[R] R in the NY Times

[Duncan Murdoch]

On 1/7/2009 3:03 PM, Wacek Kusnierczyk wrote:
> Kevin E. Thorpe wrote:
>> Zaslavsky, Alan M. wrote:
>>> SAS says it has noticed R’s rising popularity at universities,
>>> despite educational discounts on its own software, but it dismisses
>>> the technology as being of interest to a limited set of people
>>> working on very hard tasks.
>>>
>>> “I think it addresses a niche market for high-end data analysts that
>>> want free, readily available code," said Anne H. Milley, director of
>>> technology product marketing at SAS. She adds, “We have customers who
>>> build engines for aircraft. I am happy they are not using freeware
>>> when I get on a jet.”
>>>
>>
>> Thanks for posting. Does anyone else find the statement by SAS to be
>> humourous yet arrogant and short-sighted?
> 
> there must be something wrong with me, but i can't find anything
> 'humorous yet arrogant and short-sighted' in the idea that engines for
> aircraft be built with software that does not advertise itself with
> 'ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.'

Yes, everyone knows that the lack of warranty should be hidden in the 
fine print, and say something like this:

"Institute warrants that the media on which SAS/C OnlineDoc is furnished 
will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use 
for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of delivery of SAS/C 
OnlineDoc. Licensee’s exclusive remedy for breach of this warranty shall 
be replacement of the defective media by the Institute.  Institute and 
its licensors disclaim all other warranties, express or implied, 
including, but not limited to, any implied warranties of merchantability 
and/or fitness for a particular purpose whether alleged to arise by law, 
by reason of custom or usage in the trade, or by course of dealing. "

(Sorry, I couldn't find SAS/Stat's lack of warranty.  I found this one 
at 
http://support.sas.com/documentation/onlinedoc/sasc/doc700/html/common/agreement.htm)

Duncan Murdoch