re Cellquest and OS 9.1

From: D. Robert Sutherland (rob.sutherland@utoronto.ca)
Date: Tue May 22 2001 - 15:34:53 EST


Hi Martin,

in an earlier post, I  stated that the currently shipping version (3.3)
of Cellquest was not compatible with OS9.1.  In a response posted to the
list, Adrain Smith claimed that this was not the case, but I have had no
response to correspondence directly to Adrian regarding specifically how
he managed to do this. Meanwhile, everyone else (and I have fielded
numerous 'phone calls and e-mails beyond the Purdue web-site) has had
the same problems.

Although v3.3 and Cellquest Pro launch OK on Macs running 9.1, the
software usually quits with the exact error messages you mentioned.
Some of us have had limited success performing analysis (only) on such
computers as long as you remain within the open Cellquest window.
Usually however, as soon as you mouse-click on any other area of the
desktop, (including when you get the 'flashing finder' icon) the program
quits with the afforementioned messages. So if you ignore the latter,
and keep your mouse clicks within the Cellquest window, you can usually
continue to work, at least for a while.

While the above observations initially suggested that there might not be
much for BD to 'fix' to effect compatibility with 9.1, they have decided
that a completely new version of Cellquest must be written.  When this
new version will be ready even for 'beta' testing, is not known.  How
much effort is going into this versus  writing a fully 'carbonised'
version for OSX is also not known (by me at least - anyone else out
there with contacts deep inside BD HQ?)). However, in my dealings with
both local technical people as well as those in San Jose, I have
strongly suggested that a version compatible with OS9.1 should be the
highest priority.

Although OSX is 'the future',  Apple have not yet released a version of
it that can run on 'legacy' Macs (7300/7500/7600 PCI Macs and G3
upgrades thereof) and I would guess that perhaps a majority of BD
instruments are running on pre-G3 Macs.  Furthermore, even if some of
these older CPUs are retired and replaced by new Macs, the latter will
all come loaded with OS9.1 (and OSX) and be incompatible with Cellquest
v 3.3.  Thus, if BD release a carbonised version of Cellquest for OSX
tomorrow, this will help very few  of us (if any at all).

In summary, while not wishing to embarass anyone here or betray any
'confidences', it is becoming more important with each passing day, as
more unsuspecting individuals upgrade their CPUs and discover the
inevitable, that BD address this problem.  Personally, I cannot wait for
this to be resolved so that I can to 'go on the road' with the new G4
Powerbook that I purchased several months ago specifically for this
application.

HTH

Rob Sutherland
University Health Network,
Toronto



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