What are the specific limitations of Matlab home as compared to the commercial license ? Is there a table comparing the differences ?

See question above.

Answer 1

[Star Strider]

I can’t find a table, but there is a FAQ link and a more general description in the MATLAB Home link that notes that it is: ‘For personal use only. Not for government, academic, research, commercial, or other organizational use.’.

You also don’t get Tech Support (except for downloading, installation, and licensing), but we’ll do our best here on MATLAB Answers to help with any other problems.

[Joseph Cheng]

I haven't bought the home version yet so i don't have any personal experience with the home version. However through reading the FAQ and support material it doesn't appear to be any performance restrictions. I'm assuming it is very similar to how mathworks treats the student version, where it is the full matlab experience however there are aspects that mark it as the "Home" version.

[gfNq77]

Thanks for responding. I assume the same thing - it should not be limited. But I want to be certain before investing.

[Jan]

As far as I know, you cannot include the MATLAB Compiler in a home license. But I've digged in the web site now and cannot find the compiler even in the standard license. Confusing.

[Walter Roberson]

You cannot purchase the expensive toolboxes by using the online store.

On the other hand, the Home license can only use the packages listed for it in the online store.

Answer 2

[Richard Reddy]

Banners in printed output? Embedded in files? What's the difference between a home use and a professional? Don't professionals have homes? Do firms have some right to tell customers how they can use a product? (Probably not!)

I still think MATLAB is a good product. I remember downloading a shareware copy from a BBC, written in FORTRAN! Just the same, MATLAB doesn't own Linear Algebra, and most of the algorithms are nothing new.

Personally, I think GNU Octave is an absolutely superb application, and you can use it all you want, wherever you want, for any purpose, without cost. (though contributions are accepted)

[Walter Roberson]

"Do firms have some right to tell customers how they can use a product?"

Yes, companies do have the right to offer a product under different license conditions at different prices.

If you have a microwave oven at your home, it probably said on it or in the paperwork "Not for commercial use."

If you have a radio, you can play it for your personal enjoyment, but if you want to play the same station in a waiting room or restaurant, then in Canada and the United States, you would have to pay commercial rates for doing so.

If you have a DVD player and you buy or rent a movie retail, then you cannot turn around and show the movie to the public for money.

Charging more for commercial use is common in multiple contexts, and not at all likely to be overturned in case law.