I just installed Diptrace and it was very easy to get started. Without
reading the manual or tutorial I was able to construct an easy circuit.
I then followed the tutorial and learned how things really worked :) The
interface isn't quite MS standard but it's pretty close. Certainly a lot
more intuitive than Eagle which I used in the past.
I looked at PCB Wizard but couldn't find pricing. I probably didn't look
hard enough but I expect that crucial bit of info readily available.
Since the free demo is severely crippled I doubt there is a functional
free version available. Pulsonix is so horrendously expensive I doubt
any hobbyist would buy it for home use. It certainly isn't free like the
original poster asked about.
I also downloaded and installed Kicad. Looks nice but there were some
drawing issues when you move components. Because Kicad lacks an
autorouter I'm sticking with Diptrace for now.
Sander
Leon Heller wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "roycepipkins" <royce.pipkins@...
> <mailto:royce.pipkins%40gmail.com>>
> To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Homebrew_PCBs%40yahoogroups.com>>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 6:15 PM
> Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: What is your favorite free PCB-CAD Designer
>
> > PCB Wizard from New Wave Concepts. The library is a bit weak but the
> > UI is so friendly that its a snap to make a new library component.
> >
> > PCB Wizard is the only PCB-CAD program I have ever seen that at all
> > adheres to Microsoft interface standards. The UI navigation skills you
> > have from MS Word, Excel, Visio etc., etc, etc. will transfer to this
> > program. It is obvious how to do most things if you use any sort of
> > common PC program.
>
> One of the reasons why Pulsonix is so eay to use is that it conforms
> to the
> MS standards. I often cut and paste from other applications into
> Pulsonix,
> it saves a lot of time when creating parts as the pin names don't have
> to be
> typed in.
>
> Leon
>
>