CAD Packages

[Mr. Wizard]

Does anyone have any experience in using Altium Designer. What are the
pros and cons? How does it stack up against other CAD packages? I've
used Protel and Orcad for electronic design and it appears the Altium
bought out Protel awhile back. From a cost standpoint, I'm looking for
mid-level electronic design software. I don't think my employer would
open the wallet for the high end packages like Mentor Graphics.

 

[Andrew Tweddle]

Mr. Wizard wrote:

Does anyone have any experience in using Altium Designer. What are the
pros and cons? How does it stack up against other CAD packages? I've
used Protel and Orcad for electronic design and it appears the Altium
bought out Protel awhile back. From a cost standpoint, I'm looking for
mid-level electronic design software. I don't think my employer would
open the wallet for the high end packages like Mentor Graphics.

Its, the same product , just a name change to highlight the FPGA stuff

that is better integrated into the package. The company changed its name
because it was publicly listed on the ASE, and went about buying up
other CAD software companys. The level of complexity in the package has
gone up, but it is still substantially like DXP. You can always phone
them up and do a deal with them on a slightly outdated version.

Andrew