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Joeychgo.com Book Store > Joeychgo.com books beginning with S
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SAS Learning Edition 4.1: With the Little SAS Book for Enterprise Guide 4.1 |
Author: SAS Publishing
Published: 2006-10-30 |
List price: $199.00
Our price: $157.99
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As of: November 20th, 2008 10:24:07 AM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 SAS Learning Edition
SAS Learning edition 4.1 installed easily on two Windows XP machines. You get both the Enterprise Guide graphic interface as well as the conventional Windows interface which you need for learning to code. Good help too!
Excellent intro to the SAS World
If you are thinking about learning SAS, this product is one of the most cost-effective ways to go (as of August 2008). You could find someone experienced with the software who has a licensed copy to coach you through the software. However, for many people this Learning Edition is a good way to go.
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br /I have been a SAS user since 1991, on Unix, MVS, and Windows, and the advantage of SAS since version 6 (it is now at version 9.2) is that the language syntax is largely identical on all platforms. The exceptions would be commands which are specific to the operating system. These days, we take language universality as a given, but the innovation was important in the 1980's, and helped SAS build a large corporate customer base.
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br /This product will not teach you everything about SAS, since these days there is a family of desktop and server solutions. However, the instructional book should provide good instruction on how to use Enterprise Guide, the preferred desktop solution for many SAS analysts.
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br /If you want to learn more about SAS, here are some options:
br /1) Find a friend who uses a licensed copy of SAS to show you some things
br /2) Find a SAS consultant in your area who will be willing to preview the features. The SAS website lists consultants in many areas.
br /3) Go to a SAS local users' group, regional conference, or national conference. Many conferences exist, and require the expense you would expect from a business event.
br /4) Learn SAS online. SAS offers training online.
br /5) Learn from a SAS-sponsored class. These classes are priced for business users.
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br /Except for solutions 4 and 5, you may be able to achieve admission or help by bartering food or volunteer hours (at the conferences).
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br /Some technical notes on Learning Edition 4.1:
br /I unfortunately acquired my copy outside the *.EDU program, but I would have qualified for a reduced rate. This installation is for Enterprise Guide 4.1 (learning edition) and proc setinit returns the following results (I have masked my site number):
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br /Original site validation data
br /Site name: 'The SAS Learning Edition 4.1'.
br /Site number: ########.
br /Expiration: 31DEC2011.
br /Grace Period: 0 days (ending 31DEC2011).
br /Warning Period: 30 days (ending 30JAN2012).
br /System birthday: 01JAN1989.
br /Operating System: WIN .
br /Product expiration dates:
br /---Base Product 31DEC2011
br /---SAS/STAT 31DEC2011
br /---SAS/GRAPH 31DEC2011
br /---SAS/ETS 31DEC2011
br /---SAS/QC 31DEC2011
br /---SAS Learning Edition 01JAN2012
br /---SAS Learning Edition - Expanded 16JAN1960
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br /The current SAS position (as of August 2008) is that they are not and will not be releasing a Learning Edition for Vista. I replied to them that I believe it is inevitable that they support some type of learning product on Vista because Microsoft has already announced its intentions to drop support for Windows XP. What SAS does depends on their growth philosophy, and we might see either a Vista version compatible with Enterprise Guide, or alternatively, an online web application where people can learn SAS.
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br /Before 2008, Enterprise Guide (the licensed version) had problems with Vista, but those problems have been solved as of May 2008:
br /http://blogs.sas.com/sasdummy/index.php?/archives/37-SAS-Enterprise-Guide-Vista-ready!.html
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br /Enterprise Guide is the core technology behind Learning Edition, so the choice for SAS is whether to overcome architectural compatibilities with Vista (as we know the current one is based on .NET 1.1 but Microsoft is already at 3.5 and working on .NET 4.0). Despite the steady lovefest with Linux, Microsoft's platforms will continue to be important, and for SAS to remain competitive for business users, we can expect another learning solution before the Learning Edition 4.1 expires at the end of 2011.
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SAS and Windows Vista Business
The SAS Institute sells Learning Edition 4.1 for $60 if you have a .edu email address. This is a great price for what you're getting.
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br /There is a way around the "SAS does not support Microsoft Windows Vista" issue by using compatibility mode.
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br /1. Go to the installation directory
br /2. Find setup.exe
br /3. Right-click and select Properties
br /4. Select the Compatibility tab
br /5. Select Windows XP (Service Pack 2) and click OK
br /6. Run the installation file
br /7. Verify system settings
br /8. SAS will cry-and-scream that it doesn't support Vista. Ignore it and continue with the system requirements test.
br /9. SAS will install 3 components: .NET 1.1 Framework, Microsoft Runtime Components 7.0, and SAS Private JAVA Runtime Environment. You will have to restart you computer after .NET installs. Repeat Steps 6-8 until all 3 components have installed.
br /10. Install SAS
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br /If you have any problems, just find the application and repeat Steps 3-5.
Easy to use SAS with or without programming!
If you want to learn SAS for school or work, this is an easy way to pick it up and learn it in short order. It is based on SAS Enterprise Guide 4.1 and SAS 9.1.3 (a very recent release of SAS production software.)
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br /The main disadvantage is the license restricts this to learning or educational purposes and there is a limit on how much data can be used in your analysis (educational purposes implies modest amounts of data.)
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br /Otherwise, with SAS at work running to thousands of dollars per seat, this is an affordable way to have and use SAS!
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br /You can program in SAS language or use the point and click interface of Enterprise Guide tasks and wizards. These tasks and wizards make it easy for novices to open, manage, report on, summarize, graph, and analyze data all with a convenient point and click interface (no programming is needed!)
SAS Software for 65 bucks? A Great Deal!!
SAS is a powerful product. As someone pointed out in the review for the earlier edition, SAS Programmers are in huge demand because SAS is required by the FDA for all pharmaceutical companies in order to bring drugs to market. It is used by 98 of the Fortune 100 companies. And it is the defacto standard for the financial industry with the anti-money laundering laws.
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br /The flipside is that SAS is not intuitive -- you can't just read a book and learn it without actually having it in front of you and the classes are expensive (although their online training is quite reasonable). If you don't have access to SAS you aren't going to be able to learn it effectively. It isn't like Java or C where you can just go out and get a free compiler and play around with it on your own. I work for a bank where we use SAS exclusively for IT Data analysis. I need to be able to learn SAS quickly and for me, that means learning at home in my infinite gravity chair.
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br /True, it expires in a bit less than 2 years. However, this is intended to be a learning tool -- not a business tool. And even business versions of SAS must be renewed every year -- you don't renew, the software is useless. That is the SAS business model and it has been very effective for them -- just as the MS Windows license scheme is designed to maximize the market share and profitability of that company.
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br /My only complaint is that I wish that SAS would come out with an "intermediate" version for home users -- something that could handle more data and contained all of the procedures of Base SAS. But then SAS would face having others try to abuse the intent of the product and circumvent their license structure just as some would like to do with the learning edition. I also wish they would come out with a LINUX version.
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br /The next price point is to purchase a "full" license for over $7000.00 which also has to be renewed each year. Yikes!
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br /I was going to purchase the Little SAS Book for EG anyway which is 60 bucks by itself. So in essence, I'm getting the software for 65 bucks. With that pricing, I could buy a new version of the Learning Edition every 2 years (by which point SAS will have updated their software so would want the newer version anyway) and it would be 140 years before the full-fledged license to become cost effective.
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br /SAS and statistics in general are becoming more and more important job skills (ever hear of Six Sigma?) so an entry-level package that gives folks an opportunity to learn how to use both is invaluable for anyone that wants to enhance their marketability -- regardless of what industry you work in.
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br /UPDATED TO ADD USABILITY REVIEW
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br /I realized I did not speak to the usability of the product which may be of more interest (thanks to the reader for suggesting this).
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br /The SAS Learning Edition 4.1 is an effective learning tool for those who are just starting out with SAS and those who want to become hardcore BASE SAS programmers.
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br /If you are just starting out with SAS and Statistical Analysis, you will want to start with SAS Enterprise Guide (EG) -- a windows-based wizard-like front end for calculating sample statistics, creating graphs, performing ANOVA, regression, and Time-Series Analysis. The advantage to using SAS EG is that you don't have to know a lick of code to actually use SAS. The downside, of course, is that it does not teach you how to actually program in SAS. It is like using the "address book" feature on your cell phone -- you can easily call anyone you have in your adress book. However, if you actually need to recall their phone number, you won't know it because you are relying on the memory of the phone and not your own.
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br /SAS EG is a bit like training wheels. It will get you started. However, once you have mastered the basic analysis tools within SAS, you will want to refine them to be most appropriate with your data. For example, SAS EG relies on a certain set of defaults and often those defaults will be oriented towards the most common user applications which tend to be either social sciences or pharmaceuticals. If you are trying to analyze IT or financial data, you may need to change the defaults in order to make the analyses more appropriate for your goals.
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br /The great thing about SAS EG is that it allows you to view actual SAS code. You can then cut and paste that and start using the SAS Program editor to take your skill sets one step further and learn the nuts and bolts of SAS Programming. Think of the difference between SAS EG and SAS Programming as using Visual C to create a program vs actually starting with C-code and building from scratch. Again, SAS Learning Edition will allow you to make that progression.
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br /This progression will make a significant difference to potential employers if you are looking to enhance your resume by being able to add SAS to your list of skills. Some companies are looking for individuals who can do the basics with SAS EG. However, many employers are going to be looking for individuals who can use both EG AND SAS Programming. If you really want to separate yourself from the pack, you will take the time to learn the actual SAS Programming language. Again, it is like the difference between getting a bachelors degree and a masters. A bachelors implies you know the "what and how" to do something. However, a Masters implies you know how to do the "when" and "why" and how to extend the concepts when they don't fit the basic applications.
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br /Finally, the differences between SAS Learning Edition 4.1 vs 2.1 is that you are getting the most up-to-date version of the software. SAS, like any software program, continues to evolve. While the SAS programming language is pretty stable and is not changing significantly from one year to the next, the SAS EG Interface and Architecture are undergoing constant revision as user feedback is incorporated and as programming technologies continue to evolve. Since SAS Business Licenses are renewed every year, they will tend to upgrade their software version (they want to feel like they get something for their renewal fee.) It isn't like if you don't want Vista, you just don't upgrade and therefore, you don't have to look for people with Vista skills.
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br /Businesses will expect that people they hire have knowledge of the current release because that is what they most likely have -- once again, this is a side effect of the SAS License model. Again, this is another reason why the expiration of the 4.1 LE for 12/2008 is not a significant limitation -- by 12/2008, there will be at least one major release by SAS -- maybe 2 (SAS is planning a major release towards the end of 2007 and based on history, most likely will have another Service Pack or significant point release before the end of 2008)
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br /Hope this helps.
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