The July issue of Scientific Computing & Automation identified the 1998 Readers' Choice Awards for the seventh consecutive year. Following an extensive balloting process in which the selection criteria included: value for price, technical support, ease of use, quality and reliability; the readers' favorites were:

If you decide to buy from another vendor because of price, just remember that you will get what you pay for (and maybe not even that!)

Consider the advice of your colleagues including lab techs/managers who made wise selections/judgements based upon their very own experiences in the lab with a wide variety of vendor equipment. Obviously, the vendors highlighted here are doing something right that distinguishes them from the rest of the pack! Buyer BEWARE.