[Test-Equipment] Any GPIB and/or LabVIEW users?

[DaveC]

I'm looking to a little bit of "amateur experimenting" in physics. To 
monitor my results I want to connect 3 pieces of test equipment (arb. 
wave. gen.; scope; DMM) and control them via a feedback loop program 
(modify the gen. depending on readings from the other 2).

The only ways I know to do this is with National Instruments' LabVIEW 
or to write a custom program.

LabVIEW is the off-the-shelf answer, but the controllers are spendy 
(US$800-plus and up) unless I go with e-Bay, but the software is also 
pricey.

There are several other hardware options (ie, third-party 
controllers). Most are re-labeled Prologix USB or Ethernet 
controllers. The Prologix drivers provide a virtual serial port 
through which you can communicate using a terminal program. This is 
different from the NI controllers, but I'm not clear on the 
differences.

The Prologix serial approach leaves LabVIEW out of the picture as a 
software solution. It is possible to use LabVIEW with the Prologix 
controllers but you must modify the drivers (the complexity of the 
modification is described as anywhere from simple to time-consuming).

Anyone have any experience with any of these solutions (or one I 
haven't mentioned)?

I use Macs, but if your solution is Windows or LINUX, I can run these 
OS's on the Mac too.

Any experiences or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If there's a better forum in which to ask such questions, just point 
me to it...

Thanks,
Dave