PCB CAD software (was: Re: press-n-peel: any experiences?)

[Jim Patchell]

    While I have never actually used EasyTrax from protel (which by the way,
is completely free from protel, just download it), I was a long time user of
Protel Autotrax, which has more features but is basically the same.  In my
opinion, Autotrax was the best, easiest to use PCB program that I have ever
used.  It is however a DOS program.  I have no idea how it would work on
Windoze95 or NT.  This program is no toy, and is relatively bug free.

    It does take some searching at the protel site to find it.
http://www.protel.com

    I only saw one PCB program for the Atari.  I cannot remember the name
(that was too long ago).  I ran the demo.  I was already a protel user at the
time.  There were too many features in the program that ran on the Atari that
I felt were inadequet to persue at the time.  I would strongly recomend trying
to find easytrax if you are looking for an upgrade.

    -Jim

jhaible wrote:

> > Doesn't _have_ to be free, as long it's reasonably priced for hobby
> > use...
> > Preferably something that's available in Germany. Juergen? Martin? Rene?
> >
> > Ah, before I forget - what I need is:
> > * something for PC
>
> Not much input from my side ...
> I'm in a similar situation. I whished I had my "PCB Layout" (Atari) on the
> PC.
> I'm not sure if I have the time to learn a new PCB program at the moment.
> Maybe I should get an Atari emulation on the PC (;->).
> But when I'm looking back, it was a lot of time from drawing the layout to
> printing, to copying on transparency, to do the exposing, developping,
> etching
> and finally drilling. I guess I'm faster with Veroboard now.
>
> JH.