[sdiy] Pcb layout software - what do you use?

[Adam Schabtach]

I looked at a number of PCB programs and ended up buying DipTrace, available
at http://www.diptrace.com . I found that it was far easier to learn and use
than Eagle and much more reasonably priced than the high-end packages. Its
library inevitably doesn't have every part I need, but it is easy to create
new parts and the program can now import Eagle libraries (although I have
not tried this myself). The company is fairly young but their support of
their product is excellent.

I've used it to lay out five boards, three which I had fabricated (from its
Gerber output) and two which I etched myself.

As other people have mentioned, the ExpressPCB software/service is fine
also, but it readily becomes apparent that you need a program that can
export Gerbers if you want to use fabrication services which are less
expensive than ExpressPCB.

--Adam