Installation aiseds we really use a code - a few schools or universities are available PLP code -. According to the codes, it has some ACCS toolboxes and not others.
No configuration to do, everything is IMMEDIATE. As for the manual, it is clear trs with DMOS, the tutorials, support command line or with F1, ...

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I used Matlab on many items DIFFERENT, what emerges is that demand for computing power, especially when you do anything. Matlab is optimized for the matrix calculation, a big point for scientific use. External Libraries used are the best out there - such as FFTW to calculate Fourier transform - so good. Trs's good.
Ngatif point, the interface in Java that train alone ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for more than three years, and will not s'arrter ... but to work.
I like the ease of programming and see the feedback, but the interface in Java rpulse me ... To do with ...
In its field, Matlab is a little lonely, it's almost a monopoly, Mathematica is part of the work of Matlab, MatCAD too, but none did everything that Matlab. The price is trs trs lev especially need to buy every toolbox you need, and made a dirty addition. This is why even the beasts do not achtent in full, and that universities achtent the basic version for all and a few licenses for some positions for some toolboxes.
Use, rutiliser ...