Cant even compare R, a statistical engine to Matrix Laboratory, a numerical matrix manipulation engine. they are different software packages designed for different purposes. eg. plugging R into a high grade NMR magnet and processing signals is probably not a good idea.

R is sick though and I am alwalys pleasently surprised at what clever people are doing with it. Octave on the other hand shouldn't be used until someone writes a proper interface and decent graphing. MATLAB is a million light years ahead of Octave in that regard