PCB layout software (Orcad versus Pads)

From: Tom McAndrews (justlearning1_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 07/01/04 

Date: 30 Jun 2004 21:49:52 -0700

Hello,
Thank you in advance for your response.

I am looking for a new schematic capture and layout program. To date,
we have been using IVEX (www.ivex.com) tools. Due to the complexity
of our new designs, we need to upgrade to more advanced tools.

I have been looking at the Orcad (www.orcad.com) and Pads
(www.pads.com) suites which seem to be reasonable priced for our
budget. Most of our designs are 2 or 4 layers, but we will be getting
into 6 and 8 layers soon. I have never used an autorouter but would
like to implement such a device for non-critical traces (both orcad
and pads have this option).

I am looking for something that contains the least amount of bugs and
is easy to learn and use. Does anyone have any suggestions? Does
anyone have any comments regarding the two packages I am looking at?

There is a blurb on www.pads.com that the future of orcad is in
jeopardy. Does anyone know about this? Should this be a reason not
to go with orcad?

Thanks again.