LABTECH Data Acquisition & Process Control Software Supports Microsoft Windows 2000

LABTECH NOTEBOOK and CONTROL applications are among first

to support Microsoft's most reliable and scalable OS

Andover, MA (April 3, 2000). LABTECH® Corporation, pioneer in the field of high performance data acquisition and process control software, today announced the Microsoft Windows 2000 version of its software family: LABTECH NOTEBOOK™, NOTEBOOKpro™, CONTROL™, and CONTROLpro™. This latest release of the company's instrumentation and control software takes full advantage of Microsoft's newest  business platform which supports an Internet-enabled enterprise.

"The Windows 2000 platform offers stable, scalable, high throughput services with the ability to handle a variety of connectivity options," said Dr. Fred A. Putnam, President of LABTECH. "This makes it an ideal match for our software applications which have included real-time, remote access to data via over the Internet since  early 1996. Together, LABTECH software and Windows 2000 are now ready to take on even more sophisticated laboratory and manufacturing processes."

 Streaming Data Over the Internet

In addition to a hundreds of I/O, analysis, and data display functions, LABTECH NOTEBOOK and CONTROL for Windows 2000  allow developers to leverage the power of the World Wide Web for real-time remote access to any part of the process. From across the street or around the world, the software creates dynamic Web pages that allow monitoring of process parameters from any attended or unattended location.

LABTECH NOTEBOOK and CONTROL for Windows 2000 stream process data directly from the PC-based controller. This bypasses the need for a separate Web server, as is required by most other control software. Web browser viewer objects are automatically installed on client PCs. The software then displays real-time data in Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, or virtually any stand-alone PC-based application, including Excel, Word, and AutoCAD. A single browser page can show data from several different process locations and provide  historical trends of real-time process data.

Multiprocessing Capabilities

LABTECH  NOTEBOOK and CONTROL for Windows 2000 are unique among PC-based data acquisition and process control software packages in that they provide full multiprocessing capabilities. Multiprocessing provides a number of advantages, including the ability to run multiple copies of NOTEBOOK and CONTROL on the same PC. The software can run independently, yet share the same hardware. This saves users significant amounts of money on hardware purchases, both at the  PC and I/O levels, as well as labor.

Multiprocessing also allows each module of the LABTECH software (e.g. Build-Time, Run-Time, VisionPro) to run on separate parallel processors. This way each processor can be configured for optimal handling of the particular software module's function. In addition, multiprocessing allows users to assign LABTECH software a priority when running with other software packages.

Open Architecture

The lack of interoperability among products offered in today's data acquisition market makes it difficult for a system designer to mix and match products from multiple vendors. This often leads to conflicts between performance and ease of use. By taking advantage of Microsoft's COM  technology, LABTECH is able to offer an open interface and true interoperability between data acquisition devices. This provides users with new levels of application design flexibility, allowing them to pick and choose from among hundreds of plug & play I/O products—including many new PCI bus data acquisition cards.

Graphical User Interface

Designed for programmers and non-programmers alike, LABTECH NOTEBOOK and CONTROL allows users to create sophisticated user interfaces, generate real-time animated graphics,  graphically display data, and directly control processes in real time, all without the need for programming. The software is connected by "hot links" to data sources through LT-Speedway, the company's high speed software bus.

In addition to its graphical front-end, all LABTECH software allows users to create their own Excel, Visual Basic, or C/C++ applications with full access to all the software's capabilities.

Pricing & Delivery

 Pricing for the Windows 2000 version of LABTECH's software is as follows:

 LABTECH NOTEBOOK, $695 for a single workstation license or $1170 for a single CPU license with one-year support and upgrade contract;

 NOTEBOOKpro, $1195 for a single CPU license or $2010 for a single CPU license with one-year support and upgrade contract;

 LABTECH CONTROL, $2495 for a single CPU license or $4180 for a single CPU license with one-year support and upgrade contract;

 CONTROLpro, $3495 for a single  CPU license or $5860 for a single CPU license with one-year support and upgrade contract.

Upgrades to Windows 2000 from Windows 95/98 start at $280. Upgrades from Windows NT are free until July 1, 2000. All software is available immediately.

About LABTECH

Since 1981, LABTECH Corporation has been keeping scientists and engineers on the cutting edge of data acquisition and process control with their products: NOTEBOOK, NOTEBOOKpro, CONTROL, and CONTROLpro. First to leverage the World Wide Web for remote access to real-time applications with its NetTrender technology, LABTECH focuses  on providing innovative software for end-users, systems integrators, and OEMs in manufacturing, automated test, and laboratory automation.

home | about | products | services | support | seminars | library | links