writes that STATISTICA gains "new analytic dimensions in release" (including the new advanced modules) as well as the new "project organisation; extension of spreadsheet behaviour, and metadata provision". Also noted were features such as extended brushing facilities, and enhanced access to analytic text operations. When commenting on STATISTICA's adaptability Grant writes that it is "Always very flexibly configurable, the working environment becomes even more so."
Grant also praises the power of STATISTICA Data Miner (including Text Miner) applications, which - despite his initial reluctance to embrace the general data mining approach - have managed to "convert" him: "it [STATISTICA Data Miner] allows a lot of ground to be opened up to intuition, very quickly generating a useful volume of possibilities for closer examination by more traditional means." When using STATISTICA Text Miner in the real-life application, the program allowed him "to trawl for clues through records such as memos, reports and so on - in fact, almost anything on the plant network - and that was, in the event, how one vital piece of the jigsaw was found."
STATISTICA Text Miner "The giant of the show: StatSoft's Text Miner" Scientific Computing World (Mining for Answers From Mountains of Text, May, 2004)
Felix Grant, a respected lecturer and reviewer in the UK, recently wrote an article for Scientific Computing World on the background and use of text mining and gave praise to StatSoft's STATISTICA Text Miner. He says of StatSoft,
"(Statsoft) inspires confidence by not overselling what its products can do; and that confidence carries over into the implementation."
Here are some direct quotes from the article that give an idea of Grant's thoughts on Text Miner:
"STATISTICA Text Miner (in full, Text Mining and Document Retrieval, but hereafter Text Miner) is conservative, though not falsely modest, in its claims, all of which are based on well-known and verifiable methods"
"These tailored rules are an investment of expensive, skilled time and are very dependent on linguistic register, so we welcomed the discovery that they can be saved for subsequent reuse"
"The software has to be able to visit the documents in question, and Text Miner can take directories full of specified source files, locally or remotely located, crawling along links as required, chewing up the contents and spitting out a frequency matrix with commendable speed."
"STATISTICA, as always, prefers an open-hand philosophy of providing the tools and the good advice, then leaving the usage to the user."
"In fact, though, despite my initial suspicions, which diverted us into extensive, early control testing, Text Miner copes well with this."
STATISTICA Data Miner "The Clear Winner" According to DM Review Comparison (DM Direct Special Report, March 23, 2004)
In his recent article "How to Choose a Data Mining Suite", Dr. Robert A. Nisbet reviews five popular data mining suites to help companies evaluate which suite is best for their particular needs, including STATISTICA Data Miner, SPSS-Clementine, Affinium Model, Insightful Miner, and KXEN.
The article contains an extremely detailed comparison of procedures and features of these five products on over 100 dimensions (with a detailed table reproduced in the article), concluded with the final composite scores. STATISTICA Data Miner has received a total score of 1,147 (almost two times higher than its closest competitor, SPSS Clementine).
Click here to read Dr. Nisbet's table of results in pdf format.
STATISTICA Data Miner reviewed in "Data Mining Examined" (Special Report, September, 2004) "An important factor driving the decision in favor of STATISTICA was that the program not only offers data mining algorithms, but also a very wide spectrum of general analytic procedures."
STATISTICA noted in "Competence in Data Analysis" (IT-DIRECTOR, May, 2004)  "Data Mining is one of the acknowledged technologies for successful CRM. To analyze information, it is important to have fast access to the available data. Our STATISTICA software provides efficient interfaces to all common databases. In addition, results of analyses must be provided in a format that is readily interpreted and easily understood. For that purpose, our software provides flexible reporting methods, including WebPortal technologies. "
STATISTICA mentioned in "FDA-Compliant Data Analysis Software" (LITUS, May, 2004)  "StatSoft has been developing software for 20 years, consistently leveraging the most modern state-of-the-art technologies. The products provide an intuitive menu-driven user-interface, but the analytic procedures and software can also be completely automated and scripted, for seamless integration with existing ERP-, LIMS-, and other knowledge repository or database management systems. The server version of STATISTICA is scalable and fully Web-enabled, providing access to all methods offered in the software via simple Web Browser. The validated product is compliant and suitable for installation in FDA regulated industries, for validated applications."
Oklahoma State University Students Uncover, Explain and Predict with STATISTICA Data Miner (DM Review, February 2003, p. 63) 
A review in the February 2003 issue of DM Review describes how STATISTICA Data Miner's impressive array of data mining algorithms solved a variety of classification and prediction problems for Oklahoma State University graduate IT students.
STATISTICA Data Miner was the "premier choice" for OSU's Department of Management Science and Information Systems, according to Dr. Dursun Delen, Assistant Professor. Delen states, "Based on my years of experience in industry and in academia, I can confidently say that STATISTICA Data Miner has one of the most comprehensive data mining algorithms on the market." He also calls the graphical tools and their outputs "phenomenal."
Delen lists many other advantages over other data mining tools, including a graphical, interactive, user-friendly interface, rich set of visualization tools, processing speed, and its ability to be launched as a Web application. In spite of these many strengths, Delen also found STATISTICA Data Miner to be "less expensive than other comprehensive toolkits in the market."
OSU students used STATISTICA Data Miner for the prediction of diabetic illnesses based on demographic, social and recreational parameters; target marketing models for better promotional mailing; prediction of financial indicators such as the S&P 500; and foreign exchange rates, among others.
STATISTICA 6 Products "Take Traditional Quality Further" according to Quality Digest Software Review (September 2002, p. 61)
Felix Grant, a well-known lecturer and reviewer in the UK, recently commented on the latest versions (version 6) of STATISTICA QC Charts, Data Miner, and Neural Networks in a software review published in the September issue of Quality Digest magazine.STATISTICA QC Chart's to handle large data sets, multiple databases, and real-time auto-updating saying, "There must be limits to the density and variability of data flow, but I've not yet discovered them -- despite some very demanding work that would make most software packages cry."
In the same review, Grant calls STATISTICA Data Miner "the best tool I've seen yet for actually applying what you learn at the sharp end of industry" and "the easiest to use data mining control I've encountered." He goes on to praise its friendly user interface and strong set of exploratory analytic routines.
Lastly, the reviewer addresses STATISTICA Neural Networks. Although admittedly tentative when it comes to using nn software, Grant finds that STATISTICA Neural Networks has "particular strengths for unfamiliar users and those with reporting or team working priorities."
Grant summarizes,
STATISTICA Neural Networks "By far the best, in terms of both ease of use and power" in Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America Review (January 2002, pps. 60-62) 
In a recent article in the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America (January 2002 issue) reviewers call STATISTICA Neural Networks (SNN) an "excellent package for both new and experienced users of neural networks" and "by far the best, in terms of ease of use, power."
Reviewers Jeffrey Lusk, Oklahoma State University Department of Forestry, and Steven Wilson, of EcoLogic Research, compare STATISTICA Neural Networks with Neural Connections from SPSS and Qnet 2000 from Vesta Services. They agree that "SNN's interface is more intuitive than other packages and allows users to view simultaneously data, network predictions/output, and performance statistics." They conclude that STATISTICA is "the most intuitive and easiest to use of the three packages."
They found the genetic algorithms utility unique to STATISTICA. "SNN can test various combinations of variables against each other to evolve an optimal set for subsequent neural network development. The genetic algorithm also ranks variables in the optimal subset, indicating which variables are most important. This feature is useful for removing noisy, information-poor variables from large data sets prior to further analysis. Neither of the other two neural network packages mentioned above has this capability."
They also praise the simulation tool in SNN as being "much more intuitive and easy to use than a similar tool in SPSS's Neural Connections," while "Qnet 2000 does not provide a simulation tool at all." They go on to say that "SNN will generate classification networks if it detects a categorical dependent variable in the training data set. No additional input is required from the user, and model building is again very fast and efficient....Diagnostic output is very complete, and includes a sensitivity analysis to help determine the importance of different input variable to the final model."
Faster and More Accurate Data Analysis at John Deere with STATISTICA - A Rave Review Published in DM Review Magazine (February 2002, p. 70)  In the February 2002 issue of DM Review, John Deere Quality Engineer Navaid Ahmed gave STATISTICA rave reviews for its performance, ability to integrate, data visualization capabilities, and much more.
In the article, Ahmed discussed the variety of reasons why at John Deere "the decision to select STATISTICA was unanimous." According to Ahmed, "The versatility and flexibility of the product were the main reasons for selecting STATISTICA. It can be used for a variety of different forms of statistical analysis. Excellent service support and broad-based statistical analysis capability were the major advantages that this product had over others we considered."
Summarizing what he considers to be the main strengths of STATISTICA, Ahmed offered,
"STATISTICA works well with our CMM systems." However, "the interactive ability of the software is its main strength. The different ways that data analysis can be performed and its ease of use with easy-to-read output are also some of the main strengths of STATISTICA. The ability to work with Microsoft Excel is also a plus."
Ahmed also applauded StatSoft for its excellent and prompt technical support saying, "Quick email responses and solutions to problems I've faced have been the best part of working with the vendor."
ALSTOM Power Elblag Sp. z o.o. Optimizes Production Processes with STATISTICA Enterprise-wide SPC System (October 19, 2001, pps. 22-25)  A recent (October 19, 2001) article in COMPUTERWORLD (Polish version) described how ALSTOM Power Elblag Sp. z o.o., a top manufacturer of turbine castings, uses STATISTICA Enterprise-wide SPC System (SEWSS) to optimize its production processes and ensure quality.
Jerzy Slawinski, ALSTOM Power's quality manager, speaks highly of SEWSS in the article, "The SEWSS system is not just a package that runs on the computer on the desk of an analyst. It is an integrated solution which links production, data acquisition, database and analytical parts."
"About 30 operators and engineers" and "a wide group of managers use the system" for data collection, data management, and statistical analysis. The entire process was described in the article: "SEWSS continuously retrieves data: first, components and raw materials characteristics are measured (this additionally controls reliability of the suppliers), then characteristics of moulding sand (tensile strength and permeability), furnace charge, fire-clay moulders, melted metal composition and pouring process are monitored, parameters of heat treatment recorded, casting quality is measured (repair welding factor), dimensional compatibility checked. Each cast generates several hundred records of data. The factory produces over 400 tons of casts each month. Measurement data are retrieved by the system automatically or sent to the system by operators with measurement devices or keyboard data entry. SEWSS stores measurement data in an external database (in this case it is an Oracle database) and runs on a network server."
Slawinski says, "The global market in our sector is very competitive. Turbine castings dropped in prices by 50% in the last 5 years. In this situation, quality is not a negotiable option, we talk only about costs and time to delivery. Producers who will not manage to change in time will not stay in this market." The comprehensive analytical tools, flexible alarm notification, interactive query facilities, and many other innovative features in SEWSS help ALSTOM Power meet these essential quality standards.
STATISTICA among the Most Popular Statistical Software Products for Fifth Straight Year (Scientific Computing & Instrumentation, December 2001, p. 40)  For the fifth consecutive year, STATISTICA has been rated one of the top five products in statistical software by Scientific Computing & Instrumentation, a popular magazine among scientists and engineers. Published in the December 2001 issue, the annual selection is based on the products generating the most reader interest, as indicated by the use of the Reader Service Card, in a variety of product categories.
Praise-filled Review of STATISTICA 6 Published in Scientific Computing World (November/December 2001, pps. 32-34)
Felix Grant, writer for Scientific Computing World, has just published a praise-filled review of STATISTICA 6 - "STATISTICA goes from Strength to Strength". The title seems appropriate, since throughout the review Grant praises practically every new feature in the program!
In general of STATISTICA 6 Grant says, "Down in the works, among the actual processes that a statistical package is there to perform, there are too many small enhancements, evolutions and developments to detail."
Here are some direct quotes from the article that give you an idea of Grants thoughts on STATISTICA 6 features:
On Customization -"Further evolution of the customisation potential is another welcome feature - STATISTICA has always been highly configurable to suit the user and environment; this quality has now been extended considerably. Option defaults are extensive, and most interface artefacts can now be created, moved, modified or removed in a rapid, efficient, highly intuitive manner. Menu customisation is mesmerically addictive, so easily can objects be moved from one place to another as if playing with children's building blocks." "The ability to provide each user (or each group of users) with a version of the analytic tools best suited to their needs, extraneous distractions hidden or removed, is invaluable. Productivity is further enhanced if the user can adopt mnemonics and layouts that mimic other regularly-used software - and this, too, is now easier than ever." On Graphics - "Control, throughout, is effortless and precise. " "Staying with the visual, STATISTICA's already impressive graphics technology has been further developed. There are now a hierarchical style system and intelligent format painting, which (once I was used to them) greatly cut the time and fiddle involved in tuning final output, as do new options in output design." On VB - "A variety of professional problems that I encountered during this period were solved quickly, efficiently and glossily with VB-automated STATISTICA, with or without other application interactions. These ranged from data repair macros, and mimic routines for the expert mentioned above, to online data polling and direct data logging, to a sudden need for HTML reports updated on a minute-by-minute basis." On System Limits - "STATISTICA as a whole has been overhauled to allow what seems to be more or less unlimited external data access power. Internal limits have also been removed - or, at least, I think they have. StatSoft makes use of the word 'practically' more than once in these contexts, which leaves the ambiguous possibility that limits still lurk out there somewhere. Whatever boundaries may remain, however, I haven't found them - despite a determined attempt, using access to a terabyte store, which tied up my 1GHz/1024Mb machine for more than 36 hours but eventually completed." On Web functionality - "Most software products are evolving to survive in this new environment; and STATISTICA is now very strong in the Internet or Intranet capability department."
StatSoft and STATISTICA receive top marks in a survey conducted by SCIENCE (2001) 
A new survey conducted by SCIENCE (the publication of the American Association for Advancement of Science; circulation: over 150,000) of a randomly selected sample of its readers has provided data on how StatSoft, Inc. is perceived by the community of scientists and administrators of science. The following are unedited statements about StatSoft, Inc. and its products volunteered anonymously by the respondents. The data for the surveys, sponsored by SCIENCE magazine, were collected by the Harvey Research Organization, Fairport, New York. The following selection of excerpts has been accepted by SCIENCE for use in this material (reprinted by permission of SCIENCE and Harvey Research Organization):
"I have used StatSoft [STATISTICA] before(...). You can't beat them."-- Professor of Biology, University "I know a lot of people that use it (...). The [STATISTICA] graphics are awesome." -- Research Assistant, University "We use this in many of our departments. The university appreciates its versatility." -- Professor of Biology, University "They make excellent statistical software." -- Genetic Toxicologist, Industry "(...) They have a great series of software packages." -- Associate Professor, University "(...) I think that StatSoft has a good thing going with this product. You can do a lot with it." -- Associate Professor, University "(...) I use their statistical package. I need to get another program from them. They have good quality." -- Professor, Medical School "I do know this company. I have a good image of them." -- President, Industry "I am familiar with this company. I have a good opinion of them." -- Program Leader, Industry "I think that StatSoft is excellent." -- Vice President of R&D, Industry "I like their statistics package because you can use it in all different fields. We have used it to make some of our displays. (...) I have always been impressed by them." -- Botany Curator, Museum "They have some excellent software. Some of it is very useful. I think the company is on the cutting-edge."" -- Microbiologist, Government "I have a good image of this company." -- Asst. Professor, University "(...) I am very impressed with them." -- Sr. Research Associate, Laboratory
First Review of STATISTICA 6 - "THE FUTURE IS HERE... Superior Performance, Enhanced Handling, and No Glitches" (July/August 2001, p. 41)
STATISTICA 6 (Beta) recently received a very warm welcome from reviewer Felix Grant in the review "The future is here...at last" in the July/August issue of Scientific Computing World. Grant begins by reviewing the most obvious change from previous version, the interface, and describes the STATISTICA 6 interface as "extensively customizable to reflect your own requirements." He continues, "This ability to shape a working environment in the interests of maximum personal or team usefulness has, of course, always been one of STATISTICA's strong points; but the means now reflect current Windows trends."He goes on to compare the functionality in STATISTICA favorably against that of one of the most popular software products in the world, "Menus adapt automatically to application frame context, in a way that is better managed and more flexible than Microsoft's, and customization can be made to reflect this. So far, I have not yet hit the limits of this customization potential." In the remainder of the review Grant praises many other areas of the program, including the new integrated STATISTICA Visual Basic - "well cool", the workbook system - "a definite advance," and many others... "Graphics benefit from an impressive range of incremental improvements with new types, more visual and intuitive access selection, enhanced brushing and zooming, style management, and interactive sectioning of 3D constructs. There are new statistical procedures in modelling and data mining, and improvements in a swathe of others. The whole package, never slow on its feet, has gained noticeably in speed and responsiveness." After running STATISTICA alongside competing products Grant concludes, "I have become a fan (of STATISTICA), encountering only superior performance, enhanced handling and no glitches."
A Comparison of Statistical Software Packages Finds STATISTICA "Flexible and Widely-used" Among Both Experts and Beginners (July 9, 2001, pps. 22-23)  The July 9th issue of The Scientist featured a brief overview of some of the most commonly used statistical software tools on the market, and STATISTICA's description clearly stands out among the descriptions of its peers.
In his introduction to the comprehensive statistical tools available, Author Paul Wolf notes that "Several large packages are geared toward the statistical expert. These are often more flexible, and some can handle larger and more complex data than their smaller brethren can. Familiarity (and effective instruction) can make even the most cumbersome software user-friendly, but the general trend is toward ease-of-use across the spectrum." However, later in the same section, he introduces STATISTICA by saying "The difference between simple and relatively inflexible packages and complex and versatile ones is not necessarily clear cut." Wolf describes STATISTICA as "a very flexible and widely-used application that could appeal to both experts and beginners" and goes on to say, "the entire approach to the software is scalable, and quality of output is excellent".
STATISTICA One of the Most Popular Statistical Software Products for Fourth Consecutive Year (Scientific Computing & Instrumentation, July 2001, p. 38)  For the fourth year in a row, STATISTICA has been rated one of the top five products in statistical software by Scientific Computing & Instrumentation, a popular magazine among scientists and engineers. Determined by reader response to items published in over a 12 month period, Scientific Computing & Instrumentation published the year 2000 winners in the recent July 2001 issue. Editors chose the products that generate the most reader interest, as indicated by the use of the Reader Service Card, in a wide variety of product categories.
STATISTICA the Winner of Scientific Computing and Instrumentation Reader's Choice Award in QA/QC Software Category (July 2001, p. 32) 
For a fifth consecutive year STATISTICA has received high marks from Scientific Computing and Instrumentation readers in multiple categories. STATISTICA is the winner in the QA/QC software category for the second year in a row in Scientific Computing and Instrumentation's July issue. STATISTICA is also a finalist in the category of statistical software.
STATISTICA Receives Reader's Choice Award from Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities (2001 Bonus Issue, pps. 36-37)  STATISTICA recently received the Reader's Choice Award and the highest ranking ("Finalist") among general purpose statistics software packages in the "AI Software (Expert, Neural)" category of the Reader's Choice Awards published in the 2001 Bonus issue of Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities. Next to STATISTICA, only very specialized packages, designed specifically for trading/forecasting, received accolades. No other general purpose statistical software package was even mentioned in the results of the vote. The additional fact that StatSoft products have never been advertised in this publication, so readers know STATISTICA only from other sources, makes this award especially flattering.
Photronics Compliments the Scalability and Flexibility of SEWSS in DM Review (February 2001, p. 91)
In the February 2001 issue of DM Review magazine, STATISTICA Enterprise-wide SPC System (SEWSS) received a glowing review from Photronics, a leading worldwide supplier of photomasks, high precision quartz plates used in the manufacture of semiconductors. In 2000, after a team from Photronics conducted a thorough investigation of several SPC packages, they chose the unique scalability and versatility of STATISTICA Enterprise-wide SPC System (SEWSS) in order to guarantee the quality of its products shipped to consumers. Photronics recently implemented SEWSS at six sites internationally and plans to have six more sites on-line by March 2001. SEWSS was selected because of its ease of integration with Photronics' existing manufacturing execution system and because it provided flexibility beyond the existing system. According to Barbara Manville, Photronics director of corporate software development, StatSoft representatives worked diligently to resolve issues specific to their organization. Manville stated, "The best part of working with StatSoft has been the expertise of the technical support staff who are well versed in both statistics and the inner workings of the package."
Click here to read the complete review.
User Comments of the Enterprise Versions of STATISTICA Summarized in a Scientific Computing World Review (August/September 2000, pps. 29-31)
In his recent comprehensive review of the latest version of STATISTICA (see the next section), Felix Grant, a software reviewer for Scientific Computing World, has summarized comments collected from "existing users [who] allowed detailed examination of (and some experimenting with) one SEDAS installation, two of SEWSS, and one of WebSEWSS."
The reviewer concluded that "these products display the familiar modularity and contain all the elements necessary for a potential dispersed data web of any kind. A SEWSS/WebSEWSS set up takes (SPC) data from a database, analyses it using what is essentially STATISTICA, then outputs results in web form instead of on paper."
Grant is extremely complimentary of the SEWSS system, touting its "proven capability at an automated industrial scale" and applauds StatSoft products in general: "No other company, however, has so successfully managed the particular trick of making a range of standalone products appear to be aspects of the analytical package - an extension of the inherent modularity."
STATISTICA Receives Remarkable Review in Scientific Computing World article, "The Subtlety of STATISTICA is the key to its success" (August/September 2000, pps. 29-31)
STATISTICA was ranked extremely high "amongst the small elite pack of leaders" in the August/September 2000 issue of Scientific Computing World.
In his very thorough three page review, reviewer Felix Grant discusses in detail practically all aspects of the STATISTICA family of products including the new, interactive modules introduced in version 5.5 (Visual General Linear Models, Visual Generalized Linear Models, Visual Partial Least Squares, and Visual General Stepwise Regression) as well as the new technologies offered by StatSoft to integrate the software with other applications and computing environments. The author summarizes by saying STATISTICA "excels in delivering clearly branded intuitive methods, ergonomic appeal, responsiveness and adaptability to a wide range of consumers." Grant calls STATISTICA version 5.5 "thoroughly modular, extremely open, and extensively customisable." He claims STATISTICA possesses "a uniquely intuitive usability which weighs heavily with real-world users" and features "the best onboard large database capability of any product in its market."
"Numerous statistical products offer API hooks to developers and OLE to other applications; several provide ready made interaction links to specific in-house or third-party products; a few offer a stable of other products which relate to the analytical package. StatSoft does all of these. No other company, however, has so successfully managed the particular trick of making a range of standalone products appear to be aspects of the analytical package - an extension of the inherent modularity."
STATISTICA Enterprise-wide SPC System (SEWSS) Receives Top-Notch Real-world Review from VISTEON Automotive in the Popular French Magazine QUALITE REFERENCES (July 2000, p. 45) 
VISTEON, one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive components and systems, gave rave reviews to STATISTICA Enterprise-wide SPC System
in a recent issue of the popular French magazine,
QUALITE REFERENCES (July 2000). VISTEON representatives claimed "SEWSS is actually only limited by our imagination." In the process of redesigning their SPC system and preparing for QS 9000 certification, they chose the STATISTICA/SEWSS system for a variety of reasons discussed in the article: "SEWSS is really flexible, and we could perfectly match the software to our current system, in a very easy and quick way: each entry is customizable (operator's name, lot number) which allows for very detailed analyses of the process variations. The extensive tools that are offered in SEWSS (DOE, multivariate analyses) was also an important aspect of our choice." VISTEON is clearly more than pleased with their choice, saying "As of today, our system grows very quickly, and is not limited by our
software."
STATISTICA Receives 2000 Reader's Choice Award from Scientific Computing and Instrumentation (July 2000, p. 26) 
Scientific Computing and Instrumentation readers recently voted STATISTICA number one in the QA/QC Software category. This is the fourth year in a row STATISTICA has received high marks from Scientific Computing and Instrumentation readers for its comprehensive array of statistical techniques, analytical power, and user-friendly, customizable interface. STATISTICA has received the highest rating in EVERY comparative review of statistical software since its first release in 1993.
STATISTICA Receives Highest Score in Comparative Review by Futures Magazine (March 2000, pps. 58-61) 
In the March issue of Futures, a popular magazine among stock traders and analysts, STATISTICA garnered the highest point total when pitted against two other popular statistical packages. STATISTICA ('99, version 5.5) was awarded the highest overall rating (a total of 145 points), while packages by SPSS (version 10) and S-Plus (2000) received 139 and 103 points,
respectively. STATISTICA achieved the highest marks in 10 out of 17
categories, including User Interface, Basic Statistics, Graphing and more.
The reviewer also praised STATISTICA's powerful but easy to use programming language and the sophistication of STATISTICA's unique general linear and nonlinear modeling procedures. He notes "STATISTICA graphics are of exceptional quality and the easiest to edit." This review marks the seventh consecutive year since 1993 in which STATISTICA has received the highest rating in EVERY comparative review of statistics software in which it has been featured.
StatSoft Receives the Britannica Internet Guide Award for Web Site Quality, Accuracy of Content, Presentation and Usability 
Britannica, the makers of the oldest and largest general reference in the English language, recently placed the StatSoft web site in the company of an elite group and awarded StatSoft with the Britannica Internet Guide Award. Britannica editors praised the StatSoft web site as one of the best on the Internet when reviewed for quality, accuracy of content, presentation and usability.
STATISTICA Receives Top Rank Among Statistics Packages in the "AI Software (Expert, Neural)" Category of a Reader Survey by Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities (2000 Bonus Issue, p. 19) STATISTICA has received the Reader's Choice Award and the highest ranking among statistics software packages ("Finalist") in the "AI Software
(Expert, Neural)" category in a Technical Analysis of Stocks and
Commodities' reader survey. The only other product of a statistical
software company that was mentioned in the results of the vote is SPSS'
Neural Connection ("Honorable Mention"). The fact that StatSoft products
have never been advertised in this publication, so readers know
STATISTICA only from other sources, makes this award especially
flattering.
STATISTICA is the Top Ranked Statistics Package in the "Statistical Analysis Software" Category of a Reader Survey by Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities (2000 Bonus Issue, p. 19)
STATISTICA has received a Reader's Choice Award and the highest ranking
among statistics software packages ("Finalist") in the "Statistical
Analysis Software" category in a Technical Analysis of Stocks and
Commodities' reader survey. STATISTICA was trailed by SPSS
("Semi-finalist"), and SAS, Minitab, and S-Plus ( "Honorable Mentions").
The fact that StatSoft products have never been advertised in this
publication, so readers know STATISTICA only from other sources, makes
this award especially flattering.
Three years Running!: STATISTICA among the Top Five Statistical Software Products (Scientific Computing and Instrumentation, December 1999, p. 13) 
For the third year in a row, STATISTICA has been ranked a Top 5 Statistical Software product in the year end issue of Scientific Computing and Instrumentation. Selected annually, the top five products are selected based on the amount of reader inquiries generated throughout the year. In the same issue, STATISTICA received the 1999 Reader's
Choice Award for statistical software from the readers of Scientific
Computing and Instrumentation. (see below)
STATISTICA "Known for its Clean Interface and Impressive Graphics Output" Offers "High-End Stats in a Friendly Package" According to NASA Tech Briefs Review (July 1999, p. 20) 
STATISTICA has received another complimentary review in the July 1999 issue of NASA Tech Briefs, a leading engineering and design magazine with a circulation of more than 200,000. The reviewer says "STATISTICA has long been known for its clean interface and its impressive graphics output" and agreed with this analysis after using the program. He claims "Even simple tasks are easier with STATISTICA," but he also gives STATISTICA accolades for its ease of use in areas less familiar to the user: "Searching STATISTICA for tests I rarely or never use let me check my methods with ease…The sophistication of high-end stats packages does count!" In conclusion, he calls STATISTICA "a new friend" for analyzing data.
STATISTICA receives 1999 Reader's Choice Award for statistical software from Scientific Computing and Instrumentation for third consecutive year (December 1999).
For the third consecutive year, STATISTICA has received the 1999 Reader's Choice Award for statistical software from the readers of Scientific Computing and Instrumentation. This is an especially great honor based solely upon the votes of a large number of scientists and data analysts voting on Quality, Reliability, Ease of Use, Technical Support, Value to Price. Scientific Computing and Instrumentation (formerly known as Scientific Computing and Automation) is a leading scientific journal that focuses on the latest computer, software and instrument technologies available for scientist and technical professionals.
"STATISTICA maintains the top position among standardized statistical computer programs" according to SCIENCE magazine review (May 21, 1999, pps. 1291-1292) STATISTICA has received another extremely positive review in SCIENCE magazine, a widely recognized general science journal read by a broad spectrum of scientists. In his review, SCIENCE reviewer Bruce McCallum calls STATISTICA a "Carnival of Stats" and the top program of its kind on the market. He summarizes: "STATISTICA maintains the top position among standardized statistical computer programs." and notes, "A reasonable question to ask is whether one should pay almost $1,000 for STATISTICA's functions, which are also available on less elegant, but less expensive programs"..., but follows this question with, "The answers lie in the program's performance." The writer further applauds STATISTICA by saying, "Authors cite STATISTICA in the methods section of their papers because of the program's high standards, commitment to accuracy, and technical sophistication for output."
STATISTICA Receives 1998 Technological Distinction Award from BYTE (March 1999)  STATISTICA has received the "1998 Technological Distinction Award" from BYTE (Spanish Edition) in recognition of the advanced technology of its system features, computational procedures, and graphics. STATISTICA is the only data analysis product that was included among the winners. Other products that received the same award include: ms Visual Basic 6.0, Adobe Photoshop 5.0, IBM Visual Age Java Professional, IBM ThinkPad 390, and HP Deskjet 895 Professional Printer.
Highest ratings for STATISTICA in an extremely positive review in BIOTECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE (November/December 1998, pps. 5-11)  A comprehensive (4 pages long) review of STATISTICA and the new features and enhancements introduced in the'98 Edition has just been published in BIOTECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE AND INTERNET JOURNAL. STATISTICA has received yet another extremely positive evaluation and the highest rating on each of the three general evaluative dimensions used routinely in the BIOTECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE reviews: Usefulness, Ease of Use, and Freedom from Bugs. The reviewer praises the unusual comprehensiveness of the program, "excellent documentation" and the high quality of phone support offered by StatSoft, the quality, customizability and selection of graphics, and the performance of the system (even on low-end hardware). Many unique features of STATISTICA are recognized and discussed in depth (e.g., the Module Switcher, the self-prompting dialogs, the high-performance worksheet). Finally, the reviewer comments extensively on the large amount of new functionality offered in the new release. "It is usually a disappointment to see a new version of analytic software appear only to find that a few cosmetic changes have been made," however, "StatSoft programmers have ... substantially extended the depth and breath of the program" and added "much of substance" (p. 5). "The efforts of StatSoft to enhance and continually upgrade support for this powerful and flexible tool should be appreciated by users at all levels." (p.11).
The statistics package with the highest number of points in the 1998 SPC (Statistical Process Control) Software Buyer's Guide published by Quality Digest (December 1998) 
In the recent edition of the Buyer's Guide published by Quality Digest (December, 1998), practically all Statistical Quality Control Software packages currently available on the market were rated on 43 (0/1) dimensions (each worth 1 point), divided into four categories:
Highest ratings for STATISTICA Neural Networks in an extremely positive review in BIOTECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE (November/December 1998) A comprehensive (3 pages long) review of STATISTICA Neural Networks has just been published in BIOTECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE AND INTERNET JOURNAL. STATISTICA Neural Networks has received yet another extremely positive evaluation and the highest rating on each of the three general evaluative dimensions used routinely in the BIOTECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE reviews: Usefulness, Ease of Use, and Freedom from Bugs. The author of the review (Dr. John A. Wass from Abbott Laboratories), clearly appreciates the intentions of the developers of STATISTICA Neural Networks to design a program that would offer an optimal balance between "user-friendliness and simplicity" and "sophistication and complexity." He praises the unusual comprehensiveness of the program (as evidenced by the wide selection of supported algorithms: "Again, StatSoft does not skimp when it comes to important functionalities; both depth and breadth of techniques are available in the package." (p. 10)), as well its exceptional ease of use that is not typical for applications of the caliber of STATISTICA Neural Networks.
The highest rated statistics software in a Buyer's Guide rating published by Scientific Computing and Automation (September 1998) ![[SC&A]](images/redsca.gif) STATISTICA has again received the highest rating in a comparative listing of features of statistical packages, this time in the recent edition of the Buyer's Guide published by Scientific Computing and Automation (September, 1998). Practically all popular statistics packages were rated on 28 (0/1) dimensions (each worth 1 point). Some of these dimensions represent support for specific types of analyses (e.g., Experimental Design, Process Analysis, Quality Control), others are evaluative (e.g., Precision/Accuracy, Speed, Variety of Tests). STATISTICA has received the highest total number of points (25) of all compared statistics programs.
STATISTICA called "a very powerful and amazingly flexible product, with stunning graphics," Scientific Data Management - Software Reviews (November 1998) ![[Scientific Data Management]](images/sdm.gif) STATISTICA has received another exceptionally positive review in a highly respected, professional publication. In a comprehensive evaluation of the program published in Scientific Data Management (Software Reviews) practically all aspects of the functionality of the program received the highest marks. It is clearly the most positive review of a statistics program that has ever been published in Scientific Data Management:
"STATISTICA is a very powerful and amazingly flexible product. If anything, it is almost too flexible and you are overwhelmed by choice … this is a heavy weight package by any definition …the data editor is better than many employed in packages of this type … one of the key benefits of STATISTICA is the wonderful graphical outputs that can be produced … with an incredible range of smoothing and fitting options … [the documentation] is very impressive … this is an excellent product and provides an amazing range of features and customization with stunning graphics."
STATISTICA rated #1 again in a comprehensive comparative review; BYTE (September 1998, Spanish edition)
 "The winner, STATISTICA stands out for its excellent interface and powerful functionality. (…) It is a perfect product, allowing the users to perform their analyses efficiently and to well present the results. STATISTICA offers all the analyses that are offered by the products that received the lower ratings but it allows you to perform these analyses more efficiently, and also its results are more reliable. (…) Of all the programs analyzed in this comparison, STATISTICA was the only program that can serve as a benchmark of accuracy (precision) of calculations. (…) Not only does STATISTICA offer all those advantages, but it is also less expensive than some other compared programs."
Highest marks for STATISTICA Neural Networks in a technical review in In-Psych (in press, October 1998) by Dr David Gunaratnam, University of Sydney  Dr David Gunaratnam (a professor at the University of Sydney, a renown expert in neural networks technology, and a teacher of neural networks courses) has published a technical review of STATISTICA Neural Networks in In-Psych magazine, a publication of the Australian Psychological Society. Practically all aspects of the program have received very high marks, including the comprehensiveness of the application, the quality and efficiency of its user interface (and the "ease of use"), as well as the accompanying documentation and the integration of the program with other applications:
"The information in the manual is well organized and presented clearly and succinctly. The Introductory Overview section provides an excellent entry point for newcomers wishing to explore the usefulness of neural networks in their own application areas. (…)
User interface is possibly one of the best features of the program. The toolbar and the associated buttons have been effectively used to partition the program into layers, allowing the users to readily access the networks that are commonly used and with the most application potential. The buttons performing similar or associated functions have been clustered together and arranged in a logical sequence, reflecting the different stages in neural network modeling. (…) The tasks of creating, training and testing networks have been made extremely simple and involve the user making selections from a series of fixed (dialog) and resizable windows using micro-scrolls, buttons and check boxes. There are a number of resizable graphics windows for checking network architecture, for monitoring network performance during training, and for visualization of the results. (…)
All the activities associated with creating a neural network model for a particular application has been streamlined and organized so that they can be carried out effortlessly. (…) The information requested or stored in the different dialogs and windows is also organized in a logical manner, and users should have no difficulty in finding the required information about a network, once the organizational structure is understood. Though the program is packed with a number of features, options and refinements, the concise and reasonably flat representation used allows one to access even the most advanced features without having to delve too deeply into the program. (…)
Conclusions: STATISTICA Neural Networks is an exceptionally well designed program with a user-friendly interface and includes a number of advanced features that reflect some of the more recent developments in neural network research. It is a state-of-the-art program that is an excellent tool for teaching neural networks, for developing applications in a variety of areas, and for conducting research into neural network applications."
"The 'all and end' of statistics packages? - STATISTICA runs pretty close to being just that" Another glowing review, PC Magazine (September 1998, Australian Edition)  STATISTICA has received another extremely positive evaluation in a major computer magazine. In her comprehensive review of the program, Alison Currie (one of the editors of PC Magazine) writes:
"An enormous choice of procedures, great graphics and a toolbar that walks you through the job at hand -- STATISTICA does it all. The only risk with this statistical package is that the wealth of things you can do with your data might detract you from your main purpose. (…) The graphics in STATISTICA are of such high quality, in fact that they outshine even some of the specialized graphics packages we've seen. (...) The package can perform an enormous range of statistical analyses (…) overall ease of use is astounding. (…) STATISTICA is quite inexpensive in comparison to the other powerful statistics packages, as the user is getting all of the modules in a single system (and not via add-ons that have to be purchased separately). (…) StatSoft markets STATISTICA as the be all and end of statistics packages, it runs pretty close to being just that."
STATISTICA's unparalleled power, speed and capacity… (an Award Statement published by the Editors of Scientific Computing and Automation, July 1998)  In the July issue, the editors of Scientific Computing and Automation published a summary statement about STATISTICA as part of the presentation of the Readers' Choice Awards (where STATISTICA has been voted #1 in the category of statistical software):
"STATISTICA offers unparalleled power, speed and capacity to handle large datasets and designs of practically unlimited size, and unusual comprehensiveness of its procedures. STATISTICA also offers a unique quality of implementation of every operation and a list of unique features. STATISTICA includes also a comprehensive development environment. Its powerful scripting and programming languages (SCL and STATISTICA BASIC) include automation options, hundreds of pre-programmed specialized functions and procedures, and shortcuts (e.g., Wizards) allowing the users to develop even large and advanced custom applications (or integrate STATISTICA with other applications) with a minimum amount of effort."
STATISTICA rated #1 again in a comprehensive comparative review by Nature magazine ![[Reader's Choice Award]](images/nature_logo.gif){kind=logo}
We are pleased to announce that STATISTICA has been rated #1 in yet another
major comparative review and received another glowing evaluation, this time
from Nature - one of the most respected science journals in the world.
The reviewer stated that "Of all the Windows-based graphical packages
surveyed, STATISTICA was the most impressive." In this comprehensive
article, STATISTICA was compared with practically all (16) statistics and
graphics software packages available on the market, including products from
SAS, SPSS, and many other manufacturers.
The reviewer went on to say, "I found that STATISTICA provided the most
impressive array of graphical options. It was obvious that this package was
the best," "...it is very obvious that this is a prototype for where
graphics packages of this information age will be heading." and "...this
was the most well-rounded and powerful Windows package on the market."
The text of the review is available on the Nature magazine web site.
![[table of results]](images/nature.gif)
Nature (published by Macmillan) and SCIENCE (published by AAAS) are the two most widely distributed and highly regarded general science journals in the
world, read by a broad spectrum of scientists in astronomy, natural
sciences, biology, chemistry, physics, and social sciences (for information
on how readers of SCIENCE evaluate STATISTICA, see
the reader survey results given below).
Reader's Choice Award for STATISTICA (top rated statistics package in a reader survey by Scientific Computing and Automation) (July 1998) ![[Reader's Choice Award]](images/sca_rc98.gif)
STATISTICA has received the 1998 Reader's Choice Award and the highest rating in a reader survey conducted by Scientific Computing and Automation (a leading US scientific computing monthly, circulation: 150,000). This is the second award from the SC&A readers in a row (STATISTICA was also rated #1 in 1997). This distinction is particularly rewarding for us since it is based on results of a vote of a large number of users -- data analysts and statisticians who use analytic software for real world applications.
STATISTICA recognized and highly praised in a survey of a random sample of readers conducted by SCIENCE (May 1998)
A survey conducted by SCIENCE (the publication of the American Association for Advancement of Science; circulation: over 150,000) of a randomly selected sample of its readers has provided data on how StatSoft, Inc. is perceived by the community of scientists and administrators of science. This survey reiterizes the results of the 1992 and 1997 surveys
The following are unedited statements about StatSoft, Inc. and its products volunteered anonymously by the respondents. The data for the surveys, sponsored by SCIENCE magazine, were collected by the Harvey Research Organization, Fairport, New York. The following selection of excerpts has been accepted by SCIENCE for use in this material (reprinted by permission of SCIENCE and Harvey Research Organization):
"StatSoft is well known for high quality statistical software. This product [STATISTICA] has been tops against the competition in all comparisons. It has a perfect track record. Not too many products are so dominant."-- Pathologist/Cell Biologist, University "I've heard of StatSoft. They provide a lot of different software. It has a statistical orientation." -- Professor, University "I know the company [StatSoft], they are innovative and forward-moving." -- Professor, University "I have this software package [STATISTICA]. (…) I've been happy with this software." -- Dept. Head, Government "StatSoft is a company that makes statistical software packages for microcomputers. They have been around for a long time. They always get good reviews." -- President, Industry "Their [STATISTICA] ad is a pretty accurate reflection of the things their software can do. If you need more from your statistics software, then you don't have STATISTICA." -- Professor/Immunologist, University "They [StatSoft] have good products that work well." -- Professor of Psychology, University "This [StatSoft] is a well known company that puts out a very large number of software programs." -- Medical Director, Healthcare Services "I know a little bit about StatSoft. This [STATISTICA] is a very powerful program. They've been around and they're well established. They do lots of good stuff." -- Research Associate, Industry "They [StatSoft] have a highly rated product that is effective." -- Research Associate, University "They are an excellent company. This product [STATISTICA] is software for analysis, reports, and graphs for the science community. They supply software to present more professional reports." -- Biochemist, University "I do not use it [STATISTICA] but I know they are quite reputable. We do not do that much in terms of statistical analysis." -- Research associate, University "They [StatSoft] have complete data analysis systems. (…) I have a good image about the company. I am using it [STATISTICA] right now." -- Professor, University "They are expanding the computer world." -- Director of Research and Science Affairs, Industry "It's a very professional company. They [StatSoft] are a successful company with high ratings on their software." -- Research Associate, Industry "I'm familiar with the company [StatSoft]. They sell statistical software." -- Professor of Bioscience, University "They [StatSoft] have a statistical package. I have heard the name of this company. They are probably a very good company. If I were in the market for a new package, I'd look at this one [STATISTICA]." -- Associate Professor of Anatomy, University "They [StatSoft] seem to have very good software." -- Research Associate, University "This [STATISTICA] is good software. It is very comprehensive. You can pretty much do anything you need to do in statistics with this software." -- Vice President, Industry "We use their product [STATISTICA]. It's a fairly sophisticated package. (…) I have a positive image of them [StatSoft]." -- Professor, University "This [STATISTICA] is good statistical software." -- Asst. Professor, University "They [StatSoft] are a company that is providing software for scientists. It's an international company that provides software products aimed towards researcher primarily using statistics. (…) I would love to have it [STATISTICA]. It's a little more updated than what we have currently." -- Research Chemist, VA Hospital "I do not personally use their software [STATISTICA]. I know people that use and like it." -- Geneticist, Government "They [StatSoft] are a company I've heard of before and this is supposed to be very good software that works great." -- Sr. Chemist, University "This is an excellent company [StatSoft]. (…) They are outstanding, creative, and price efficient." -- Professor, University
STATISTICA highly praised in a comprehensive technical review published by "The Netherlands Society for Statistics and Operational Research," in Kwantitatieve Methoden (May 1998) ![[Kwantitatieve Methoden]](images/kwantitatieve.gif)
STATISTICA was evaluated in a comprehensive (10-page) technical review published in "Kwantitatieve Methoden" (May 1998, No 58, pp 128138), a publication of "The Netherlands Society for Statistics and Operational Research." The authors praised practically all aspects of the program, including the selection of statistical methods (especially the procedures for industrial applications), graphics (which as they concluded "can without exaggeration be labeled as astounding"), the overall quality of the user-interface (which is "very user-friendly," "particularly well suited for analyzing data interactively" and which despite the large number of options "works well and fast" and is so easy to use that there is "no need whatsoever to discuss commands in the manual"), the capacity of STATISTICA to process large files ("can read extremely large records (up to 32,000 columns), which can be useful if automated quality control systems 'log' process data"), its comprehensive documentation ("with extensive overviews and examples") and the electronic documentation ("the multimedia show is impressive"), and the variety of programming and system customization and automation options offered in STATISTICA. Finally, the authors note that in published "comparative studies,… time and time again STATISTICA takes the first place."
Top ratings for the comprehensiveness of the STATISTICA Industrial System in the 15th Annual "Quality Software Directory," Quality Progress, April 1998) ![[Quality Progress]](images/quality_progress.gif)
In the 15th Annual "Quality Software Directory" published by Quality Progress (a publication of the American Society for Quality), the comprehensiveness of software solutions for quality control applications was compared in a tabulated list of features. The listing included both consulting firms that offer custom services and the manufacturers of quality control software systems such as StatSoft, Inc. and its competitors. In that table, the support for a particular type of functionality (e.g., Reliability, Sampling, Simulation, Process Control, Survey Techniques, Taguchi Techniques, etc.) was counted as one point.
As shown in the table below, STATISTICA has received a higher number of points than any of its competitors (publishers or manufacturers of statistics software for quality control).
STATISTICA praised in a "glowing" technical review and evaluation in Ergonomics in Design (April 1998) ![[Ergonomics in Design]](images/ergonomics.gif){kind=small}
STATISTICA has received the highest marks in another exceptionally positive review. In a comprehensive, technical evaluation of the program, two reviewers of Ergonomics in Design have high praise for practically all areas of the functionality of the STATISTICA system, including the comprehensiveness and sophistication of the computational procedures, graphics, data management, documentation, multimedia overviews, and the overall user-friendliness and efficiency of the application:
"STATISTICA includes a number of special features that are impressive (....) the size of supported analyses/designs that can be processed is larger than most other comparable software packages. (....) STATISTICA has outstanding graphing options (....) we were most impressed with the level of integration between numerical results and graphics (....) there are literally hundreds of specialized statistical graphs to display your results, and thousands of integrated graphics options (....) Learning to use STATISTICA was equally easy (....) You can obtain the basic output from each module with just a few mouse clicks or keystrokes. Consulting the manuals or even the context-sensitive electronic manual was not usually necessary (....) Now to the bottom line. Does it do what it claims to do? The answer is an unqualified "YES." (....) The price for STATISTICA is reasonable (…) STATISTICA will most certainly do more than you will ever have a use for, but it's comforting to find a single package that includes procedures that gives you what you're looking for. "
The Italian version of STATISTICA praised in a 3-page technical review in PC Professionale (March 1998) ![[PC Professionale]](images/pcprof.gif)
In a recent review in PC Professionale (a leading Italian computer magazine), the Italian version of STATISTICA for Windows was praised by the author, Antonio Cianci. Cianci praises the power and the refinement of STATISTICA, saying "the selection of functionalities and methods of analysis are broad, and they allow the user to perform practically every kind of statistical analysis on the data. (...) the number of choices is very impressive," and that "... for a 'normal' user the majority of the necessary instruments are still available in the Statistiche di Base (Basic Statistics) module..." [which contains only about 2% of the statistical procedures offered in the STATISTICA system]. About STATISTICA's documentation he says, "The software is accompanied by a (either electronic or paper) documentation which is extremely high quality."
In short: "STATISTICA for Windows is a high level professional product, well-suited for professional users. The new Italian version allows users to work with extremely large amounts of data. The selection of functionalities and methods of analysis are broad, and they allow they user to perform practically every kind of statistical analysis on the data."
Reader's Choice Award for STATISTICA (top rated statistics package in a reader survey by Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities) (1998 Bonus Issue)
STATISTICA has received the Reader's Choice Award and the highest rating (among statistics software packages, tied with SAS and SPSS) in a reader survey conducted by Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities. (Note that the readers of the Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities magazine know STATISTICA–unlike many of its competitors–only from other sources than that specific publication since StatSoft products have never been advertised in that publication.)
STATISTICA called "a remarkable program (…) unlike anything currently on the market" in an extremely positive review in BIOTECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE (November/December 1997) STATISTICA has received another glowing review. A comprehensive (4.5 pages long) evaluation article on STATISTICA has just been published in BIOTECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE AND INTERNET JOURNAL. The authors praise the statistical comprehensiveness of the program ("To do full justice to the statistical capabilities of this remarkable program would take far too many pages. Merely to list an adequate sampling of its hundreds of tests, routines, and diagnostics would fill a review." (p. 12)), its graphics ("A full description of all graphics capabilities would fill several articles." (p. 13)), data management ("a remarkable spreadsheet" (p. 12)), customizability ("almost every aspect of the program is customizable" (p. 10)), user-interface ("an array of instant analyses or graphics can be performed with a few clicks," "custom applications are available with the click of an icon" (p. 12)), and documentation ("...outstanding introductions to the basics" (p. 11)). In summary, "This program (...combining the power of sophisticated systems with the ease of push button operations) is unlike anything currently on the market" (p. 10).
STATISTICA Industrial System called "The Program That Can" in an extremely positive review in Quality Digest (December 1997)
STATISTICA Industrial System has received another glowing review. An article, entitled "The Program That Can: STATISTICA Pleases Professionals" evaluates virtually all aspects of the program in the most positive terms. "Each module offers a group of conceptually related tools and techniques; the intelligent overlap between these provides one of the most flexible user-control systems in this market." "An excellent spreadsheet, immediately familiar to Excel users, faithfully follows general Windows conventions." "Data management is intuitive and specialist extensions are smooth and logical." "STATISTICA permits an unusually complete degree of customizing." "Two languages, STATISTICA BASIC and STATISTICA Command Language provide elegant solutions for custom applications." "Basic Statistics offers a capability level above that offered by some complete packages." "As with all sections, the (QC) tools are solid, well designed, reliable, and comprehensive." "The program's capabilities are too extensive to detail in a short review." (pp. 38-39).
The highest number of points in the Buyer's Guide rating of over 100 Statistical Quality Control Software packages published by Quality Digest (December 1997)
In the recent edition of the Buyer's Guide published by Quality Digest (December, 1997), practically all Statistical Quality Control Software packages currently available on the market (over 100 products) were rated on 37 (0/1) dimensions (each worth 1 point), divided into three categories:
STATISTICA called "an ingenious program; it is hard to imagine anything better" in a glowing review in ENTER (June 1997) ![[ENTER]](images/enter.jpg)
In a recent comprehensive technical review and evaluation of the STATISTICA system, the editors of ENTER (a leading Polish computer magazine) stated that the program is a clear "technology leader that has left the competition far behind." STATISTICA is praised for it comprehensiveness, advanced analytic procedures, intelligent and efficient user-interface, and "practically unlimited customizability and expandability." It is also described as "super-fast and its graphical capabilities are awesome." The authors praise the ease of use of the program which "allows to complete all basic operations with just a few clicks of the mouse." In conclusion, "it is hard to imagine anything better. This program is simply ingenious."Editors' Summary: Pros: Ease of use, responsiveness/speed, unlimited possibilities. Cons: Could not find any.
STATISTICA rated #1 in a reader survey, Computing and Technology (June 1997) In a survey conducted recently by the Editor of the Computing and Technology section of the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of Australia, the readers were asked to select the statistics data analysis package of their choice: A brief survey of preferred packages. STATISTICA was rated number one, and as the Editor mentioned: "...notably STATISTICA was acclaimed without reservation by all that used it." The results are reported in the June issue of the journal (pages 108-109).
"STATISTICA '97 edition is a massive and impressive toolset that redefines the role of statistics software" -- a glowing review in Scientific Computing World (June 1997) ![[SCW Logo]](images/scw.jpg)
STATISTICA was evaluated by Scientific Computing World (a leading European scientific computing monthly), and the
result is one of the most positive reviews ever published in that magazine. Practically all aspects of STATISTICA have
been highly praised, including the power and comprehensiveness of the statistical procedures, graphics, user-interface, and the
programmability and expandability of the system. The evaluation is based on the work of a group of reviewers who adopted a
real-life testing approach and set up various configurations of the STATISTICA system to complete a number of real data
analyses. They concluded that STATISTICA is "unique in the extent to which it eschews compromises"
between the comprehensiveness and the ease of use. Also, the reviewers rated very highly "the flexible and effective
STATISTICA environment, " its "excellent spreadsheet," the power of
statistical procedures, where the "Basic Statistics" module alone "offers a level of capability
that is in itself above that offered by some complete packages," as well as graphics and drawing which
"will tempt some users to abandon free-standing applications."
As the reviewers summarize "Whether numeric or graphic in mode, analysis is thorough, broad, transparent, beautifully flexible and always under a total control of the user. Handling is by a combination of intelligent, self-prompting dialogues (...) logical and intuitive." "Most statistical software ... are ... serving as a specialist component on a desktop built from standard applications. STATISTICA is likely to reverse this, for those teams that can use it to the full, becoming the central core around which the mainstream desktop reorganizes itself. The review group found that by the end of one project, that spreadsheet and database had been reduced to buffers between STATISTICA equivalents and other desktops. Graphics packages became redundant for project related work, with output going directly to word processor, presentation software or DTP. STATISTICA '97 edition is a massive and impressive toolset that redefines software relationships within a statistics-oriented environment." (pp. 37-38).
To the best of our knowledge this is one of the most positive reviews ever published in Scientific Computing World and clearly the most positive review of a statistics software package that has ever appeared in that publication.
STATISTICA highly praised in a major review in CHIP (one of the top German professional computer magazines) (June 1997) STATISTICA has received highest marks in a major review published in CHIP (one of the top German professional computer magazines); the editors praised all aspects of the program including the "unusual comprehensiveness" of the statistical procedures, "impressive selection of graphs," programmability and task automation facilities (e.g., macros), and the "intuitive user interface." Also, it was mentioned that unlike SPSS that offers only the Base module in the German language version, the complete STATISTICA application is available in German (including all specialized modules and the documentation).
SPSS 7.5 compared to STATISTICA in the Dutch edition of PC Magazine (May 1997) ![[PC Magazine]](images/pcmag.gif)
The recently released version of SPSS (7.5) has just been reviewed in the Dutch edition of PC Magazine (May, 1997) in comparison to STATISTICA. The reviewer discussed a number of weaknesses of the new SPSS product (many of which correspond to the functionality and technology weaknesses mentioned in our critical evaluations of the competing products), and concluded that SPSS 7.5 is "far behind" and "old fashioned: cannot compete with STATISTICA." (...) "Will they ever be able to catch up?" (page 101).
STATISTICA recognized and highly praised in a survey of a random sample of readers conducted by SCIENCE (May 1997)
A survey conducted by SCIENCE (the publication of the American Association for Advancement of Science; circulation: over 150,000) in 1992 and replicated in 1997 of a randomly selected sample of its readers has provided data on how StatSoft, Inc. is perceived by the community of scientists and administrators of science.
The following are unedited statements about StatSoft, Inc. and its products volunteered anonymously by the respondents. The data for the surveys, sponsored by SCIENCE magazine, were collected by the Harvey Research Organization, Fairport, New York. The following selection of excerpts has been accepted by SCIENCE for use in this material (reprinted by permission of SCIENCE and Harvey Research Organization):
"StatSoft is a standard in their field. They are leaders."
-- Professor, University "This company [StatSoft] has a great line of statistical software. We do use a lot of their products." -- Research Associate, University "They [StatSoft] appear to offer excellent software programs." -- Physician, Hospital "They [StatSoft] offer a wide range of excellent programs. StatSoft is a good company. I use some of their statistical software programs at work, and feel they are very good." -- Chemist, Pharmaceuticals Mfr. "I hear they [StatSoft] offer a tremendous variety, but I've never looked into it. From what I hear, their products are top quality and reliable." -- Administrator, Research Institute "This is a good company. They are selling good, quality, premier products. They are a nice company to deal with." -- Sr. Scientist, Health Care Services "I know this company. They seem to have user-friendly products." -- Professor, University "They're a company that has a good statistical software package for scientists (...) they have an interesting product." -- Associate Professor, University "This company has been around for a while and has built itself into a major supplier of statistical and graphics software for research labs. They are rated very highly for product performance. They are a very professional company, and their graphics all come out looking professional. They are also known for accuracy and reliability." -- Research Scientist, Industry "Their software is rated higher in all comparative reviews of statistics software. It [STATISTICA] is number one." -- Associate Professor, Education "StatSoft is recognized for their expertise in statistical software. They have received the highest rating in every comparative review of statistical software in which it [STATISTICA] was featured." -- Professor of Biology, University "StatSoft has a statistics software program [STATISTICA] that we use, and it is a great product. We use it for our data analysis and it works very well for us." -- Assistant Professor, University "I now use STATISTICA but I did not until recently (did not have appropriate hardware). This works very well for me. StatSoft is a reputable company." -- Professor, University "I know the company, and have experienced the results of this program. STATISTICA provides many features pertaining to charts, presentations, control, graphics, etc. It's compatible with all the major protocols, is effective, and priced right." -- Health Educator, Industry "I have heard a lot of good reports about it. It has received the highest rating for statistics software." -- Assistant Professor, University "I'm familiar with StatSoft. I have heard a lot about STATISTICA in positive terms from other people who have come to us. I understand that STATISTICA is user-friendly, especially for non-computer buffs." -- Microbiologist, Industry "They [StatSoft] are top quality and there is a wide variety for you to choose from. They are rated very highly for their quality." -- Research Assistant, University "They [StatSoft] offer you the software you need to add life to your statistics. You can make all kinds of graphs and charts that are professional looking as well as being accurate and reliable." -- Research Assistant, University "I have heard of this but haven't personally used it." -- Research Assistant, University "We have a site license for it [STATISTICA], so it's widely used here. I use this product and it's worked pretty well for me. It has met my needs. It does not have a real steep learning curve that some other statistics packages have. This [STATISTICA] is more interactive oriented and most experimenters want interactive oriented software rather than batch oriented programs. I have found that this [STATISTICA] is fun to play with." -- Chief of Biomathematics, Research Center
Top ratings for STATISTICA in PC Magazin (March 1997) In a comprehensive technical review published in PC Magazin (a leading German computer magazine), STATISTICA was highly praised for its statistical prowess and comprehensiveness that did not sacrifice the ease of use of the program. Practically all aspects of STATISTICA mentioned in the evaluation received the highest marks. In summary, the editors stated that " STATISTICA has enormous capabilities concerning statistical and graphical functions, without devaluing this capability with complicated user interface. Just the opposite: The program surprises by offering its users a short learning curve and great flexibility. The intuitive user interface, comprehensive help, clear results tables, multiple graphical displays, and comfortable text and graphics displays make this an attractive and complete solution for Industry and Science. " (page 141).
Reader's Choice Award for STATISTICA (top rated statistics package in a reader survey by Scientific Computing and Automation) (March 1997) ![[Scientific Computing Logo]](images/scient.gif)
STATISTICA has received the Reader's Choice Award and the highest rating in
a reader survey conducted by Scientific Computing and Automation (a leading
US scientific computing monthly). STATISTICA was trailed by SAS (second place) and SPSS (third place). (Note that the readers of Scientific Computing and Automation know STATISTICA only from other sources than that
specific magazine because StatSoft products have not been advertised in that publication since 1993.)
Top (three-star) ratings for STATISTICA in the Spanish edition of BYTE (February 1997) ![[Byte logo]](images/byte.gif)
In a recent technical review and evaluation of the STATISTICA system, the BYTE reviewer gave his highest marks to the "completeness and statistical comprehensiveness" of STATISTICA, to its "ability to analyze even large datasets" and the excellent graphics "with impeccable presentation and editing options" "leaving behind even programs that specialize in statistical graphics, like Statgraphics." The author was impressed with the Electronic Manual and refers to it as a "true encyclopedia of statistics." He recommends STATISTICA for both statisticians and "industrial and commercial users." On a four-point scale (*** - Excellent, ** - Good, * - Average, o - Deficient), STATISTICA received the highest (three-star) rating on the dimensions of "Statistical Content" [comprehensiveness], "Calculation Potential" [speed and the ability to handle large datasets], and "Graphics."
Top ratings for STATISTICA in Statistical Papers (January 1997) The January, 1997 issue of Statistical Papers / Statistische Hefte (a scientific journal published in English and in German by the German statistical association) includes an article by U. Bankhofer and A. Hilbert reporting an analytic comparative study of computer statistics packages. Multidimensional scaling has been used to summarize data from 369 evaluative dimensions on which the packages were rated and tested (reduced to 67 variables). The final solution identified 4 dimensions: (1) numerical accuracy, (2) comprehensiveness (i.e., variety of statistical procedures), (3) quality of graphics, and (4) price. The following graph, reproduced from the article, summarizes the MDS results (the red highlight of STATISTICA has been added): 
As shown in the graph, STATISTICA has received the highest score on the composite dimensions of numerical accuracy, comprehensiveness, and quality of graphics (compared to SPSS, S-Plus, Systat, Unistat, Statgraphics, Winstat, and Sigmastat).
Reader's Choice Award for STATISTICA (top rated statistics package in a reader survey by Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities) (1997 Bonus Issue)
STATISTICA has received the Reader's Choice Award and the highest rating (among statistics software packages) in a reader survey conducted by Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities. STATISTICA was trailed by SPSS, Systat, Minitab, and S-Plus. (Note that the readers of Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities know STATISTICA only from other sources than that
specific magazine since StatSoft products have never been advertised in that publication.)
Nonlinear Regression in STATISTICA recommended after a comparison with other programs in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology (1997, 24, 197-203) In a recent article entitled "Comparing Methods of Measurement" (Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 1997, 24, 197-203), Dr. John Ludbrook has compared the nonlinear estimation procedures, and in particular the precision of estimation of parameters, their standard errors and confidence intervals in three Windows statistics software packages: SPSS, Systat, and STATISTICA. In the benchmarks, all three packages produced correct values of the regression coefficients but only STATISTICA produced correct standard errors and confidence intervals and was recommended to be used for this type of analysis.
The highest number of points in the Buyer's Guide rating of 48 Math and Statistics Software packages published by Scientific Computing and Automation (December 1996) In the recent edition of the Buyer's Guide published by Scientific Computing and Automation (December, 1996), 48 Math and Statistics Software packages were rated on 26 (0/1) dimensions (each worth 1 point). Some of these dimensions represent support for specific types of analyses (e.g., Experimental Design, Process Analysis, Quality Control), others are evaluative (e.g., Precision/Accuracy, Speed, Variety of Tests). STATISTICA has received the highest total number of points (23) of all 48 compared programs (the total for the closest competitor is 17). STATISTICA rated #1 in a comparative rating of statistics software published in DESKTOP ENGINEERING (November 1996) 
In a review published by DESKTOP ENGINEERING, statistics packages from practically all statistics software companies were rated on 10 evaluative, 4-point dimensions (0=minimum, 3=maximum).
Below is a summary of the results:
STATISTICA called "the hands-down winner" in the American Association for Quality Control (ASQC) 1996 catalog of QC software and books The 1996 catalog of software and books for quality control engineers, published by the American Association for Quality Control (ASQC) recommended STATISTICA as: "the hands-down winner of competitive comparisons conducted by independent firms." (page 71). STATISTICA wins in a major comparative review in C'T Magazin (a German equivalent of BYTE) (March 1996) The article in C'T Magazin (March, 96) is a biannual analytic comparative review, featuring speed and precision benchmarks and detailed analyses of the functionality of all Windows statistics software available on the market. The current versions of: SigmaStat, release 2.0 SPSS, release 6.03 S-Plus, release 3.3 Statgraphics Plus, release 2.0 STATISTICA, release 5.0 Systat, release 5.05 were compared. STATISTICA/w received the highest overall rating (+10) and the editors concluded that STATISTICA 5.0: "impresses with its wide range of available statistical procedures which in some areas (e.g., Design of Experiments) leaves the other programs [competition] far behind. (...) The graphics options are also unique. Of all programs compared [in the review] STATISTICA offers the greatest flexibility and customizability of graphs." (page 262). STATISTICA rated #1 at a meeting of the Dutch Statistical Association (February 1996) At a meeting of the Statistical Software Division of the Dutch Statistical Association (VVS) devoted to the evaluation of new Windows statistics software (February 7, 1996), five packages were rated on 30 dimensions (a positive rating on each dimension was worth 1 point). The data for the comparison were collected by an independent member of the Association and they were based largely on information provided by the manufacturers and distributors of the respective packages. Below is a summary of the results: ![[Table of Results]](images/dutch.gif)
STATISTICA has received the highest overall rating (29).
The highest rating of STATISTICA in PC INTERN (A leading German computer magazine) section: Software Reviews (January 1996) A detailed technical review of STATISTICA has been recently published by PC INTERN (a leading German computer magazine). STATISTICA received the highest rating (Bevertung: SEHR GUT), and the reviewer concluded: "STATISTICA is a mature, comprehensive tool for statistical data analysis. Both in terms of its overall functionality and the ergonomic (user-interface) aspects, STATISTICA simply does not leave anything to be desired. Also, the graphical facilities of the program are of a very high quality. Moreover, the program can be used even by novices." (page 87)
InfoWORLD (October 30, 1995) Review of STATISTICA 5.0: Sophisticated STATISTICA is a slick jack-of-all-trades Wealth of features easy to access By Alan J. Fridlund 
StatSoft, Inc.'s STATISTICA/w, Release 5.0 is a head-turner.
It's a statistical package so chock full of statistical analyses,
graphs, and helpful features that it's bewildering to behold.
STATISTICA is almost too much to grasp, but the ample
written manuals, plus the on-screen manual and help facility,
eased my trepidation a bit.
STATISTICA features exploratory techniques such as distribution
fitting and normality tests, along with a range of box plots with
plot "brushing" that allows point-and-click isolation
of outlying cases. STATISTICA builds upon these with an
awesome array of both simple and sophisticated analyses. These
include basic parametric and nonparametric tests; experimental
designs; univariate and multivariate analysis of variance and
covariance; multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis; cross-tabulation,
multiple response analysis, and log-linear analysis; factor and
discriminant analysis, and canonical correlation; survival analysis;
structural equation modeling and path analysis; quality control
charts; Monte-Carlo simulations; and a full compliment of time
series statistics that includes ARIMA forecasting models, seasonal
decomposition, and both auto- and cross-spectral analyses.
For each of these techniques, you can see your data and results
graphically using STATISTICA's formidable charting toolbox.
There are hundreds of two-dimensional and 3-D business, statistical,
and icon (symbolic) graphs. Group and subset graphs are easily
constructed. Three-dimensional graphs can be rotated, overlaid,
compressed, and zoomed in on. Drawing and text entry facilities
let you embellish your graphs ad infinitum. An innovative animated
brushing technique lets you see which data points are affected
by changes in a variable. And if you don't like STATISTICA's
options, you can use style sheets to build your own graphic type.
STATISTICA's customizability is another hallmark. You can
record macros that let you automate sets of commands. There's
also an internal command language for creating custom analyses
of graphs. Finally, there's an internal version of Basic for creating
turnkey applications with custom dialog boxes, data input, analyses,
and graphs. The language lets you call external Windows DLLs for
specialized processing.
All this razzle dazzle would be for naught if it were hard
to accomplish, but I found just the opposite. All of STATISTICA's
functions were easily accessible from pop-up dialog boxes, with
each numeric and graphical result displayed in a separate window.
Data can be imported from and exported to the usual spreadsheet
and database formats, as well as the formats of STATISTICA's
competitors. Your data, results, and graphs can all be intermixed
by cutting and pasting within Windows, and then stored or printed.
An integral word processor lets you create and edit annotations.
Further, STATISTICA supports DDE and acts as both an OLE
client and server, letting you take direct advantage of other
Windows applications.
![[The Bottom Line]](images/bl.gif)
STATISTICA/w, Release 5.0
Jammed with features, STATISTICA has the earmarks of a breakthrough
package.
STATISTICA called "the king of data visualization tools" inPC Graphics & Video (Product Comparison) (August 1995) In a comparative review of analytic graphics programs and statistics packages featuring graphics options, nine Windows applications were compared: Harvard ChartXL, release 1.0 Systat, release 5.0 Stanford Graphics, release 3.0 Minitab, release 10 SigmaPlot, release 2.0 STATISTICA, release 4.5 Statgraphics, release 1.0 Mathematica, release 2.2 TableCurve 3D, release 1.0 STATISTICA was selected as the clear winner in the category of high-end programs; the reviewer concluded: "Pure and simple, StatSoft's STATISTICA 4.5 is the king of data visualization tools. With literally hundreds of available plots and an awesome interface, STATISTICA sets the high-end standard. Its drawing tools, page-layout controls, rotation and perspective dialogs, and a myriad of other options enable total control over literally every aspect of the analysis, plotting, and output processes. I found the unique 3D animated cross-section plots particularly useful for presenting and explaining trend data. STATISTICA integrates well with other applications and it supports DDE and OLE as a client and server. While its analysis and plotting capabilities are unmatched, STATISTICA also provides a textbook example of interactivity under Windows. For example, the right mouse button invokes pop-up menus and provides context-based shortcuts. As you work, the toolbar continually changes to reflect the most logical set of options for current or pending tasks. (...) Outstanding integration between the numeric and plotting functions enables easy interactive experimentation with different plot types and configurations. Despite all the bells and whistles, STATISTICA still offers snappy response. STATISTICA 4.5 stands out as a highly interactive solution that offers all the power most users will ever need." (page 41).
The highest rating of STATISTICA in the University of Augsburg study (Report 124/1995, August 1995) ![[University of Augsburg]](images/augsburg.gif)
The Statistics Department of the University of Augsburg
(Germany) has just published results of a collaborative research
project (authored by A. Hilbert, U. Bankhofer, B. Elsholz, and
U. Niederocker) designed to evaluate and compare the quality of
statistical algorithms, accuracy, and computational precision
of statistics packages available on the market.
This 62 pages long technical report (reprints are available from
the University) contains detailed analyses of the performance
and characteristics of the evaluated programs based on dozens
of specific tests conducted by the four statisticians. The results
of all of these tests were converted into scores on 67 evaluative
dimensions which, in turn, were reduced to final quantitative
indices on nine summary dimensions. The following table (based
on the Final Summary table, B.2, page 53 of the report) reports
the overall sums of points received by each of the compared programs.
![[Table of Results]](images/revgraph.gif)
As is evident in the summary table, STATISTICA has received
the highest overall rating (79.26).
STATISTICA highly praised in PC REGISTER (Volume 12, No. 7; July 1995) In his review of STATISTICA, Spence Meyers concluded: "STATISTICA is a powerful program (...) The Windows interface is extremely user-friendly. All graphs are infinitely adjustable with only a single mouse click. (...) All of this is fine, but what does it do? Well, almost everything. Windows Magazine labeled it a 'best buy' in its November 1994 issue. This is for good reason: STATISTICA offers one of the most comprehensive lists of analyses available to a Windows program. This analysis power as well as great database power comes with a very small amount of learning. For statistics affectionados this program will barely be anything to learn at all. A novice, I found myself going to work right away. At first, I played around with the graphics capabilities of STATISTICA, but soon I was performing many small statistical analysis tasks with little or no aggravation. This program really does everything I could imagine." (pages 1, 3, and 8).
STATISTICA wins in a PC WORLD comparative review (Swedish Edition, June 1995) 
In a comprehensive, comparative review, six statistical data analysis
programs were benchmarked and evaluated:Minitab, release 10 SPSS, release 6.1 SAS, release 6.1 STATISTICA, release 4.5 Siss, release 2.0 Systat, release 5.04 The editors selected STATISTICA as the clear winner of the comparison: "The winner of this comparison is STATISTICA, the program which is the easiest to work with, but still very powerful and features advanced and fully automated graphics. Also, STATISTICA's integration with Windows is the best (of the compared programs)." (page 51).
STATISTICA highly praised in SoftWare Magazine's Software Reviews (April 1995) The April '95 issue of Software Magazine (a leading Australian computer magazine) is devoted to statistical software, and includes a number of interviews with users of statistical software applications. STATISTICA was mentioned and praised more than any other software package (in practically all articles), and all comparative statements made by the users (in several articles) were always in favor of STATISTICA. For example: Robert Hermann, a region director in the Australian Department of School Education, stated: "Comparisons were made between a number of packages then on the market. Following the assessment, CSS: STATISTICA (DOS version) was chosen. Subsequently, the Office has upgraded to STATISTICA for Windows. Our main concern in selecting software was that it had to be simple to use, yet powerful enough for our applications. STATISTICA satisfied these both criteria." (page 35). Dr. George Srzednicki, at the Department of Food Science and Technology (University of South Wales), stated: "We chose STATISTICA because it can handle the statistical analyses in all areas in which we work. It meets our needs and unlike some other packages, it is very friendly and easy to use. It is a great tool for getting quick results with good import and export facilities and excellent graphical output." (page 36). Dr. John Murphy, Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics in the Mathematics Department (Monash University): "Murphy chose STATISTICA for its ease of use and integrated time series analysis to reconstruct climatic events [in his research on dendrochronology, solar cycle activity and climate reconstruction, including events such as El Nino]. (...) Murphy: 'STATISTICA is very powerful and comprehensive in statistical procedures it offers. Importing data is easy and, importantly, the graphics are excellent.'" (page 41). Dr. Keith A. McGuinness, a Senior Lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences (Northern Territory University), stated: "I chose STATISTICA because of its power, ease of use, graphics capabilities, and because of its thorough integration with the Windows environment. My larger experiments produce thousands of observations and are designed for complex, mixed-model analyses of variance. STATISTICA handles these with ease. Equally important, it makes it easy to inspect the data prior to analysis, for errors, outliers and fit to various assumptions required. Since purchasing STATISTICA, I have uncovered errors in datasets, or other problems which I would not have found with the software I previously had. (...) Overall, I am extremely happy with this application. I continue to be impressed by the care which has clearly been dedicated to making the software both easy and intuitive to use. It works for me rather than the other way around." (page 40).
STATISTICA praised in TEST & MEASUREMENT WORLD (April 1995) In the Product Survey: Data Analysis Software, the editor of TEST & MEASUREMENT WORLD concluded: "If your professional life revolves around statistical analysis, STATISTICA/w is probably the most extensive software package you could hope to have" (TEST & MEASUREMENT WORLD, 4/1995; page 66).
"Four stars" for STATISTICA in MacWORLD (March, 1995) STATISTICA for the Macintosh received the "four star rating". (Note: The version of STATISTICA for the Macintosh (the latest release 4.1) is a STATISTICA/w-compatible package that features most of the functionality of the Windows version.)
"Top 100 Software Products" award (February 1995) ![[Image of Top 100 Award]](images/win.gif)
STATISTICA was elected to the prestigious "Top
100 Software Products" list (WINDOWS Magazine,
2/1995; the list includes software products in all categories).
"Easily the best statistics program I have ever used": SOFTWARE REVIEWS: BLOOD COAGULATION & FIBRINOLYSIS (Vol. 6, 1995) In a review of STATISTICA, Dr. John L. Francis (a reviewer of statistics and graphics software) concluded: "It is easily the best statistics program I have ever used (I have tried a lot) and the huge array of seamlessly integrated graphics options make it likely that you will not need separate software for scientific graphics. It seems expensive compared to some other products, but the sheer range of facilities, the quality of its graphics output and the fact that it could well replace two or three other programs, actually make it a good value. For this reviewer, STATISTICA/w is now the standard by which all other statistics programs should be compared. The manufacturers offer a money back guarantee; I doubt that they have ever had to make a refund." (page 146).
STATISTICA wins in a major comparative review in WINDOWS Magazine (November 1994) ![[Windows Magazine]](images/windows.gif){kind=small}
In a comparative review of Windows statistics packages, STATISTICA
received the highest overall rating.![[Table of Results]](images/graph3.gif)
The reviewer stated that:
"STATISTICA/w is one of those rare programs that achieves
a balance between power and ease of use. Because it also has good
graphics and a broad suite of analytic techniques, the package
is indeed unique." (page 315).
STATISTICA wins in a major comparative review in MacWELT (the German edition of MacWORLD) (October 1994) In a comparative review of all Macintosh statistics packages currently available on the market, STATISTICA for the Macintosh received an extremely positive evaluation and the highest overall rating (4.5 mice). ![[Table of Results]](images/graph2.gif)
(Note: The version of STATISTICA for the Macintosh (the
latest release 4.1) is a STATISTICA/w-compatible package
that features most of the functionality of the Windows version.)
STATISTICA wins in a comparative review in GOVERNMENT COMPUTER NEWS, Technology Report (September 1994) In the conclusion of his comparative review of STATISTICA, SPSS, and Systat, John McCormick wrote: "Who's who. Which of the three should you choose? STATISTICA/w has the best graphics and is good for non-programmers and for general analysis by either beginners or professional statisticians. Unless you work at a non-Windows PC, STATISTICA/w probably is your best all-around choice, ..." (page 36).
STATISTICA wins in a major comparative review in MONITOR MAGAZINE (Software Reviews) (September 1994) In a comprehensive, comparative review, eight statistical data analysis programs were benchmarked and evaluated: BMDP, release 7.0 SPSS for Windows, release 6.01 Genstat 5, release 2.2 Statgraphics Plus, release 7.01 Minitab for Windows, release 9.2 STATISTICA, release 4.5 SAS for Windows, release 6.08 Systat, release 5.04 The editors selected STATISTICA as the winner of the comparison, and concluded: "Eight statistical software packages were reviewed. Computational power, graphics, user-friendliness and quality of documentation were compared. STATISTICA is recommended as the best statistical software for most users, from students to scientists. Its selection of statistical analysis procedures and graphs is impressive. It is a full-featured statistical package, well integrated with the Windows environment, it supports DDE, OLE, right-mouse button, and TT-fonts; it is not very resource-demanding and it is suitable also for those who do not have top of the line PCs. (...) it is the most user-friendly of all reviewed packages and it also has the best graphics. (...) STATISTICA is also the least expensive software (among the most powerful ones) because the user is getting all of the modules in a single system [and not via add-ons that have to be purchased separately]." (page 81)
STATISTICA highly praised in PC PROFESSIONAL (A leading Italian PC magazine; July/August 1994) In his review of STATISTICA/w, Antonio Cianci concluded: "STATISTICA/w implements a system of numerical optimizations and optimizations of graphics redraws that make the program incredibly fast. The package is well integrated with Windows and it is fairly easy to use. (...) The speed, the good integration, the excellent graphics make STATISTICA/w a necessary tool for anyone who does statistical data analysis." (page 89).
STATISTICA highly praised in WINDOWS Magazine (Dutch Edition, July/August 1994) In his review of STATISTICA/w, Eric Melse concluded: "Statistics packages are not a kind of software that people automatically install on their computers, however, the new release of STATISTICA/w makes this option quite attractive. (...) The authors of STATISTICA have really done everything imaginable to lead the user to the desired results as fast as possible. (...) The selection of options is amazingly extensive and yet the user never gets lost. (...) The program responds in a 'split-second,' and its large selection of graphics facilities offer countless analytic and presentation options. (...) If one takes into account the sheer range of applications offered by STATISTICA, then one can only conclude that the user gets enormous value for the money." (page 26)
STATISTICA called "a software engineering superstar" in a glowing review in INSIGHT (May 1994) In his review of STATISTICA/w, Harvey Kaye (the author of Decision Power), concluded: "STATISTICA has the best user interface I have ever seen in a program. It will not teach you statistics, but it graciously guides you through your analysis. The design of the program is remarkable in that it uses icons and single click procedures to get almost everything done. If you omit a variable or required parameter, the program informs you of what it needs to complete the analysis. Five other high-end statistics programs on the market all claim to be the best. Only STATISTICA dares to compare. They [StatSoft] give you actual performance comparisons and explain the limitations of each competitor's program (StatSoft will send you a copy of this shoot-out comparison for the asking; Call (918) 583-4149). After trying STATISTICA for myself, I can see why they are so confident. This program is a software engineering superstar. I give STATISTICA for Windows my highest recommendation."
STATISTICA highly praised in ENTER (May 1994) The authors of a comprehensive review of STATISTICA in ENTER (a leading Polish computer magazine) concluded: "There are two main factors that determine the overall quality of a statistics package: the ease of use (intuitiveness, responsiveness, customizability) and the power/functionality (the number of supported procedures, speed, and capacity). Looking at the selection of statistics packages currently available on the market, it appears that these two factors are "contradictory." However, STATISTICA/w is an exception to that rule. (...) In summary, STATISTICA offers a wealth of statistical, graphics, and database management procedures. It is highly customizable (the user can configure it according to his/her individual preferences). Also, its speed, good integration with the Windows environment, and its open architecture (the user can add custom procedures to the application) make STATISTICA/w one of the top (if not the very best) software product in its class." (pages 25-27).
STATISTICA wins in a major comparative review in C'T Magazin (a German equivalent of BYTE) (March 1994) The article in C'T Magazin (3/94) is an analytic comparative review, featuring speed and precision benchmarks and detailed analyses of the functionality of all major Windows and DOS statistics software available on the market. STATISTICA/w received the highest overall rating (+4). ![[Table of Results]](images/graph4.gif)
Also, STATISTICA was named:
"the best Windows implementation of all tested programs."
(page 178).
STATISTICA wins in a comparison in MEDICAL SOFTWARE REVIEWS (VOL2/NO9) In the comparative review of statistical software (by Jonathan Plitman), two packages for Windows were compared: STATISTICA/w and Systat. Seven rating dimensions were used; every difference between the two programs was in favor of STATISTICA/w: ![[Table of Results]](images/graph1.gif)
In the section on STATISTICA/w, the reviewer noted:
"Performance is fast. (...) Statistical coverage is very
thorough. (...) Data entry into spreadsheet-like windows is excellent
and highly flexible. (...) Text output is flexible in format and
fully editable. (...) Graphics are very fine. (...) The interface
is potent, flexible, and very easy to use. (...) It is a powerful
instrument and a fine piece of flexible, user-friendly design."
(page 6). |