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We are considering getting a Covaris instrument to shear DNA for library preparation. I've found a few used S2 units around for considerably less than a new one (<$20,000). Before looking seriously at a used one, however, I want to be sure we're not making a mistake by doing so. Can those of you who have one give me some advice on it? Here are the questions I've thought of so far:
Is there a big difference between the older S2 and the newer instruments? Would we be missing out on any significant functionality by getting an S2?
Is this something we could install ourselves? Since we wouldn't be getting a new one, we would have to set it up ourselves. From what I've seen in pictures that doesn't look like any big deal, but I want to be sure of this.
Some of the used ones don't specify whether they include a computer. Will it work with any PC, or is there something special about the computer it comes with?
Are they reliable enough that I don't need to worry about getting a machine a few years old?
Any other issues anyone can think of that might make us think twice about getting a used one?
Is there a big difference between the older S2 and the newer instruments? Would we be missing out on any significant functionality by getting an S2?
Is this something we could install ourselves? Since we wouldn't be getting a new one, we would have to set it up ourselves. From what I've seen in pictures that doesn't look like any big deal, but I want to be sure of this.
Some of the used ones don't specify whether they include a computer. Will it work with any PC, or is there something special about the computer it comes with?
Are they reliable enough that I don't need to worry about getting a machine a few years old?
Any other issues anyone can think of that might make us think twice about getting a used one?
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