> If the speculation about the direction that Protel is taking is correct, > then they would be aiming to "serve two masters" - the traditional PCB > focused user and the user who wants it all. This sort of move would > likely make the software package truly "fat-ware" with lots of extra > features and complications that most of the users don't need and will > resent having to navigate around to get to the core features that they do > need. Protel's "Client-Server" model means that only those Servers which users are currently using change to a "Started" state, and it is possible to set Servers back to a "Not Started" state (as long as none of the currently open files requires a particular Server to remain in a "Started" state). (It is also possible to remove (un-install) Servers, though I am not sure how much benefit would result from actually doing this.) As such, this arrangement probably does reduce the amount of PC resources required by Protel, so if an user is designing PCBs, the Server for compiling C code (for instance) would be in a "Not Started" state (and could be placed back in such a state if it was in a "Started" state). And with some previous versions of Protel, users had options as to which Servers they could purchase. So someone who *just* designed schematic and PCBs could purchase the Schematic, PCB, and AutoRouter Servers, and *not* purchase the PLD and Simulate Servers. Perhaps Protel should look at restoring such purchasing options for the next major version. > At GE, they had a New Product Introduction procedure that forced you to > look at the real needs of the potential customer base. One of the > criteria used in drawing up the product specifications was that the > product should meet the needs of 80% of it's potential customer base. > Often, trying to meet the needs of the remaining 20% of your potential > customer base forces too much extra cost onto the 80%. The products > developed using this philosopy did quite well on the marketplace. > > Phil So It ultimately depends upon what part of the market that you are planning to sell to. There are PCB designing applications available which are very cheap (or even free), but there are significant limitations to their capabilities. Then there are really expensive applications, with PCAD (now owned by Protel) being *one* such example; in return for the higher price, purchasers (supposedly) acquire greater capabilities, such as the ability to create new layers (as needed), and a more sophisticated "padstacks" feature, for instance. OTOH, Protel seems to be "middle of the market" in that regard. It is far from the most expensive such application available, but neither is it the cheapest of such applications. As such, an "80%" rule has a lot to be said for such a market niche. Improvements would be provided when Protel assessed sufficient interest for each of these, but improvements which would be unduly difficult/complicating to implement and/or perceived to be of interest to just a small proportion of users would not be implemented. Failure to comply with this rule could result in Protel heading towards the "PCAD" end of the market. (But does Protel have visions of ultimately merging Protel and PCAD? The recent announcement of price increases, after the end of June, suggests an attempt to move "up market", so this is a movement in the direction towards the "PCAD" end of the market.) But my understanding is that Protel have an eye to the future in expanding the *range* of tasks supported by their application, as they think that that is where the market is heading for applications of this nature. I have previously stated that as an user, I have no objections to Protel providing yet more Servers (PLD support, compilers, etc) per se (even though I am not at all certain that I will ever use these). However, such enhancements should not compromise the continuing refinement and de-bugging of the "fundamental" Servers, to wit, the Schematic, PCB, and AutoRouter Servers (which I *do* use). And an "80%" rule would not restrain Protel from providing yet more bug fixes, nor from providing yet more improvements (when Protel assesses that there is sufficient demand from users for providing these). It is ultimately up to us, as users, to keep Protel informed as to where and how they should be improving their product. You may not get everything you ask for, but if you don't ask for something, it is far less likely that it will ever be provided... Regards, Geoff Harland. ----------------------------- E-Mail Disclaimer The Information in this e-mail is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this e-mail by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. 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