I had to add another comment from an SGI(IRIX) advocate; from what I have
been able to get from within the SGI walls is that IRIX 6.5.+++ has a long
planned roadmap, 5-8 years. Also, Bruker software engineers anticipate a
long life for IRIX and XwinNMR. So, I don't think the SGI-Bruker life span
is that short or is being threatened.
Dwaine.
ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
M/S: R-NMR
6201 South Freeway
Fort Worth, Texas 76134-2099
817-551-8003
FAX 817-568-7675
dwaine.thomas_at_alconlabs.com
-----Original Message-----
> From: Jensen, Andrew J [mailto:andrew_j_jensen_at_groton.pfizer.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 2:18 PM
> To: ammrl_at_chemnmr.colorado.edu
> Cc: Bartsch, Bill; Lohr, Linda; Medek, Ales
> Subject: Summary of PC version of Bruker's XWINNMR
I must thank everyone who responded to my email, it was almost overwhelming.
And some of you even wanted to know the results of my inquiry, so here they
are.
There is an older version of software, WINNMR, that is being phased out, and
was very easy to use, but was only for data processing and is being phased
out. We are not pursuing this version of software.
The current software is XWINNMR for NT or XWINNMR for LINUX. I received
some issues with the NT version which were related to the typical NT
crashes, not the XWINNMR software. The LINUX version is essentially
identical to the SGI version, is cheaper (using a PC vs SGI O2 or octane)
and is great with respect to performance. There were some issues with
earlier versions of XWINNMR for the PC related to color mapping from 16 bit
vs 8 bit using the XWINNMR software, but (to the best of my knowledge), the
newest version, 3.1, to be released any day, has corrected the problem. The
primary advantage of the PC version of XWINNMR is the file compatibility
with other file formats such as WORD and POWERPOINT. Strategically, there
is also a concern that SGI may be in dire straights, and their future
regarding NMR machines may be limited. Approximately half of the
instruments being shipped from Bruker today have an SGI, and half have a PC.
One person mentioned that you do need a three button mouse for your PC,
which is a little different for PC users, but the norm for us SGI users.
Another person mentioned that you need additional software for the PC
version, which includes EXCEED an Xwindows emulator, and a compiler for
pulse programs. There have also been hints that Bruker may be phasing out
supporting SGI XWINNMR after version 3.1, but that is a few years off. One
person mentioned that they installed the necessary PC software on their
laptop and now they can work on data at home, which I thought was a great
advantage to SGI.
In conclusion, it looks like we will be migrating to PC's over the next few
years since the stability issue seems to have been addressed, as well as the
color mapping issue. The strategic concern that SGI may not be around in a
few years and the value of a PC confirms this conclusion. (One caveat to
this migration is the licensing of the PC software. The desk top version
costs ~$6,000, so if you have ten or twenty instruments to update it may get
expensive.)
Thanks,
Andy
Andrew J. Jensen
Pharm. Sciences NMR Resource Laboratory
Pfizer Global R & D, Groton
Pfizer Inc.
Eastern Point Rd.
Groton CT, 06430
Tel. 860-715-2105
Fax 860-441-5423
e-mail: andrew_j_jensen_at_groton.pfizer.com
LEGAL NOTICE
Unless expressly stated otherwise, this message is confidential and may be
privileged. It is intended for the addressee(s) only. Access to this E-mail
by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not an addressee, any disclosure
or copying of the contents of this E-mail or any action taken (or not taken)
in reliance on it is unauthorized and may be unlawful. If you are not an
addressee, please inform the sender immediately.
Received on Wed Dec 05 2001 - 14:55:16 MST