I also found the earlier negative correspondence with Noran very surprising. It is not our experience, and I think I speak for a number of users in Europe, that Noran has done anything except to provide a really outstanding level of support and backup for our confocal instrument, in respect of hardware and software. We have always had virtually instantaneous replies from both their UK and Europe offices in response to phone calls, faxes and emails, and their on-site response has also been excellent. We have also had really very good response from their USA office as well. I have seen and used the new OZ machine a little already and it appears in very many respects to be an excellent instrument both in speed and resolution aspects. Bill Mason Head, Laboratory of Neural and Secretory Signalling Babraham Institute Babraham, Cambridge CB2 4AT UK Email: [log in to unmask]