Hi,
I agree, too. I have discussed this issue with the Zeiss people in Jena (who are

always very helpful and competent, and who answer every phone call or email!)
but so far I cannot see that they have a reasonable offer to make and the
general sales pooitics in this company seems to be not customer friendly in
these aspects.  Reading all
these messages now I would like to know about their options  BEFORE I might
purchase their microscope. Also I know that some of my colleagues in other
countries have similar problems with the Zeiss software for off line analysis.
For me a reasonable solution of this question will determine my future decision
which system I will buy, but for sure the 510 is one of the best machines I
used.
Regards
Katharina

tom moninger wrote:

> I agree, Zeiss has been very deceptive with this "off-line" analysis
> software.  Before the sale we were assured that fully functioning software
> would be availabe for free to install on computers other than the
> confocal. The operative words here are "Before the sale."  Since the sale
> we  have nearly zero support.  Calls are not returned, concerns not
> answered. We eventually paid the $5,500 (a discount from $7,500!!) because
> we needed it. If we had this to do over we certainly would choose another
> vendor,  as I tell anyone interested.
>
> Unfortunately we didn't get it in writing......
>
> Thomas Moninger  [log in to unmask]
> University of Iowa Central Microscopy Research Facility
> http://www.uiowa.edu/~cemrf
> Views expressed are mine.
>
> On Thu, 11 May 2000, Christian Soeller wrote:
>
> > David Gard wrote:
> >
> > > "off-line." Finding affordable Win95/98/NT software for that purpose is
> > > proving problematic, despite Zeiss's verbal and written assurance during
> > > demos and the bidding process that a portable projection-capable browser
> > > would be made available free or at nominal cost.
> > >
> >
> > I can't help to notice that Zeiss has been acting not exactly
> > cooperative in dealing with software issues regarding their
> > microscope/confocals lately. I feel that the user community should give
> > them a hard time for this. One would hope they'd finally realise that a
> > change of policy in this regard would work very much in their own favour
> > in the medium to long term.
> >
> >   Christian Soeller
> >
> > --
> > Christian Soeller                [log in to unmask]
> > Dept. of Physiology              U. Auckland School of Medicine
> > Auckland                         New Zealand
> >