Check a local college/uni bookstore-- see if they'll let you grab a package with a STUDENT discount. (You could always fib a bit and say that it's for your child.)
This can save you as much as 70-80% off of even "home" prices.
I'm only moderately familiar with Mathematica, and my experience is likely just as old as your old version of it. LOL... It's always been both powerful and versatile, I'll say that.
We broke down and got DD a TI-84SE anyway, since many courses beyond algebra now require them. It has proven useful to her, even if I don't have a clue how to use it. Most modern math tutorials/help assumes use of the TI graphing calculators, much to my astonishment.
DreamCalc is a down-loadable 'virtual' version of the TI-84.
I know so little about MATLAB that I can't say anything one way or another about it.
