We are buying a HPLC system: binary gradient pump, autosampler, UV detector, column oven and software. Application: clinical, mostly drug monitoring in bio-fluids.
In my 10 years of experience I've worked with HP (1050, 1090 and 1100), Shimadzu (LC10VP)and ThermoSeparation.
We discard Agilent because it is the more expensive option (parts an support service included). ThermoSep. has a very bad support service and personally I don´t like very much.
So we have three options Shimadzu LC10A-VP, Waters Breeze and Perkin Elmer S.200.
PE is the cheapest (around $5000 under the other two branchs). Waters Breeze is new for me but I've known that Alliance is very good. And Shimadzu is very popular here but is as expensive as Waters Breeze or even more.
I'd need to know your opinions, it would be very useful for us, especially about PE 200 and TurboChrom software.
Thanks in advance.

Fernando B.

It is important to distinguish something that is expensive from something that costs a lot.

I bought a Perkin Elmer Series 200 : quartenary pump, autosampler, DAD detector and turbochrom 6.1 software. I also have Agilent 1050 isocratic, autosampler and UV detector. I have used the 1050 now for 10 years. In my experience Agilent is more reliable.Perkin Elmer parts are very expensive. I replaced a solenoid in my autosampler which Perkin Elmer sold me for 390 dollars. I asked the manufacturer how much if I bought it straight from them : $ 125. I have not compared their turbochrom software because it my first experience with software. I like turbochrom and their support.

I don't know anything about the Waters' Breeze system, but here's my 2 cents about other Waters' instruments:

-Plus Side-

Instruments are rugged and do not seem to require excessive maintenance. I've run lots of high salt mobile phase through a 625 pump and had no seal or piston failures. Just routine maintenance.

Service (in the northeast U.S.) is very good.

-Minus Side-

Cost is usually on the high side versus other vendors. And we pay a premium amount for service contracts.

There is a steep learning curve w/ Millennium software. However, I think the Breeze system has a "lite" version of Millennium.

Hope this helps.

Russell Rondeau

The Breeze system is a low-cost system.

It is incorrect to call Breeze system software a 'lite' version of Millennium. Although it does share some Millennium features (an imbedded database for example) it is a very different interface. The software really is very easy to use and has a short/shallow learning curve.

Ever heard the saying" You usually get what you pay for" The Agilent 1100 is a very good system. It is robust and the precision is excellent.

Thank you all folks. I agree with the last anonymous, Agilent(HP) 1100 has a very good precisión. But it is not very roboust especially the robortic arm of the autosampler, we needed to change it twice and finally the gave us a new whole module, and I wasn't the only one, but we bought it in 1996 (one of the first 1100 systems in our country). Maybe nowadays they improve its robustness.
I'll be collecting your opinions during this weekend. We'll decide the purchase next week. I'd like to read your opinions about Shimadzu (please be objective !!)
Thank you again

Fernando

We have 6 Shimadzu systems. We have found them to be very reliable with little down time. They are also fairly easy to work on (sometimes they almost don't leave enough room for a hand to fit into). We have received good sales support though that may differ depending on your location. Their software is fairly easy to learn. On the downside, the manuals are not always easy to read (translation problems) and do not always have enough information in them. They do, however, have separate service manuals you can buy. We have also had some software problems with them. Newer versions have not always been as backward compatible as they say. Also the software manuals are not as informative as they could be, though this is not unique to Shimadzu. We also have a Bio-Rad FTIR which has the same "problem". Overall, they have been very dependable instruments with low "non-routine" service costs and have been fairly easy to learn to operate. However, before buying any instrument, I would suggest making sure the manufacturer provides good support in your area. The best equipment will ultimately be a major irritant if it is difficult to contact someone about problems or get routine and non-routine repair parts. Hope this helps.

Hi Fernando
I think that yo have a difficult decission.
PE is more shipper because you are buying one EG&G system, and the quality control is very different in that new company.
PE dont know Validation option in HPLC
and many components are making in differents company.
The Brownie column can not put inside the oven
and you can not control the temperture by TCWS.
The pump is the same model that the older one.
If you try to turn on the HPLC always you loos the switch.
At the end TCWS look like a prescool software
an have some problems too. Did you see Joice message? by