Software purchasing considerations

Another important consideration is the amount of labor necessary on the part of the user. One major difference between different software packages is the developer s choices between ease of use and efficiency of operation. For example, the Spartan program is extremely easy to use, but the price for this is that the algorithms are not always the most efficient available. Many chemistry users begin with software that is very simple, but when more sophisticated problems need to be solved, it is often easier to learn to use more complicated software than to purchase a supercomputer to solve a problem that could be done by a workstation with different software. 

The QA unit should have written procedures (SOPs) for the conduct of inspections and audits. These procedures should incorporate all considerations for the review of electronic data systems. The QA unit SOPs should address the role and responsibilities of the QA unit in software development, purchase, and validation activities, in-process audit procedures for data collected on line, procedures for on-line review of data (i.e., what will be verified and how much data will be reviewed), and the procedure for auditing reports using on-line data. 

ResumeMaker is available for download from the company s website or can be purchased from software retailers nationwide. While the software is particularly useful for someone new to the whole job-search process, it can save anyone considerable time when it comes to creating, printing, and distributing resumes and cover letters. 

Of course, these software programs are likely to be used only by large industrial process corporations as the overall control systems (although designed to save operating costs and add value to customers products) can require considerable capital for their purchase and installation. 

Synthesis on solid supports was first developed by Merrifield [1] for the assembly of peptides. It has expanded to include many different applications including oligonucleotide, carbohydrate, and small-molecule assembly (see Chapters 11 and 14). The repetitive cycle of steps involved in the solid-phase synthesis of biopolymers can be performed manually using simple laboratory equipment or fully automated with sophisticated instrumentation. This chapter examines typical solid-phase reaction kinetics to identify factors that can improve the efficiency of both manual and automated synthesis. The hardware and software features of automated solid-phase instruments are also discussed. The focus of this discussion is not on particular commercial model synthesizers but on the basic principles of instrument operation. These considerations can assist in the design, purchase, or use of automated equipment for solid-phase synthesis. Most contrasting features have advantages and disadvantages and the proper choice of instrumentation depends on the synthetic needs of the user. 

More often than not, spectrum analysis software is purchased with the hardware, if only to be certain of compatibility between them, and the market is dominated by software produced by the major gamma spectrometry equipment manufacturers. There are, however, a small number of software providers, independent of the manufacturers, providing reputable programs at a much lower cost these are worthy of consideration. Such companies may be more amenable than the major players to rapid bug-fixes when problems in their programs are identified and may be prepared to customize the program to suit a particular buyer. 

Most of the following points are obvious, but it may be helpful to list a few considerations in purchasing software for molecular modeling. 

The quandary is that, whereas the purchasers of smart devices may want to understand fully the nature of the software in the devices they are buying, the suppliers of those devices may want to guard their intellectual property carefully. The software represents a considerable investment and often contains commercially valuable information. 

As a consequence, the plant manufacturer has to purchase such software additionally in case it has not already been available. Here considerable costs may arise. 

Alternative scanners are available that have been used successfully in other laboratories before making a purchase, visit relevant Web sites and contact laboratories that have experience with specific products before making a purchase. An important consideration is the cost and quality of image analysis software available from each vendor, which varies widely. An excellent program for analysis of scanned images, written by Michael Risen, is available free of charge to academics at ... 

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