>>This is just a general question for input.  We are in the throws of
>>developing an image analysis system and seem to be at that inevitable
>>crossroad of picking the platform.  At the present time we are going to
>>purchase a Princeton instruments 1KX1K Micromax primarily for our
>>standard epifluorescent microscope.  We intend to apply for funding this
>>spring to purchase a confocal.  The question: is there developing trend
>>in software for image analysis bent toward either Mac or PC?  If you were
>>in my shoes having to make this decision which way would you turn so as
>>to avoid closing doors in the future.  Any suggestions would be very much
>>appreciated.
>>
>>Craig Cary, Ph.D.
>>College of Marine Studies, Univ. of Delaware
>
>I am sure you will get all possible responses based mainly on peoples'
>personal biases, but here is my two cents worth.
>I would not invest in a Mac at present as they may not be around for much
>longer.
>PCs are getting better all the time and there is planty of software available.
>For really serious image processing I would recommend a UNIX based system
>(SGI, Sun etc) though cost may be a factor.
>Good Luck
>John Cork
>Calcium Imaging Facility
>Department of Anatomy, LSU Medical Center
>New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
>Tel (504) 568 7059       Fax (504) 568 4393
>e-mail  ---  [log in to unmask]
 
 
Without advocacy intentions, I would not say exactly the contrary, but I
would like to stress that the sentence of Mr Corck:
 
"I would not invest in a Mac at present as they may not be around for much
longer."
 
might be based on misinterpretation of the recent articles in the press.
The company will probably survive many other computer companies.  The fact
that the carbuilding company Mercedes lost 2000 million USD in 1995
(compared to the 50 million Apple gained less profit (is NOT lost)) doesn't
mean they will be off the market in 1996.  Besides, Apple's the best
selling computer company in the world (in units and cash) and it's low
profits in 95 are partially due to investment in R&D.
Another sentence of Mr. Corck reveils what the thruth is:
 
"PCs are getting better all the time and there is plenty of software available"
 
They are trying to meet the MacOS standard.  Furthermore, you should look
at the software you need.  It's no use having 10 programs to write, you
only need 1 GOOD software package.  So, first look for the software or a
programmer that can realise what YOU need, then look for a suitable
computer.  There will never be a perfect program for sale that does exactly
what you need, unless you find yourself a programmer who will realise what
you need.  You can talk to a programmer for free and she/he will advise
you.  You need an idea of your budget.
 
Things to consider:
-what's my budget?
-how much memory do I need?
-how fast does the system have to go (images-->frames capturing per second)?
-what do I expect from the system?
-do I need the system for other tasks except image analysis?
-how am I going to analyse he data?
-beware of people who promise you the perfect system!
-try to get software and computer on a trial basis, because errors in
software or disadvantages do not show up during a demonstration or the
first day.
-you need to squeeze everything out of the system to know its limits.
 
What I use a mac system for is image analysis.  It is fast, reliable and
can handle many tasks at a time.  It is quite expensive, though, but you
get a complete system (without having to buy extra cards later on (exept a
scientific frame grabber, I recommend Scion Corp).  All kinds of software
is available and many things for free.  You need to look around a little
bit more than for windoze software, but it is usually better, although I am
not saying that there's no good windoze software.  You can try the image
analysis program NIH Image from the nat'l institutes of health, Bethesda,
MA for mac or ImageTool for PC.
 
One last thing:  if you've never used a computer before, consider a mac.
UNIX etc. is very good, but you would almost certainly need a programmer!
 
 
If you have additional questions, leave me a note.  Greetings,
 
Pieter
 
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Pieter Proot, Pharm                    e-mail:[log in to unmask]
 
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Lab FYSIOLOGIE
O&N Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49
3000 LEUVEN, BELGIUM
Tel: + (32) 16 34 71 46                               Fax: + (32) 16 34 59 91
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