--- In
Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "jriggen55" <jriggen55@...>
wrote:
> My bottom line is:
> If you use Eagle, give DipTrace a try.
> Jim
Thanks from here too Jim! I'm always on the lookout for an
alternative. I can't say I'm "fed up" with Eagle. I've actually gotten
to where I'm quite comfortable with it, and all the features I'm not
yet using are becoming useful and necessary, one at a time.
Alan, I know you've bought the entry level Eagle bundle already, but
if the "next level" you're talking about moving to, is referring to
the Eagle "version" pricing, I'm trusting you'll carefully consider
any limitations and alternatives. After struggling through some of
it's "less than intuitive" interfacing, and becoming comfortable with
it, that's really my only remaining gripe about the whole thing. There
was a nice discussion here a few weeks ago on it. I've always seen the
board size thing as ultimately being sort of an unnecessary "road
block" for those using it for my purposes.
I hang out in a DIY audio forum, where Eagle is the app of choice, and
all the available boards are forcefully "squashed" into the freeware
size restraints. It actually makes it a lot harder (or impossible) for
most DIY etchers to print and etch simple circuits, which may have
easily fit on a larger board, especially with the larger "control"
parts like pots,buttons,etc.
I admit, I don't know enough about that industry to know what they
could afford to change in that area, but there has to be something. I
was thinking that maybe if they limited some of the more
"professional" features, like the milling and multi-layer functions,
for those who obviously wouldn't be etching at home, it may allow for
a size-unlimited, lower priced version, which would be too difficult
to use commercially. (dunno??)
If you agree with any of that, please drop them an email. I'm sure
they get it a lot. I'm hoping they're the sort of company who won't
disregard any customers who openly admit that they don't intend to
eventually move into a career in the PCB field.
Take Care,
George
PS- Here's one of my favorite Eagle tutorial sites:
http://www.interq.or.jp/japan/se-inoue/e_eagle.htm