This article on R, the open-source programming language favored by data miners, was interesting. Not just the stuff about R, but the perspective on open-source's role in the enterprise.

More on R here and here.

The pooh-poohing of R by a SAS spokesman rang hollow to me. They sound scared.

For good reason. The list of companies using R is no joke, and it's applicable to a broad range of tasks.

And of course, the price is right, especially when budgets are tight.