Dear Randy I have no preference when it comes to computers, except like the >90% of computer literates, I was "brought up" on IBMs, DOS and Windows. The Macs ARE extremely powerful (and rather expensive) but I do find it easier to operate a Windows based PC because I am more familiar with them. I now work with BD cytometers but initially worked on Coulters with their "so-called" redundant operating System II software, which I thought was great for the jobs I was doing. To my point, like many Institutions, we have an in-house computer network which runs on Windows NT. We have invested heavily in PCs and it makes sense to use the network to analyse flow data. The alternative is to purchase additional Macintosh computers, not a cheap option. I transfer data from the MACS to our NT server where all members of the Institute can access their data using Windows software. We currently use FCS Express and users are generally very happy with it. FlowJo is a great package and if you need the facilities it offers such as software compensation and ratios etc. it is worth having a copy on your Macs. Also, if you need the enhanced processing power of the new G4s then that's the way to go. Otherwise, I don't see there is a great argument either way. Use the tools that suit the job! Len Brown Mater Medical Research Institute Brisbane, Australia -----Original Message----- From: Fischer, Randy (NIAMS) [mailto:fischer1@mail.nih.gov] Sent: Friday, September 29, 2000 7:59 AM To: cyto-inbox Subject: RE: G4 for FACSCalibur - and a plug for Mario!! Paul, Like you and many others in this world, I have one of the other 90% of the computers at home. I do not like it, but the other major occupant of the household (my wife) required it for her job. However, like 90% of the Folw Cytometry users out there, I have a BD instrument that uses a MAC to acquire and analyze my data. So, I subscribe to the "do work at work" theory and use the MAC, which by the way I do prefer. Mario's (and Adam's) FlowJo software is a very nice alternative, and any software that is an alternative to paying big bucks to certain Flow companies should be most heartily encouraged. So, let Mario plug away and let the users of the minority instruments tout their advantages if they wish as well. That is, if there are any??? Randy Fischer NIAMS/NIH > ---------- > From: J. Paul Robinson > Reply To: jpr@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu > Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2000 9:23 PM > To: Cytometry Mailing List > Subject: Re: G4 for FACSCalibur - and a dig at Mario!! > > > So Mario, when are you going to talk about software that runs on computers > that > the other 90% plus that people have.......in terms of world computer > sales, Apple is right up there at .....4%!! > Paul > > Date sent: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 16:16:30 -0400 > To: cyto-inbox > From: Mario Roederer <Roederer@drmr.com> > Subject: Re: G4 for FACSCalibur > > > > > I tested FlowJo for a number of different tasks (e.g.,generating > > complex graphical layouts; generating large tabular outputs; even > > analyzing 13-parameter, million-event data files) on G4's vs. G3. > > The G4 was significantly faster (taking into account the clock > > speed), even when the program was not G4-optimized. I also tested a > > G4-optimized version of FlowJo that takes advantage of the AltiVec > > instructions (no, not yet commercially available!), and it's another > > large step up. > > > > As more and more applications come out to be AltiVec-aware (and they > > are!), everyone will realize the enormous speed benefit from this > > technology. > > > > Note that the multi-processing nature of Altivec should not be > > confused with the multi-processing capability of dual-processor > > machines (like the new G4 cube). There's a completely different set > > of optimizations that programs need to fully take advantage of > > multi-processor machines (and I'm sure that will be forthcoming in > > the next year or two as well). > > > > Bottom line--G4's are faster, but G3's are a lot cheaper (right now). > But > > as more and more applications are Altivec-aware, then there won't be a > > comparison. > > > > mr > > > > (PS--Intel-based machines, even the gigaherz processors, don't come > > close to the G4 capabilities.) > > > J.Paul Robinson, Ph.D., > Professor of Immunopharmacology > Professor of Biomedical Engineering > Director, Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories > Hansen Hall, Roon B050 > Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1515 > (Ph) (765) 494-0757 Fax (765) 494-0517 > jpr@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu > > http://www.cyto.purdue.edu > > http://www.bioscope.org > >
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