Dear list members,
        I mailed this privately to the original poster, but then read the
response that perhaps more replies should be sent to the list, so here is my
$0.02.  Please use a big grain of salt with this one:

From:   USU::MYQ          "MYQ Y. Q. LARSON"  5-FEB-1998 12:44:08.52
To:     [log in to unmask]
CC:     MYQ
Subj:   MS musings

Hi,
        Saw your post about buying an IRMS possibly from Europa.  We have a
20/20 Europa analyzer coupled with an ANCA/SL Europa prep unit.  We only run N,
so I can't really comment too much on your sample requirements, but we can run
down to 20 - 10 ug N within the specified precision of the machine, but it
takes some tweaking...
        As far as service/support goes - I haven't had very good experience
with them.  They seem very unknowledgable when I have a problem and not very
enthusiastic about assisting me.  I asked for a price quote on a few parts in
December and have yet to receive the fax they promised.  The first machine we
got was a lemon and took about 4 months of complaining/trying their solutions
before they replaced it.  Generally, the other Europa users I have talked to
agree that they have poor support.
        However, other Europa users have been more than kind and very helpful.
The machine is VERY easy to use (I have a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences,
NOT anything related to chemistry!), and is fairly easy to maintain after a
breaking in period (of the operator!).  In short, I like the machine, but have
very small praise for the company/support/service itself.  Of course, I have
never operated any other MS device, so be sure to take this with a big 10 lb
bag of salt.

Regards,

Myq

-- `~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~
| Myq Larson | Stable Isotope Analysis | [log in to unmask]   |
|            | Utah State University   | 435.753.0753 (h) |
| Knowledge  | 5305 University Blvd    | 435.797.0060 (w) |
| Liberates  | Logan  UT  84322-5305   | 435.797.1575 (f) |
~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~