Hi Paul,
I didn't intend to criticise the survey, I actually filled it out
immediately, and am interested in the outcome. Perhaps more so for the
issue of easing crystallographic software installation and updating than
the stereographics part.
Wrt stereographics; I bought three sets of NuVision stereographics units
with glasses when I started up my lab. I personally prefer to use
side-by-side stereo and cross my eyes and most of my trainees don't
appear to be interested in using the hardware stereo option. So the
glasses mostly get used to impress high-school students and other visitors.
In hind-sight I would have gotten one stereo-ready setup with 2 or 3
sets of glasses. Similarly, I think it is effective to have one (or a
few depending on size of lab) higher-end number cruncher with large
memmory and disk storage and pretty basic PC's for individual users.
Bart
P Hubbard wrote:
Hi,
If you build a system without stereo graphics, and use a standard
monitor, I agree. In-fact it can be done for for under ~$1000. However,
stereo systems are rather expensive (LCD stereo systems are VERY
expensive).
I was just curious to see how popular stereo graphics is for
crystallographers. I personally think its a wonderful teaching tool
which is currently under-utilized.
Paul
From: Bart Hazes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Survey on computer usage in crystallography
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:28:25 -0600
I don't expect the "I'd be willing to assemble one from parts for
under USD $2000" crowd will be large but you don't have to do the
assembling to get all you need well under the $2000 mark. The times
that you needed the fastest computer money could buy and still spent
lots of time in the library reading while your rigid body refinement
was chewing on the next cycle is long gone.
Bart
David J. Schuller wrote:
On Tue, 2007-06-19 at 21:09 -0700, P Hubbard wrote:
Hi all,
I am doing a survey on computer usage in crystallography. The
questionnaire can be found on the following web page:
http://www.bioscienceforum.com/survey.html
...
I don't care for the way several questions are posed. Examples:
"4. What would you consider is a reasonable price to pay for a
computer graphics workstation designed with crystallography in mind?
A) USD $2000-3000
B) USD $3000-5000
C) USD $5000+
"
What, no option for "I'd be willing to assemble one from parts for under
USD $2000"?
...
"If there were a choice, would you prefer stereo graphics displayed
using LCD-shuttered glasses or a head mounted display (often referred to
as a Virtual Reality headset)?"
That does not cover all the choices currently available, let alone what
I wish were available.
==============================================================================
Bart Hazes (Assistant Professor)
Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Immunology
University of Alberta
1-15 Medical Sciences Building
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada, T6G 2H7
phone: 1-780-492-0042
fax: 1-780-492-7521
==============================================================================
