Is 454 nearly dead?

[yaximik]

I wonder if others have the same frustrating experience as I do, which may be indicative of what I begin to suspect. 454 tech support was not quite forthcoming in the past, but at least I could get timely notices about available software upgrades and where to get them. Recently I was surprised to find that the current version for GS Jr is v.2.9, which for the first time I was not made aware of. So I tried to find the upgrade myself - wow, it is like quest for a holy grail! Nothing even mentioned on 454 web site - forget about a link to download. Tech support is not responding to request, which is not surprising. A call to tech support gave me a chance to talk to a nicely speaking girl, who however assured me she is not in position to talk about technicalities and offered me a chance to leave message to tech support. She did admit though that tech support is kinda slow in responding to requests. To my question where I can simply find the v.2.9 upgrade she referred me to our area sales rep. The sales rep did not answer the phone, and it took three (!) days to respond to e-mail. Guess what - just to refer me to the area application support specialist. Still waiting for response, hopefully by the end of the next week? Even if a post from a senior tech support specialist was in late August in this very same forum, direct request to her about the upgrade still remains unanswered.
So, despite recent assurances from Roche on continuing support of at least GS Jr platform, is this a clear indication that 454 ship is going down and everyone get busy jumping off?
Can someone please just send me a compressed upgrade?

[Elara]

Hi yaximik,

haven't you got an FTP-account at Roche? Usually you should find the software on this ftp-server. I've just checked my account but there's only software 2.8 and 2.6 available. So I'm not really sure if it's not an update which should be done by your service technican. (We've got FLX+ System)
Usually the service hotline (here in germany) works quite good and you get help via e-mail soon. Also my area sales rep. is mostly available via mobile. So I'm a bit surprised that you have such problems.
I'm waiting for a call of my service technican, I'll ask him about the new software. So if I get an update, I'll tell you.

[RCJK]

I was told by Roche that they want the engineers to install the update. Apparently in some cases it has killed the FLX+'s onboard computer.

[yaximik]

I was told by Roche that they want the engineers to install the update. Apparently in some cases it has killed the FLX+'s onboard computer.

Wow, no kidding... I wonder if the same is for GS Jr - I saw a few post here from GS Jr users about using 2.9 - I wonder how they got it. I am more interested in the analysis package though, as I was not able to make 2.7 RefMapper work reliably and had to drop back to 2.5p1.

[yaximik]

Hi yaximik,

haven't you got an FTP-account at Roche? Usually you should find the software on this ftp-server.
.............
I'm waiting for a call of my service technican, I'll ask him about the new software. So if I get an update, I'll tell you.

I was usually provided access to their secure FTP on as needed basis, or the upgrade was sent on CDs. This time nothing like that, so this is why I wonder what is going on.
Please let me know what you find from your ST - an odd way to look for info, but ...

[malachi74]

Clarification

V2.9 software is for FLX+, it is user installed, provided you are already on 2.8. If you are not on 2.8 you will need to have it installed by and service engineer. You can get a copy by contacting your FAS. Yes it can be installed on a Jr, but only the data processing and analysis package, not the data acquisition.

[ajthomas]

Regarding the original question, I just got an email from Roche that addresses that issue directly. It's a business announcement. The long and short of it is that the 454 platform will be phased out in mid-2016 but they'll support it and keep selling and supporting reagents and instruments until then. So, yes, 454 is nearly dead.

[yaximik]

Regarding the original question, I just got an email from Roche that addresses that issue directly. It's a business announcement. The long and short of it is that the 454 platform will be phased out in mid-2016 but they'll support it and keep selling and supporting reagents and instruments until then. So, yes, 454 is nearly dead.

Well, on the other hand the same msg says they going to add longer reads to GS Jr etc., front-end procedure improvements (automatization?) - seem waste of efforts if GS JR is going to be dumped as well in favor of PacBio.
I finally got a word from my app spec - 2.9 indeed is for the big boy, but it is the analysis package I am interested to try on my offrig.

[GenoMax]

GenomeWeb just reported that Roche is planning to shut down 454 in mid-2016.

[Etherella]

About time

[mps4208]

Ahh, I like our little 454 GS Junior. 454 is still the best available for long reads.

[Etherella]

Any news or speculations about the prices on the Roche sequencing instruments going down because of the recent 454's shutdown announcement?