PCB cad software review

From: GrantM. (grant_at_solarbotics.com)
Date: 10/14/04 

Date: 14 Oct 2004 09:10:18 -0700

I know various iteration of this question have been asked before but
it's still a good thread to follow.

I personally have been using Protel for a few years and have been
quite happy with it. As much as I have read about it's instability
it's a rare day that it crashes and usually thats due to other factors
(running *way* to many programs on the same computer) and thats on
four different systems over four years. I found it to be a quick,
intuitive program that has tons of power under it's relativly simple
interface. The only problem is the price... $7995 USD.

Ideally I would be after a sub $1000 PCB program. The boards we make
are typically two layer and not overly complex, although component
placement is often tight. An autorouter is not essential nor is a
simulator (actually none of our boards work in a simulator checkout
BEAM robotics...) Our operating system of choice is win2k and is
unlikely to change anytime soon. Generally we tend to do a library of
all of our own parts.

I have been looking at Eagle, Easy PC, FreePCB.

As far as popularity goes Protel seems to be top of the pile (it's the
program they use at my post secondary...). When it comes to hobbyist
market then Eagle seems to be the most popular. I have also hear good
things about Easy PC.

I tried Eagle for a bit and found the posts about its "odd" user
interface to be bang on. My biggest complaint is the lack of a "ruler"
all measurements depend on a grid system, perhaps I am wrong though? I
think I could live with the interface but it keeps me searching.

I have given Easy PC a brief try and my initial impression is that it
is a scaled down version of Protel, not quite as feature rich or
polished but nice and easy to use (and inclueds a ruler!). Opinions on
this program?

FreePCB is an interesting and recent contender, can't beat the price.
Anyone used this one before? thoughts/opinions?

So are there any other sub (or close) $1000 PCB programs that you have
experience with?

GrantM.

P.S. I really got to like the ruler in Protel, use it all the time.

We don't need an engine! just a car with good brakes, let the world
move the car!

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Protel or ORcad?
    ... I still believe that for all the faults Protel ... >> Protel has grown slower and slower due to over doing the interface... ... > I've always thought the Pulsonix interface was very slick. ... > Leon Heller, G1HSM ...
    (sci.electronics.cad)
  • Re: Eagle vs Protel
    ... > I am up to the point where I must now purchase my PCB software because the ... I have purchased a full-blown license of Eagle and have never ... I have also used Protel for one specific customer and it has about the ... > For starters Eagle don't have auto placement of components, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Eagle vs Protel
    ... Eagle has some features that I loathe. ... Don't know about later Protel versions. ... >>complexity of the boards exceed the capabilities of Eagle Lite. ... >>For starters Eagle don't have auto placement of components, ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Eagle vs Protel
    ... >Wilhelm Lehmann wrote: ... >> because the complexity of the boards exceed the capabilities of Eagle ... >> I see there are a few posts about Protel, and I was wondering if I ... a non commercial medium version of Eagle costs 150Euro. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: Eagle vs Protel
    ... >>complexity of the boards exceed the capabilities of Eagle Lite. ... >>For starters Eagle don't have auto placement of components, ... I can't comment on the high end stuff, but AutoPlacement in Protel ...
    (sci.electronics.design)