A message to all concerned MRC-1024 customers:

     Firstly, we apologise for the delays that some of you are experiencing
     in receiving your NT upgrades.  I'd like to take this opportunity to
     explain the current situation and to offer projections for the
     delivery of upgrades over the coming weeks.


     Customers with Dell 2300 computers

     The NT upgrade for these systems is available now and has been shipped
     to several customers already.  We project that all of these upgrades
     will be shipped by mid-May.  These upgrades consist of a new hard disk
     with Windows NT 4 and LaserSharp 2000 (NT) pre-installed, together
     with a new user manual.  These upgrades do not require any replacement
     circuit boards.


     Customers with any computer other than a Dell 2300

     Despite extensive searching and testing we have been unable to source
     a PC with sufficient ISA slots that will work satisfactorily with the
     MRC-1024 and the LaserSharp 2000 (NT) software.  For this reason we
     have taken the decision to source and offer used Dell 2300 PCs to
     those customers who require a replacement PC as part of their upgrade.
      We project that all of these upgrades will be shipped by the end of
     June.  The supplied PCs will have the following minimum specification:

     450MHz CPU
     256Mb RAM
     8Gb H/Disk storage
     100 Mbit Network Interface Card
     Keyboard
     Mouse
     Matrox G200 (New)
     Windows NT (Pre-installed)
     LaserSharp2000 (Pre-installed)
     1 year warranty

     These upgrades will be supplied at the same price as previously quoted
     for our part number 510-1280/33.


     Customers with Dell 2200 computers

     For those customers who have a Dell 2200 (333MHz or faster processor),
     who have already placed orders for this upgrade and had previously
     been advised that this PC was expected to work, will be supplied a
     Dell 2300 to facilitate the upgrade (our part number 510-1280/32).
     This will be at no additional cost.


     Customers wishing to purchase their own replacement computer

     For those customers who wish to purchase their own PC to facilitate
     the upgrade (our part number 510-1280/34) then our only possible
     recommendation, at this point, is to purchase a Dell 2300.

     Installation of all these upgrades will be handled by local service
     groups.

     For any additional information regarding these upgrades please contact
     your local sales and service group.


     I appreciate that these delays have caused inconvenience and
     frustration, but I would ask you to understand that Bio-Rad is
     committed to fulfilling its obligation to upgrade MRC-1024 systems to
     NT.  We are continuing to seek a solution that will enable a range of
     PCs with the latest specifications to be used in conjunction with the
     MRC-1024, but right now we cannot provide a firm date for completion
     of this task.

     Finally, I should point out that the Dell 2300's as specified above
     will represent a performance upgrade over the PCs originally supplied
     with the systems and that the image acquisition performance will be
     identical to that achievable on PCs with faster processors.



     Chris Power
     Software Product Manager
     Bio-Rad Microscopy Division





************************************************************************

Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message.
If you are not the addressee(s) indicated in this message (or responsible
for delivery of the message to such person), you may not copy or deliver
this message to anyone.  In such case, you should destroy this message
and kindly notify the sender by reply e-mail.  Please advise immediately
if you or your employer do not consent to Internet e-mail for messages of
this kind.  Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message
that do not relate to the official business of Bio-Rad shall be
understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.

*************************************************************************




<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version 5.5.2653.12">
<TITLE>RE: Biorad MRC1024, OS2 and network problems</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<BR>
<UL>
<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">We have had some trouble with this ourselve

s.&nbsp; We have a wonderful color printer which people would love to access but

cannot because of network problems.&nbsp; Our computer people won't even TRY to w

ork with OS2/warp (Grrrr!).&nbsp; We have been trying to get the new upgrade from

 BioRad which works with Windows NT but only on a Dell 2200 or 2300 computer.&nbs

p; It has been since November that we have been trying to get this system ( we al

ready have the computer collecting dust in an office) and Bio Rad still won't eve

n give us an installation date!&nbsp; Obvious comments about the wisdom of going

from a program which works only on an obsolete operating system to one which only

 works on a computer which is no longer manufactured come to mind especially sinc

e this is brand new, supposedly cutting edge, software.&nbsp; Let this serve as f

air warning for those of you who are looking at buying this system.</FONT></P>

<P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">With apologies for the rant,</FONT>
</P>
<BR>
<BR>
</UL>
<P><FONT FACE="Arial">D. Scott Snyder, Ph.D.</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">email [log in to unmask]</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Phone:&nbsp; (406) 363-9373 ext 373</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Fax: (406) 363-9371</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Rocky Mountain Laboratories</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases</FON

T>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">National Institutes of Health</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">903 S.4th St. </FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Arial">Hamilton MT 59840</FONT>
</P>

</BODY>
</HTML>