Dear Sankar,

One thing to consider is that the Oxford Xcalibur system has been on the
market and in users hands for quite some time (even though this does not
strictly apply to the NOVA source). I'm not sure how many of the MM002
Rigaku has sold, and the Bruker instrument is very recent.

Apart from running tests - which in my experience give limited
information
in terms of comparison (same crystals!) - your best bet is to tap into
the user list that every manufacturer will be able to provide. Write
(or phone) these people and ask for their opinion - which most will
happily
provide. A public forum such as this might make some people hesitant
to speak up.

As an aside - I agree with Gerard and Dirk that ccp4bb users should
show good manners.
And I also think that companies should not use the bb as a marketing/
promotional tool.

Best,

Klaus




---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klaus Fütterer, Ph.D.
School of Biosciences
University of Birmingham P: +44-(0)-121-414 5895
Edgbaston, F: +44-(0)-121-414 5925
Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK E: [log in to unmask]
                                    W: www.biochemistry.bham.ac.uk/
klaus/
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On 1 Mar 2007, at 06:02, Sankar Narayanan Manicka wrote:

> Dear Dr. Ross,
>
> Thanks very much for your suggestion. I was thinking that there
> must be people who have used both the systems. But, i see that its
> nearly impossible to find.
>
> Oxford system people have agreed to take our crystals by cryo-
> shipper and try them out in their machine.
>
>
> sincerely
> sankar
>
> Ross Angel wrote:
>> Sankar
>>
>> We had an Oxford Diffraction PX system, with the same goniometer
>> and detector as the Nova, for 3 years until last Fall when we
>> upgraded to the Nova. We also have 3 other Xcalibur instruments
>> with the same goniometer and control systems. All four
>> diffractometers have performed reliably with very little downtime,
>> the oldest now being nearly 6 years old, and with very little
>> maintainance. The Nova itself has worked well, and has stayed in
>> alignment since it was installed 6 months ago. You can see a few
>> more details at www.crystal.vt.edu.
>>
>> I do not have experience of the micromax. Obtaining a valid
>> comparison between any two diffractometers is difficult. I can
>> only suggest that you do what the rest of us do, and that is take
>> some of your typical crystals and some of your poorer crystals
>> around and try them out on each of the instruments that you are
>> considering.
>>
>> Ross Angel
>>
>> At 12:27 AM 2/28/2007, Sankar Narayanan Manicka wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Our lab is planning to buy an X-ray machine for protein
>>> crystallography.
>>>
>>> Which system would be best for home source, Oxford diffraction
>>> system Xcalibur Nova or a MSC/Rigaku MicroMax-002.
>>>
>>>
>>> sincerely,
>>> sankar
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Sankar narayanan Manicka [log in to unmask]
>>> C/o Prof. S. Krishnaswamy +91 452 245 9931 - tel
>>> School of Biotechnology +91 452 245 9105 - fax
>>> Madurai 625 021 +91 94860 88613 - cell
>>> TAMIL NADU INDIA http://www.mkuniversity.org/biotech_school.htm
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------l
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>> <<<<<
>>
>> Ross Angel
>> Research Professor in Crystallography
>> Crystallography Laboratory Tel:
>> 540-231-7974
>> Dept. Geosciences Fax:
>> 540-231-3386
>> Virginia Tech
>> Blacksburg VA 24060-0420 USA http://
>> www.crystal.vt.edu/crystal/
>>
>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>> <<<<<
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Sankar narayanan Manicka [log in to unmask]
> C/o Prof. S. Krishnaswamy +91 452 245 9931 - tel
> School of Biotechnology +91 452 245 9105 - fax
> Madurai 625 021 +91 94860 88613 - cell
> TAMIL NADU INDIA http://www.mkuniversity.org/biotech_school.htm
> ----------------------------------------------------------------l
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>