Upgrade from Quadra

From: Cliff McArthur (cytocliff@netscape.net)
Date: Wed Oct 06 1999 - 12:02:08 EST


Hi Everyone,

Some months ago I posted a message requesting input on efforts to upgrade from
an ancient Quadra to a PowerMac/G3 for my FACSCalibur-attached workstation. 
It became clear that more than a few would like to know how I ended up dealing
with this upgrade.  Well, here's the long and short of it.  Apologies for
taking so long to get back to the list.

It was not going to be simple.  In the end, I needed a new digital signal
processor board (hope I got that right) for the new CPU, and that was to
constitute the bulk of the cost (available from National Instruments).  Also
needed: a new cable to extend from the Calibur to the CPU and a whole new
FACStation software package.  Replies from this list, a chat or two with BD
and a couple of other users, and my PI led to the decision that the hassle
factor was going to be too high if I tried to get it together myself.  For us,
too little time + we found the money to go the BD upgrade route + too much
hassle = we forked out the money to BD.

As much as I don't like giving BD money I don't think they deserve or have
earned, they clearly have many of us by the... 

well, I now have the new CPU and such in a corner of my lab awaiting
installation.  With it all came a notice that if this is for a FACSCalibur, a
service engineer needs to install it because there is some internal (to the
Calibur) work to be done.  Now I await that visit. 

In sum, we were lucky to have the money and paid it to save time (it's only me
and my instruments and far too many users) and a lot of hassle.  I do have the
impression we could have circuitously avoided much BD involvement and that the
upgrade is more than possible this way.  

Cliff McArthur
UC San Francisco
415-502-6860





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