--- In [email protected], "markjames_ipower" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hello, > > I'm new to KiCad, I've downloaded the last version and looked at it's > features and functionality. My company is at the point where we need > to decide if we should start using KiCad or buy one of the other > packages. I've used Orcad and Altium (and minor work with PADS and > PCAD) I'm not happy with most and really don't like Altium so I'm very > interested in KiCad. However, I don't have the time to do a project > with KiCad before my company decides; you have experience with this > program and it's evolution to this point. Do you think it is at the > point where we can put our trust in it as a primary design tool? > > I'd appreciate your input.
I haven't used KiCad, so I can't say one way or the other about this package. But if you are making a critical decision for your company, and you (or others) feel that you need to choose the tool that you are going to commit to, then I suggest that you really need to take the time to make your own informed opinion. I say this because of two things you said. You said that you have tried several other tools and are not happy with them. So clearly you have some idea of what you want/need from a layout tool and you have not shared that with us. The other is that you say that your company considers this a "primary" design tool. If this decision is that important, then shouldn't adequate resources be devoted to making the decision? I would suggest that instead of making this decision in haste, you might want to take your time. In particular, I don't think you can rely on the opinions of others to determine what the best choice is for you. Download a couple of packages and test them a bit, even if only for a day. You can learn a lot about the UI, the style and the learning curve in just a day of working with a package. In addition you need to consider the support, even for a "free" layout package. All that said, I would recommend that you evaluate FreePCB, assuming that it meets your most basic needs. For example, FreePCB is a windows program. If you want to run Linux, you need to run FreePCB under a Windows interface package of some sort. If you look at FreePCB, be aware that the most recent releases are alpha versions because of some significant changes that have been recently made. I believe ver 1.343 is the most current stable version. The support is pretty good with a Yahoo group and a Forum on the FreePCB website... at freepcb.com. What ever you decide, let us know. Feedback is always useful. Rick
