Abstract :
In our introductory article to our upcoming review series on Maple, Mathematica, and Matlab, we asked for feedback. The letters to the editor we subsequently received deliver two messages: first, that this review series will serve a real need, and second, that we must be thorough in our treatment of each product. We didn´t intend the introductory article to be an in-depth account in any sense. Instead, we tried to set a context for the future reviews by relating certain background information--histories and design principles--and a brief overview of current uses for each of the three productivity packages.At the time, we had more such information about Mathematica and Maple than for Matlab. Subsequently, Matlab´s inventor, Cleve Moler, authored an article that addressed much of the points we were missing. In view of this information´s emergence, and in response to the feedback we´ve received, we felt we should include some selections from Moler´s article in this installment.
