Homebrew PCBs

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Johnston" <mike_johnston@...>
To: <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 6:39 AM
Subject: [Homebrew_PCBs] Software Recommendations


> Sorry about the previous post.  I got to clicking a bit too fast in
Outlook.
>
> I've been evaluating different schematic capture and pcb layout programs
for
> Windows for the last two months.  Of what I've seen, there seem to be
three
> basic classes of software.  (1) Garbage that is not worth the time to
> download, (2) limited usability and (3) ridiculously expensive (>$1500).
> Several programs fall into the first category (I won't list them for fear
of
> offending someone's favorite program).  There is no need to go into the
> third.  That leaves the middle category.
>
> Programs like EasyPC are a pleasure to use but are significantly lacking
in
> functionality.  The well thought out user interface allows you to sit down
> and actually be productive in a matter of minutes.  But limited
> functionality keeps you from going too far.  At the other end of the scale
> is Eagle.  Excellent functionality but totally lacking in a functional
user
> interface.  Now before anyone says "You're crazy, Eagle's great you just
> need to give it a chance" let me say that I will fully agree with you that
> Eagle will do just about everything a home hobbyist and many pro's will
> need.  BUT, any program that is going to take three weeks of my time just
to
> figure out how to create new libraries, get them entered into a schematic
> and create a board layout is NOT how I define "functional".  It may be
great
> once you know it, but I would rather spend the learning time actually
doing
> something productive with another program.  With EasyPC I was able to
figure
> all of these things out (as far as the cripleware version would allow) in
> under a couple of hours.
>
> So, is there anything out there with the usability of EasyPC and the
> functionality of Eagle that doesn't fall into category three that I just
> haven't come across yet?  What is the closest I can get to both worlds?
>
> What do the people in this group use?

Pulsonix is excellent:

http://www.pulsonix.com

It is produced by the same company as EasyPC, but intended for professional
users.

Leon
--
Leon Heller, G1HSM
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller