🚀 go-pugleaf

> We are looking at the purchase of one of two confocals: the BioRad 1024
> system and the Leica (TCS 4D).  Is there anyone out there
> could give us some advice on the relative merits of the two systems.  I
> don't know how large the installed base is for the BioRad 1024, but would
> be happy to hear from users of either system, even if the comments aren't
> comparative.
> Thanks
> -Peter Sargent, UCSF

We have a Biorad MRC 1000 UV/vis  system with most of the options
available, but we don't have the 1024 system. I am not sure how many
people have that installed as yet - I know of several who have
decided to purchase the system and I could give you some of those
names if that would help.
 One of the key features has turned out to
be one that I did not entirely anticipate when I made the purchasing
decision about 18-20 months ago - this was the real ease of using the
system - so far this year I have trained about 30 people on the
system in my lab and many use it virtually independently with their
preprogrammed "buttons". Having been in flow cytometry for many
years, I am used to having service technicians trooping through the
lab on a refular basis - not so with the confocal - it is
stable and the only service has been a board update and a problem
with the Z-axis controller which was promptly fixed all in 11 months
of operation.
My general evaluation of most systems was that they all did a very
good job - it may be some of the less exciting features such as ease
of use and ease of teaching that balance the equation.

Paul

J.Paul Robinson, Purdue University Cytometry Labs
robinson@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu PH:317-494 6449 FAX:317-494 0517
web http://www.cyto.purdue.edu