The following observations were posted to the sci.chem newsgroup on August 4, 1998:

"I use a Shimadzu GC-MS and an HPLC. I battle with the HPLC software continuously. It is hard to say if this is the fault of Shimadzu or Microsoft, since the software runs under Win-95. My experiences with that OS leave me convinced it is little more than a scam.

I have been very frustrated and disappointed by the HPLC. I can eventually get it to work, usually. There are some things about it that I still don't know if it should be. I often get inconsistent retention times and peak areas for injections of the same sample.

The GC-MS isn't so bad. It crashes a few times a year. The software wasn't so hard for me to learn. My main complaint about the software for both of these systems is the consistent omission of very obvious functionality. There are a lot of super-sophisticated features that I'll never use because I am not a batch user.

I wouldn't completely indict Shimadzu based on my experience, but if I were to buy my own instruments, I would get something more respectable."

Christopher R. Carlen
crobc@epix.net

n.b. Well here's another testimonial regarding Shimadzu's (EZChrom, Class VP) lackluster HPLC software (aka Class Crap) to add to the mounting evidence! If the software product is truly intuitive as Shimadzu claims, why are customers still battling with it? (BTW: intuitive is defined as "perceived by the mind immediately without reasoning; self-evident." The following definition was provided for Shimadzu's benefit!)

n.b. As for "who's at fault," we'll put the blame squarely on Shimadzu's shoulders. Win-95 is a common platform for running numerous chromatography software programs. If Shimadzu didn't get it right, then it is Shimadzu's fault! If you would have the misfortune of buying Shimadzu's Class VP software, who would you logically call when the program fails to perform? Surely, Microsoft would tell you to take a hike! (BTW: Shimadzu has run the release number of it's Class VP product up to version 5.0 (whoa!) and get this.... only Shimadzu's HPLC products are supported at the present time! Shimadzu's GC products are unfit - what's that all about? If Shimadzu cannot control its own GC's, why would you want Class VP software which supposedly controls the GC's from other vendors?) Why so many software version numbers? Can you say "buggy software?" How about SHIT-MA-ZOO?

n.b. If the Shimadzu sales rep tells you that Class VP instrument control for the GC-14, GC-15 & GC-17 is coming.... just tell them "No Thanks!" Customarily, the first release of virtually all software products have some problems. However, please note that Shimadzu has had more than their fair share of "software bugs!" Shimadzu's sly solution includes release upon release of "new & improved" software upgrades to fix the manifest problems in their earlier software versions. And guess who gets to beta test Shimadzu's "apparent" solutions.... the customer! Can you say frustration? How about disappointment? In fact, it is not unusual for Shimadzu to fix something in one release only for the problem (and others) to recur in a later software version! If you're a non-believer, request that Shimadzu give you a statement (under oath) indicating that these vexing problems have never occurred! Prediction: Shimadzu cannot and will not provide any such declaration under oath!

n.b. Shimadzu instruments with "inconsistent retention times and peak areas for injections of the same sample" ....is this the kind of Shimadzu equipment that you want in your lab? Hint - take your business elsewhere and don't look back! If Shimadzu says something like: "try it for 30 days risk free, return it if you're not happy and/or money back guarantee," then you are urged to show the Shimadzu sales rep the door with the exit sign hanging over it!

n.b. Shimadzu GC-MS that "crashes a few times a year" .... that's pretty frightening! Chances are that you won't know the day or hour on which a Shimadzu GC-MS might choose to fly south! Maybe it will occur right in the middle of one of your important analyses - can you afford this calamity?

n.b. Shimadzu software with "the consistent omission of very obvious functionality" ....run (don't walk) from that Shimadzu sales rep! You've been warned that Shimadzu software is not "intuitive" and it lacks "functionality" .... what more do you need to know? Does anyone want to chime in with any other descriptive adjectives? Helpful Advice: Requisition something more respectable than Shimadzu!

n.b. Somone please tell us why we can readily find derogatory information about Shimadzu's products/services but we encounter a much more difficult task of uncovering dirt on other analytical instrument vendors? We're not implying that other scientific vendors always get it right the first time but the Shimadzu family does seem quite adept at screwing things up in a regal fashion! Friendly Warning: Don't bend over in front of Shimadzu.... you could be royally reamed!

n.b. It just seems that if it's not one thing at Shimadzu, then it's another.... BIGGER drip, drip, drip!