I wonder when India and China are going to release "asia-ware" software for
PCB design ?
We all know the support and programming are there already ! Just a matter
of time until they
release their software, I'm sure it will work just great ! but you would
have to learn a new language.
From: [log in to unmask]
Reply-To: "(Designers Council Forum)" <[log in to unmask]>,
[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [DC] EDA Software-- Any opinions?
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:20:58 EST
Heather,
You have heard (seen) some good responses and are likely to have some more
offered.
Here is my take:
1. Budget is critical!! There is a wide range of costs available and
functionality and cost usually both go up together.
The short list would be:
<10K PADS or PCAD (though there are those who will say that they both will
go away someday) these are the best of the "shrink wrapped" tools (my
opinion)
10K - 30K Allegro or Expedition Ascent, both powerful for manual and/or
semi-automated design
>30K Allegro or Expedition Pinnacle, high automation with lots of power.
2. The type of design you do is important. Depending on your complexity
(BGAs, Diff pairing, matched lines, RF, controlled impedance, etc.) you may
want
one of the more powerful systems for those high density designs, but if most
of your stuff is 2 or 4 layer then the high end is a waste of money.
3. Ease of use!!! The easier to operate the faster you will be able to
finish your designs.
Now with all those things said, you are probably wondering why Protel,
Orcad, EWB and others are not addressed. Well to be honest they just aren't
worth it. There are much better available for the same costs. Now once
again
this is just my opinion, but I regularly use 2 different softwares (one a
shrink wrap, the other a high end, depending on the type of design) and
have
experience with all those I have listed.
The truth be told (this one is for that "newguy" Jack) we probably
could
do this with crayons if we had to (only playing on the computer is more
fun).
No one can tell you what will work best for you and testing all the
different softwares could take years, so my advise would be to go with an
industry leader (Mentor or Cadence), stay within an acceptable budget for
your
management and learn how to use the tool you get (whether it is one you
really
like or not).
Good luck in your search and don't be to disappointed if you are still
using
EWB in a year from now.
FNK
Frank N Kimmey CID+
916-670-0645
[log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask])
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DesignerCouncil Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV
1.8d
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil.
To temporarily stop/(restart) delivery of DesignerCouncil send: SET
DesignerCouncil NOMAIL/(MAIL)
Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases >
E-mail Archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16
for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or
847-615-7100 ext.2815
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DesignerCouncil Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF DesignerCouncil.
To temporarily stop/(restart) delivery of DesignerCouncil send: SET DesignerCouncil NOMAIL/(MAIL)
Search previous postings at: www.ipc.org > On-Line Resources & Databases > E-mail Archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
