RE: [sdpd] Workshop announcement

["Shankland, K (Kenneth) " <k.shankland...@rl.ac.uk>]

A few comments on what Armel has said

- Companies in the MSI PDC pay not just for
  access to PowderSolve but to the whole 
  relevant set of MSI software (to the best
  of my knowledge)

- Read the MSI paper on PowderSolve and you'll
  see that it essentially implements known 
  strategies disclosed in the literature by
  many authors, ourselves here at RAL included.
  There's nothing mysterious about how they did it.
  It did not take them long because they have
  resources and it is quite a straightforward
  procedure to implement.  Anyone else can do the same
  if they are inclined to do to.

- His comment regarding the Workshop being akin
  to a 'marketing meeting' pushes the definition of
  provocative to the limit.  

- As for speakers not participating in internet discussions,
  I know that many people subscribe to the mailing lists
  but say nothing on them.  I know of many reasons for this
  but the main one is: where's the mileage in contributing
  to many of these discussions?  We here at RAL responded to 
  the 'structure solution challenge' that Armel & Lachlan set up.
  Admittedly it did not take up much time, but what's to show
  for it?  To the best of my knowledge, the main beneficiary of
  that whole exercise what the person who solved and published
  the microcrystal structure of the compound.  He got a publication.
  What did those who solved it the hard way from the powder get out
  of it, other than showing that it could be done?


Kenneth Shankland
RAL