Comparisons of Mathematica, MapleSoft and MatLab

[LouMazero]

I am looking to invest some time into learning one of these programs, higher math and physics, can someone contrast and compare these programs, strengths/weaknesses etc?

 

[Dale]

I like Mathematica best, but I made my choice back when Maple was really unstable. Really MatLab is a different thing entirely since it is just numeric and not symbolic. I wouldn't put them on the same list, I would put MatLab on a list with IDL instead.

 

[Hepth]

Matlab DOES have symbolic packages, but it is nowhere near mathematica's level of refinement. Mathematica also has a crazy amount of packages for all different things.