text: I think mathematica is the best for me. But this question is a question of opinion more than a question of fact. I like mathematica because I like the way it is. Some of my friends use maple for their Ph.D. physics classes, modern optics, namely. I used mathematica for a lot of things and it works for me. My friends are used to maple and they like maple more than mathematica. \n\nIf I were you, I would get demo versions of these programs and try each of them out. See which one you like the most and buy it.