I've been using Protel and Orcad for several years and am generally happy with both. We currently use Protel DXP, which I like better than Protel 99SE. I'm able to easily create netlist using Orcad and import it into Protel. The DXP version also is able to save documents as AutoCAD rev 14 drawings. That makes creating fabrication and assembly drawings a snap.
There is a Altium: Protel forum in Eng-Tips where you can post questions.
forum999
I have used Orcad and Protel since the DOS days (when Protel was called Tango), I find I perfer Protel, especially with some of the newer releases where Protel schematic has improved.
They give you free software that has schematic capture and PCB layout, and then you electronically send in your files to them, and they send your boards. It is very cost effective if you are making low volume designs. There are limitations however. The boards are limited by physical size and are generally limited to just a top and bottom layer.
I've used ExpressPCB, it's fairly limited, but good for simple prototypes - however, you can't export to another program later, as far as I could tell.
EAGLE also has a "free" version, that is far far more functional than ExpressPCB. See it at:
I didnt use Protel very long. THe version of OrCad (don't laugh) was the DOS version, but I used it up till about a year ago when some of the fab houses had issues with the gerbers.
At that point I went to Eagle for my consulting and personal projects, and I feel its a very decent package for the price, fairly good support and has some features I like better than the 50K version of Expedition that I use at my day job.
At least you can download the light version and get the look and feel of it.
Wow - 50K for a software package - what kind of advantages does expedition give you? I'm assuming it's for really large systems development with lots of engineers working on the same thing?
