We are currently investigating chromatography data systems. We have all PE gc's andHPLC. I have gotten info and quotes from EZ-chrom, Agilent (HP chemstation) and PE (Waters has not returned calls and e-mail). I am looking for information from people as to which they have had experience with and positive/negative feedback. Any help is appreciated.

We have a long history with HP GC ChemStations and, as we migrate to newer HP HPLCs (1050s & 1100s), we find it is very easy for an analyst to step up to the (LC) instrument and run almost immediately because the interface is quite similar. Thus we save training time. (We also think HP makes very good instruments - but not necessarily better than some other manufacturers).

While we have no experience with PE instrumentation, you might enjoy similar benefits if they have retained a similar control/data acquisition interface across their instrument lines.

This is just one point of view and not necessarily that of my employer.

Our pharmaceutical HPLC labs have used shimadzu EZ-Chrom, HP Chemstation, and PE Turbochrom. I have used of each of these in QC and R&D lab environments.

Agilent/HP Chemstation has nice instrument control interface, instrument troubleshooting, online diagnostics, etc., but customizing calibrations/reports is cumbersome. Overall, setup, running analyses is easiest on Chemstation. Integration schemes and options are mediocre. Customer support is most expensive and least "supportive"

EZ-chrom is easy to use and to customize, format is easy to learn (most "windows-like" which is good for new users). Integrating and reporting is easiest of the three. Presentation options for chromatography is best of all three in terms of customizing views, reports. Data control options are available for QC. Customer service is pretty good, although Shimadzu seems to be charging more than they used to for basic support activities.

Turbochrom is the most difficult to learn and to use but has alot of "data control" options. It has more bells and whistles, but is not presented to the user in a clear way. Setting up runs is confusing, integration is a nightmare and processing data is very cumbersome. The layouts seem counter-intuitive to a chromatographer's needs. Data reporting options are limited (but I hear newer versions have addressed this). Customer support is best (thank goodness - I've needed it more than the other companies!).

I have walked up to each software program without any previous use and learned the systems from the manuals and calls to tech. service. All systems would be ok for "crank-out data" QC labs for the analysis of simple, mono-analyte solutions where users don't need to modify methods, sequences, etc. However, analyzing complex mixtures in an R&D environment creates chaos in the PE software. If Instrument control is important, unfortunately, you may want to stick with PE. If you want ease of use, modification, integration I recommend HP or Shimadzu.