Old Matlab 5.2 won't install on Windows 7 4

[electricpete]

I have a new computer that came preloaded with Windows 7 64-Bit Home Premium operating system.

I tried to install my old Matlab version 5.2 (from the 1990's) and it gives an error message, something like "incompatible with the operating system".

I spent quite a bit of time researching it. I have concluded that Windows XP worked with 32bit and 16 bit applications. Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit works with 64 and 32 bit applications. I am pretty sure that old version of Matlab must include a 16-bit component, at least in the installer if not in the program.

For something like $130, M$ will let you to upgrade to Windows 7 Professional which includes some tools for compatibility with XP and 16 bit applications.

I guess my choices are:
1 - try a Matlab Clone
2 - Fork up $130 for M$ to give me back what they stole from me in my operating system "upgrade"
3 - Fork over close to $2000 for Matlab (is that about the right price).

Regarding option 1, I have used sci-lab before about 4 years back (I thought it would be handy to be able to share my program with non-matlab users) and was a little disappointed. it worked ok, except for differences in graphics commands. I remember I wrote a program, debugged it, had it working, then Sci-lab upgraded and it no longer worked because Sci-lab changed some command syntax without maintaining backward compatbility. I don't think the editor (formatting/highlighting) and debugging facilities were great. And by the way I've got a bunch of toolboxes for Matlab that might not work with Sci-lab.

I know most of the options have been discussed at length before (particularly the Clones). But I appreciated the opportunity to rant (I am a little irritated by this, if you didn't notice). And if you have any comments/suggestions about my options, feel free to chime in.

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(2B)+(2B)' ?

 

[FeX32]

Are you happy with the older Matlab?
I remember when the dept. upgraded to 2009b I was very satisfied with the improvements. I guess this may be because I was using OSX 10.5 and Matlab had some issues with Mac until relatively recently. Oh and I remember they purchased a few more toolboxes that were handy.
One of my colleagues that also had an older (personal) version of Matlab I remember installed parallel desktop on his computer so he could run XP and OSX on his computer. He seemed satisfied.
However, you are running windows. I believe they do have a parallels for windows 7.

http://www.parallels.com/ca/products/desktop/pd4wl/

So that is a possible solution for about 80 bucks. (given you have a copy of XP already)


Fe

 

[electricpete]

Are you happy with the older Matlab?

I am not $2,000 worth unhappy (the approx cost of new Matlab). I would be very happy if I could recover the functionality of the old Matlab that I had.

I am thinking first I will check out the cheap route of matlab clones. If they don't work, then I'll break down and spend some cash for Windows upgrade or maybe the program you mentioned.

Which leads to the question "Octave vs Sci-lab"?. I am leaning towards Octave since it seems to be more compatible based on reviews I found on google.

=====================================
(2B)+(2B)' ?

 

[FeX32]

I used Octave before. To me, minus the add ons that Matlab has it was about 90% Matlab.
It was a very good alternative to Matlab, but not Matlab if you know what I mean.
I have never used Sci-lab.


Fe

 

[IRstuff]

I've tried installing 5.2 without any success on W7 32-b. The only one I was able to install was 7.3

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[SomptingGuy]

My experience of octave is that it is almost exactly as good as Matlab, only without handle graphics. My employer has some kind of bulk discount on TMW licences these days, but before that I'd quite happily run my (mostly DSP) scripts in octave if no Matlab licences were free. I guess it's a bit like using Matlab 4.x.

- Steve

 

[flash3780]

I use Octave routinely; it's a great Matlab clone (though some of the higher end functions are missing). QtOctave is a great front-end with a very Matlab-ish feel (be sure to point it to octave.exe when you set it up). Octave lacks a compiler, so you'll still need Matlab to make any stand-alone programs... but I don't often compile my programs so that hasn't been an issue for me.

I haven't tried Sci-Lab, but I've read that it is very good as well.

Matlab is great! The only two problems are that it's expensive and it costs a lot. A few of my employers have balked at the price, so I've found Octave as a great workaround.

PS I recently stumbled upon Octclipse, which integrates Octave with the Eclipse IDE... which seems like a good idea (though I haven't tried it). Also, Maxima/wxMaxima are good replacements for Mathematica or Maple (which might be of interest to you).