Dear microscopists, unfortunately we all know that problems with software crashes during image acquisition are far too frequent, and with time naturally computers get older, which makes things worse. We are trying to minimise this by regularly cleaning up and defragmenting the harddrives, but after years of heavy usage this can't completely solve the problem. Consequently, I have asked Leica to replace the acquisition computers with new up-to-date machines, which I thought should be a routine thing having everything under a GOLD PLUS contract, claiming to keep each microscope "checked to its original performance specifications" and including "spare part cover". Unfortunately, Leica see it differently and insist on charging for a "computer upgrade", and no less than £9,000 for two systems (CF3 and CF4). I'm sure you will agree with me that it is not something unexpected that a computer gets slower after six years of heavy usage and should be regarded like any other ageing spare part. One important aspect of the whole discussion is that a slow computer does indeed affect the performance of the system, either slowing down image acquisition, limiting the ways multi-dimensional datasets can be acquired and probably most dramatically resulting in more frequent software crashes, with all their effects on your time and live samples. To help me with my argument, I'm asking for your help here: (1) Could ALL of you (including users of other microscopes - the same discussion will come up with other manufacturers) please write down until end of September EVERY TIME an error code or have to restart the software, or any other computer-related problem. Please use the normal NOTES AND TROUBLES field in the SHAREPOINT BOOKING for this. I know on some microscopes it's so frequent that you don't bother anymore, but please let's create an accurate record of these problems for a few weeks. (2) Those of you who affected, could you please send me a short written feedback describing how unstable systems (due to computer / software problems) have affected you, either as a direct financial loss (e.g. lost time and samples, expensive stainings, ...) or just as a constant hindrance to your work; while the former is a direct argument, the latter will decide future purchasing decisions, so could be convincing as well. I hope with your help we will manage to convince Leica (and later others) to simply care more for the users of their microscopes. If successful, it could save you as facility users a lot of money as well, £9,000 corresponds to more than 200 hours of usage; and while we don't charge for usage hours when microscopes don't work, it reduces the number of usable hours, driving up the rates. Thanks, good imaging, Martin -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Martin Spitaler, PhD* *FILM - Facility for Imaging by Light Microscopy* - Facility Manager - Sir Alexander Fleming Building, desk 401 Imperial College London / South Kensington Exhibition Road London SW7 2AZ UK Tel. +44-(0)20-759-42023 E-mail m.spitaler@imperial.ac.uk <mailto:m.spitaler@imperial.ac.uk> Website: http://imperial.ac.uk/imagingfacility