Heather,
Pads is a good tool... not my very favorite, but I like it well enough to recommend it myself for your consideration.
I have used almost all the tools out there at some point in my career, and if I have learned anything at all, it is that you cannot expect what works on one tool to work the same way on another. In my opinion, you just have to begin to think like the particular tool you are using (or evaluating) thinks. That is unfortunate, but that is how it is. Different programmers.... different mindsets! So I would say that you cannot necessarily evaluate the software by your particular frustration with starting to use it. Having said that, some are much easier to set up and start working on than others.
It can be helpful to ask different software companies to show you how they would do one of your particular boards. When they do a demo, they have everything streamlined, but when you give them input, you can see much more about ease of use, etc.
Best of luck to you. And no problem with more questions.... that's what the forum is for!
Susy
>
> From: Heather Gregg <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2006/01/11 Wed AM 03:42:25 CST
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [DC] EDA Software-- Any opinions?
>
> I tried the PADS demo a couple of months ago and had the same issues you
> described.....work-arounds and frustrations of getting (what should be)
> simple tasks done. After seeing so many people reply "PADS!", it's nice
> to know I'm not the only person who's had trouble with it.
>
> Hg
>
>
> Brooks,Bill wrote:
>
> >Heather,
> >
> >There are a few things I would look for in selecting an EDA tool and they
> >break down into the following categories...
> >
> >1) Cost to purchase - initial hardware, software, and cost of personnel to
> >operate it.
> >2) Annual cost to use - maintenance cost, down time, bugs, service
> >response...
> >3) Training Cost and the time required to set up and get productive... which
> >can be hard to estimate...
> >4) Functionality - software performance fit to your needs - does it do what
> >you want? What does it not do? Does it do things you don't need? Do you need
> >additional software to make it productive...like AutoCAD for drafting or
> >some other program?
> >5) Ease of Use - subjective depends on the operator and their experience -
> >try it.
> >
> >I can relate my stories of evaluating systems but they would be just
> >that...my stories... not an unbiased evaluation of a direction that fits
> >your needs. You need to kick the tires yourself.
> >
> >I use Protel in my job here. It works for our needs. It's fairly cost
> >effective and the user interface is fairly easy too, in fact that ease of
> >use drew me to the program back in 98 and I still use it. Sometimes I am at
> >odds with the development of the program and it's changes, the most recent
> >changes were very good. I have used Pads, and was very frustrated with it
> >early on because I needed to be productive with it quickly and the learning
> >curve was long and fraught with work-arounds that required my constant
> >telephoning to the support people for answers to things that didn't do what
> >I wanted them to do... simple stuff like printing, or making a board outline
> >accurately or creating a part in the library just would not cooperate... I
> >later found out ways to make parts and work around the issues but it was not
> >a fast process. Protel was faster to set up and run for me. I came to Protel
> >from Tango PCB and the commands and structure were similar. Mentor can only
> >be described as a very powerful complex program that given time and money
> >can be a good fit for a large company that can afford the cost of
> >maintenance and training and library creation, etc... it's not a low budget
> >software solution. But it is used successfully in some big corporations.
> >Cost per system and cost per year in maintenance is significant, and
> >training is needed. Some very rigid requirements need to be met in order for
> >it to function correctly... but when it does function as required it does a
> >great job. You get what you pay for... sometimes.
> >
> >Evaluate your needs, look at the costs, and the time to set up, and demo the
> >software... Some user interfaces can be very non-intuitive... Press the keys
> >yourself, don't just watch a pro use the software... it can look very easy
> >in the canned demo and be very difficult when you have a project that needs
> >to get done right away.
> >
> >Good luck with your search.
> >Let us know how it works out for you.
> >
> >
> >Bill Brooks - KG6VVP
> >PCB Design Engineer, C.I.D.+, C.I.I.
> >Tel: (760)597-1500 Ext 3772 Fax: (760)597-1510
> >Datron World Communications, Inc.
> >_______________________________________
> >San Diego Chapter of the IPC Designers Council
> >Communications Officer, Web Manager
> >http://dcchapters.ipc.org/SanDiego/
> >http://pcbwizards.com
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Heather Gregg [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 7:28 AM
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: [DC] EDA Software-- Any opinions?
> >
> >Hello,
> >I'm relatively new to PCB design (at it for <6 mos. now) but I have
> >worked in electronic manufacturing and engineering positions for 12
> >years. The company I work for recently choose to use the Electronics
> >Workbench MultiSIM/UltiBoard/UltiRoute software and I am the main guinea
> >pig working with it. Several other engineers do schematic work, but I am
> >the sole PCB designer. As I am learning and growing into a (hopefully)
> >competent designer, I have found myself less and less impressed with the
> >EWB software. It is a good intuitive suite to start with, especially for
> >learning the ropes, but I feel it's lacking features essential to
> >professional design work. For instance, the parts database and reporting
> >is lame or non-existent. Project and documentation management is also
> >missing.
> >
> >I have been looking at forums and websites to get a feel for what is out
> >there and I would like your opinions too. So far, I am leaning towards
> >choosing OrCAD or Altium Designer. Which would you choose? Any other you
> >would recommend instead?
> >
> >Of course, the next battle is getting my manager to agree to spend $$$
> >on new software so soon after spending so much on EWB. ;)
> >
> >Thanks for your time,
> >Heather Gregg
> >PCB Design Engineer
> >
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