Dave Miller wrote:
> Just saw this this morning:
>
>> Courtesy of EDA DesignLine
>> (01/27/2009 10:20 AM EST)
>
>> Venice, Florida — Zuken is inviting design engineers to experience
>> the latest CADSTAR Schematic Design Tool and Library Editor as a
>> free download for a limited period of time, commencing January 5,
>> 2009 until 31 March 2009. This unlimited and non expiring copy of
>> CADSTAR 11 Schematic Design Tool will allow the whole design team to
>> explore the benefits of CADSTAR's integrated design flow
>> opportunities.
>
>> The designs themselves are becoming more and more complex, to the
>> extent that passing on critical design information between the
>> members of the design team, each often using individual design
>> tools, can be time consuming and allows design errors.
>
>> The major problem is that "right first time" design, communication
>> and data transfer are needed in a single environment. Zuken's
>> CADSTAR design tool operates so the design teams can process their
>> designs through one single design tool environment, and thus
>> maximizing their operational costs and efficiency.
>
>> One design Graphical User Interface (GUI) between the different
>> design tools provides important benefits including; ease of use,
>> programmable function keys, consistency between Schematics, PCB and
>> Library, re-use proven designs and passing of design constraints
>> such as impedance, length, delay, diff pairs, topology etc).
>
>> The free download is available at the company's website and to
>> download the software you will need to provide a MAC address
>> reference to obtain your license.
>
>> In conjunction with this latest release of CADSTAR Schematic 11
>> Zuken also created the 'Do-It-Yourself' manual to guide you through
>> the schematic design process and help you evaluate the potential of
>> CADSTAR Schematic. On the same website you will also find the latest
>> PCB design evaluation software CADSTAR Express 11.
>
> .....Seems too good to be true, but it may over come some of the
> limitations of the other free schematic software.
>
> Cadstar can be found at: http://www.zuken.com/products/cadstar.aspx
It's node-locked to the ethernet card. If that card gets lost or defunced,
you're screwed (unless you can change the card MAC address, which is possible
from what i've read about some cards).