ChemStation vs Empower 3 for Agilent 1260 HPLC with ELSD

[aluong]

Hello,
I am looking into sourcing a new HPLC system for lipid analysis and possible semi-prep needs in a small start up company. I have experience using ChemStation, but I don't love the software and found it difficult to use in the past. I do not have any experience using Empower 3, but wonder if it is worth looking into running the Agilent system with Empower 3 software. Would love to hear the thoughts about this in the community. Thanks in advance.

[tkubowicz]

Hello

I'd prefer to use dedicated software (it is only my opinion) so I'd use Chemstation to have full functionality.
Some people don't like Chemstation and prefer to use Empower 3 which is fine however you can have some problems with settings and advanced function for Agilent modules - Empower does not see all options for Agilent modules.
Don't get me wrong - you will be able to control modules but there is a chance that for some settings you will have to use hand controller.

Apart from that you need to check if Empower3 controls all modules you have (you will need Instrument Control Framework). Some new Agilent modules (1260/1290) are not supported in Empower3.

Regards

Tomasz Kubowicz

[varossf]

If you are buying a new systme today and do not like ChemStation i would Strongly suggest you take OpenLAB CDS 2, the successor of ChemStation, but then 2000% better.
Tke the right version and you have built-in compliance as well.

Fancy a demo, i can give you one.

[shaun78]

The Agilent ICF 2.2 driver set fully supports Agilent 1260/90 hardware under Empower 3.

Though it is true that some module options are not present in the Empower ICF, it's not like you will lose the ability to scan from 210 nm - 400 nm with your PDA. Though I am not running ICF 2.2, I have been told that these minor differences have nearly been eliminated.

So, in terms of hardware support; both Empower and the Agilent variant support the same equipment.

In terms of what the CDS can do for you, I am of the opinion that Empower is miles ahead of anything that Agilent is able to offer. If you can get a calculation to work in an Excel sheet, then you can get that same calculation to work within Empower if you know how.

Empower consultants exist to help you know how.

[varossf]

Sorry Shaun, the days that Empower is miles ahead (if ever) are over.....

[Karen01]

Sorry Shaun, the days that Empower is miles ahead (if ever) are over.....

I have not seem OpenLab, but I am forced to use chemstation for a 7820. We use Empower for all the other chromatography systems (including a 1290 and 7890).

Although Empower has been around a long time (Millennium on a PC and before that the Expert Ease software that worked on a VAX) it seems much more modern and certainly is more flexible than Chemstation... so I can not understand the "if ever" comment.

Running on top of a relational database gives the software a lot of consistency as well as flexibility, and makes searching/compiling previously run data possible in ways Chemstation can not touch. In general Empower's reporting make Chemstation's seem anemic, to say the least.

Setting up sophisticated calculations is also not very difficult in empower and a lot easer then learning the macro language in Chemstation

At my previous job we had both empower and chemstation LC systems... Some had only used Chemstation before they started there, but once they learned Empower, no one wanted to use the Chemstation system.

- Karen

[varossf]

Karen as I said, no Chemstation but OpenLAB 2. And OpenLAB 2 is not ChemStation.

Apparently no one in the USA heard of OpenLAB 2 although it is already 1 year on the market????