[R-sig-ME] I can still use nlme instead of nlmer/lme4 right?

[Ben Bolker]

  Respectfully, I would say that's a big "but" in the second paragraph.
 lme4 has enormous potential, and is already much better than nlme for
some things (crossed designs, large data sets, GLMMs), but its edges are
still rough.  Accessor methods are less available/fully
developed/documented, and in particular it's my impression that
nonlinear models have been less thoroughly exercised in lme4 ... Using
lme4 would be a form of contributing back to the community
(beta-testing), but if you're in a hurry my HO would be that sticking
with nlme sounds like a good idea.  (Others should as always feel free
to disagree.)

Doran, Harold wrote:
> Yes and no. There are no particular problems with nlme that would
> impede you from completing scientific work properly. With that said,
> lmer is substantially improved from its primative cousins in many
> ways; primarily it is more capable of estimating models with large
> data.
> 
> You are correct that documentation is thinner than what is available
> for nlme. But, there is plently of help on this list. I'm quite sure
> with good questions, you'll find all the support on this list you
> could possibly need.
> 
>> -----Original Message----- From:
>> r-sig-mixed-models-bounces at r-project.org 
>> [mailto:r-sig-mixed-models-bounces at r-project.org] On Behalf Of
>> David Airey Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 9:29 AM To:
>> r-sig-mixed-models at r-project.org Subject: [R-sig-ME] I can still
>> use nlme instead of nlmer/lme4 right?
>> 
>> I have a project to conduct simulations for which I must consider a
>> nonlinear mixed model (dose-response, 4 parameter logistic model).
>>  Because I have the Pinheiro and Bates book, which does such a 
>> great job explaining things, whereas lme4 documentation is too thin
>> for me, I'd like to stick with the NLME package for now. Is that in
>> some way unadvisable?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> -Dave
>> 
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-- 
Ben Bolker
Associate professor, Biology Dep't, Univ. of Florida
bolker at ufl.edu / www.zoology.ufl.edu/bolker
GPG key: www.zoology.ufl.edu/bolker/benbolker-publickey.asc