i only want to mention that there are ways to get around eagles "free"
limits if you only
want it for personal pcbs.
I tried it for some days unlimited without paying for it.
me feeling about this is the folowing:
i would clearly not buy a package like eagle or any other cad for some 100
usd (or ∗10 or ∗100)
because this is way too much for me. i can't spend that much on software, i
can hardly spend it on hardware.
but still i want to use it. for privat purposes, not selling much of great
value (maybe to compensate material
costs and the time if i make something for a (not so good) friend.....).
but still i never would buy the software... because i can't afford....
so i find a way to use it (not limited which may render it unuseable)
without paying...
the advantage for the programming company is the following:
i use it, i know it, obviously i like it as i use it.
if i ever have to choose a software package or suggest one i definitely
would suggest this one i use.
if i talk to anybody about the specific software kind i would tell him that
i use this particular package.
so he knows it too. if he has to decide what to buy he has already heard of
the package i use.
so maybe at a time there will be a additional buyer of the software (me or
not) in the future
because i now use it without paying....
i think this is pretty much the philosophy of "student version".
but some companies don't offer student versions. so i have to find another
way (and there are other ways....).
I don't know how the law is in your country and how exactly it is
controlled.
but here i have not heared of any case where PERSONAL useage without paying
was legaly prosecuted...
it may get more "dangerous" in the future.... and for companies it is a big
no no....
ok, i hope i wrote this as careful and discrete as possible...
regards
stefan
oh, to say something of interest too:
i personally still prefer ORCAD over eagle..
orcad is really great, very powerful...
has pspice integrated and pld programming as well as schematic and layout
and gerber editor...
and for all guys who don't like what i wrote:
this was only a joke! you know, you can't use software without paying,
there are keys and such stuff.
impossible! be sure i never did and would never do! ;-)
On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 00:35:12 +0200, Markus Zingg <m.zingg@...> wrote:
> Hi Dave
>
> I'm personally using eagle, but bought a professional license. The
> free one is fairly limitted space wise. I'm fairly happy with eagle
> and also needed support from them which was free and excellent.
> However this profesional version costs some $$$ so if you are on a
> thight budget, you may consider what follows.
>
> There is a free schema capture and layoutsoftware available with a
> very impressive feature list. I haven't really worked with it, but
> maybe it's something for you. I downladed it and quickly played around
> wiht it a while ago and was quite impressed from this first look. If I
> would have to re-evaluate at this point in time I definately would
> take a closer look. The product is called Autotrax and is - what is
> hard to belive for a product as powerfulll and complete as it seems -
> completely free.
>
> http://www.autotraxeda.com/
>
> Markus
>
>> interesting idea.
>>
>> my biggest problem is in board design software.
>>
>> seems eagle is about as free as you get
>> with functinality.
>>
>> what file types to they take ?
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "kingsettler2002"
>> <jamesjain2003@n...> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi All,
>>> ..so I used to make simple boards myself, but I think the price points
>>> have come down so much for proto borads that it is really
>> okay
>>> to get them made professionaly...for as little as $13 a borad
>>>
>>> I bought a few boards from pcbFABexpress (not to be confused with
>>> pcbexpress) and this is what i found:
>>> The minimum quantity is 5 boards; (it may work for some of you but
>> I
>>> would like minimum to be a little less than 5)
>>> HOWEVER..the $13 for 2 layer price is applicable to this..you DON'T
>>> have to buy 15 or 20 to get that price as other companies do.
>>> The boards have been GREAT in quality...no problems at all..you can
>>> tell they get it made from some good shops.
>>>
>>>
>>> ALSO pcbFABexpress has a great referral program. Some silly name
>> like
>>> Gimme20. But essentially if you refer a friend to the site and that
>>> friend orders boards..you get $20 off!
>>>
>>> So I was able to get 5 double sided boards for about $40 using that $20
>>> online coupon! That's $8 a board..mask, silkscreen(legend) tooling ALL
>>> INCLUDED..I don;t know how these guys can offer it at such low prices --
>>>
>>>
>>> hope they have a biz model that works in the long run..but in the short
>>> term i am enjoying the prices.
>>>
>>> I even got my senior year project boards (from college)re-made at these
>>> prices..so they look nice and clean and I can prodly show
>> them
>>> around as the first boards I ever designed.
>>>
>>>
>>> has anybody used pcb-pool.com? Let me know if you have..i might try
>>> them out too.
>>>
>>>
>>> James
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Roan" <bob@t...> wrote:
>>> > I am trying to make my own PCB boards and have identified at
>> least
>>> (!)
>>> > two areas where I need help.
>>> > > #1 - When I held the drill in my hand to drill the holes, they
>>> weren't
>>> > in very good alignment (probably an understatement.)
>>> > > #2 - When I try a two sided board, I will have to connect the
>>> circuits
>>> > on the two sides with what I think are called vias.
>>> > > I'm willing to spend some money (under $200) would be nice on
>>> equipment
>>> > to help me in these areas. I particularly like the idea of cnc,
>> if
>>> I'm
>>> > correct that it would automatically position the drill, but I am
>> not
>>> > very skilled at designing and assembling hardware. But I might
>> be
>>> able
>>> > to do something simple. I'm a pretty good programmer, so I might
>> be
>>> > able to compensate on the software side for these shortcomings.
>>> > > any suggestions?
>>> > > thanks
>>> > > bob
>>> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
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