: MATLAB and its toolboxes can be quite expensive. Older versions might be available for a lower cost or through educational licenses, making them more accessible to individuals or institutions on a budget.
The 2014 releases (R2014a and R2014b) are often sought after for their stability on older hardware and the introduction of modern graphics handling. R2014b, in particular, is considered a "landmark" version as it debuted the new default colors, fonts, and anti-aliased graphics that defined the look of MATLAB for the following decade. Key Features and Improvements New Graphics System (R2014b): matlab better download 2014
Roughly 1GB for MATLAB only; 3–4GB for a typical installation. RAM: 2GB minimum (4GB recommended). How to Better Manage Your Download and Installation : MATLAB and its toolboxes can be quite expensive