Homebrew PCBs

> > Andrewm Wrote:
> >
> > I am looking at spending less
> > than 10K on software, preferably less than 5K.
> > If I can get something that is good in all other
> > respects - but has a weird UI - I will be smiling.

> ST wrote:
> 
> The danger is if the UI is crap the programmer has
> messed it up, and he has probably messed up lotsa
> other things too.

I think this is a theological argument about UIs - 
So it may be a completly non-standard for windows
and you can't realy used the words "messed up"
The UI might be perfect and just the way [s]he likes
it :D

> Or it is some old thing carried over from DOS times
> that doesn't really interest me much if i'm going
> to buy new software.

It doesn't interest me either.  I will put up with
whatever useable UI I have to to get the other
features I wan't.

> I really don't think it's a price issue. You can
> find good and bad UIs in any price range.

Yeps

> The thing to do is try out all programs that you
> think may be an option for you, including those
> with bad UI if you don't mind that.

Eagle which comes in under 2K seems to have most
of what I want.

Ki-Cad would be a real contender of it had 
autorouting. (GPL makes up for a lot)

CirCad, Target, WinQCad are all in my price range
but either don't have the

1, Open-ness of file format.

or

2, Momentum from a large user base to give
   confidence they will be around in 10 years.

Pulsonix, orcad/cadence are not in many peoples
price range.

For me it looks like eagle - but I have a few
weeks/months before I have to realy make a call.