We purchased a Sciex API 3000 in July '99 and started out on the Mac platform.
It's a great system, and we love it. In Dec. '99 we switched over to the
PC-based Analyst software. I can see that there are some very nice features
such as improved autotuning and a nice quantitation package (although the Mac's
Turboquan package is nice too). However, the Analyst software really slowed us
down and hurt our productivity. It was very crashy (Dr. Watson errors) and very
un-intuitive; I spent forever trying to search out features that I knew should
be there but just couldn't find the correct sequence of clicking around. Even
after two days of on-site training and four days at the official training course
in Framingham, MA, I still couldn't get comfortable with it - and I easily jump
between Masslynx on our QTOF and Navigator on our LCQ, so I don't think it's a
problem of not being able to pick up a new software package. After one month on
Analyst I asked to be switched back to the Mac platform. I'm so happy again.
Sciex has been great during all of this. I think they are really trying, but in
my opinion this software just isn't there yet. Another problem is that only a
few service engineers are trained on Analyst so when you need service you have
to wait until one of the engineers who knows how to use Analyst is available. I
believe Sciex is working hard to remedy this, but it is going to take awhile
until the engineers are as comfortable troubleshooting on Analyst as they are on
the Mac. I wasn't happy being one of the first and watching everyone, including
myself, struggle so much.
We demo'ed head-to-head against the Micromass Ultima, which seemed to be a very
nice system. For our molecules, the sensitivity was equivalent, and at the time
Micromass couldn't deliver for several months. We have been very happy with our
API 3000, but I think the Ultima is worth considering.
Sorry for the very long reply - hope it helps.
Susan Hill
Scientist
Praecis Pharmaceuticals
Cambridge, MA
susan.hill@praecis.com
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