User Interface of Major Oscilliscope Brands?

teddaw152 writes "I've been tasked with ordering an oscilloscope and a logic analyzer for use in a university physics lab, and have found several models that will likely suit our technical needs from the major manufacturers (Agilent, Tektronix, and LeCroy). However, I personally have only used legacy HP scopes, and thus I have no idea what modern features are must haves and which brand's user interface is the most intuitive. Is there anyone out there that has used modern Tektronix/Agilent/LeCroy scopes side by side and can comment on their thoughts from the purely subjective side?"

Comments

I'm not trying to troll, I swear

[jeffmeden]

Are you really going to come to slashdot with a question including

"I have no idea what modern features are must haves and which brand's user interface is the most intuitive."

The clear answer to your dilemma is that the task should have fallen on someone else. Who is going to be using these things? If it's you, maybe you are best to stick with legacy HP scopes until you figure out what it is that you want.

Re:I'm not trying to troll, I swear

[vnsnes]

An alternative way out is to take a survey of the people who will actually be using the equipment. Chances are they have a preference one way or another. If they don't have a preference off hand, then present them with a side-by-side comparison and let them chose.

Re:I'm not trying to troll, I swear

[Anonymous Coward]

Brand is definitely not important, but if you don't need the modern features or don't know what they are then why are you upgrading the scope at all?

I've used scopes from all manufacturers and by far the most important consideration is what is currently being used. You don't sound like you are the one who will be using the scope so ask the guy who will.

There is nothing more frustrating than having a department full of Tektronix scopes and people who have used those for the last 3 years only to have to battle with an Agilent simply because the buttons are in a different place.

Re:I'm not trying to troll, I swear

[geekoid]

Lighten up, Francis.

A) He clearly knows what technical aspects he wants.
Hint:" likely suit our technical needs "

B) Going to a group asking for opinions on something is a good thing. It show he has little bias, even for what he is currently using.

3) Perhaps there isn't someone else?

I mean, really it's the guys first time and he is learning.

God you're a dick.

Re:I'm not trying to troll, I swear

[QuantumRiff]

I've worked in a university lab, testing and networking our o-scopes (and loading quake on a few of the agilent o-scopes that ran winNT back in the day!!). I would say that the best o-scope you could buy for your money is the one that your biggest employers of your graduates use. Go contact some alumni, some friends a few years out of school, and ask them what they use. Employers love this, and students like to be able to say they are familiar with equipment that employers want.

Re:USB 'scope FTW

[Xhris]

But they only have a 200 kHz input bandwidth!

Re:Agilent was HP

[jasonmantey]

From my experience in a calibration lab for two different major electronics companies in the past few years, I can wholeheartedly say that Agilent products are generally the best of said brands. (Needing recalibration less often, better interfaces (IMO), less glitches in software, better build / support, etc.). That said, they are often the more expensive brand. At an academic research lab, this factor may take the most consideration depending on your funding sources and reliability. FWIW, we viewed most of the Tektronix equipment as junk and would opt to use the Agilent equipment when available (but, "junk" is a relative term).

Re:Most important feature

[naich]

I wanted to quickly check the ref output of a lock-in amp the other day, so I grabbed an expensive digital storage scope, waited for it to boot up, spent 5 minutes going through various menus to try to get it to actually display a waveform, swore like fuckery, gave up trying to get sense out of it and went and found a nice old analogue one that instantly displayed the wavy lines I was after.

In my environment, 99% of the time I don't need or want a user interface - I just want to see the data.