> However, your management might also want to carefully examine the > reasons > for going to open source. >
Well, I can think of one good reason: Vista. Has anyone tried using 99SE or later versions of Protel (or Altium) on Vista yet? If so, how was your experience? I haven't yet tried Vista myself, but I've been reading lots of press and anecdotes, mostly critical of Vista. Your boss has probably realized that he has 2 choices: 1) Keep using Windows-centric software, getting ever more dependent on it, and paying ever-increasing prices. Which will just make choice #2 harder later. 2) Migrate away from Windows-centric software now. Difficult now, but will become even more difficult the longer it is avoided. I guess there is a third choice: 3) Keep using Windows-centric software and smile. Pay ever-escalating prices and be happy, happy, happy! My father and stepmom are going to be sticking with Windows 2000 and Autocad 2002 for now until the end of time, probably. As long as we are wishing, I wish there were a good open-source alternative to MS Access. I like Access, but MS wants too much money for it. OpenOffice has a database, but it is not yet ready for prime time (I evaluated it 3 months ago). I'll keep using Access 2000 until I can find time to learn MySQL and PHP or something. BTW, OpenOffice word processor is great for making assembly diagrams. I import JPEG pictures of a bare PCB into a document and add "call-outs" to the document, showing where parts go. MS Word has this feature too, but OpenOffice Writer is much more efficient at handling embedded pictures - it keeps the picture in it's native format (small file size) instead of converting it to an uncompressed format (huge file size!). Maybe later versions of Word do this too, I don't know (I use Word 2000). Anyone know of an open-source equivalent to MathCAD? Or do I need to stick with spreadsheets in Excel or OpenOffice Calc? I suppose when my Protel 99SE no longer works, I'll be looking at gEDA. The current Protel (er, I mean Altium) products look nice (if rather pricey), but I have no compelling need to upgrade at this time. Think of it this way: the money your boss saves by using open-source software may make it easier for him to give you a raise ;-) You should try to help make that happen, if possible. Best regards, Ivan Baggett Bagotronix Inc. website: www.bagotronix.com Robison, Michael R NAVSEA wrote: > Trentino wrote: > > I am a very happy Protel 99SE user but my boss is infatuated with open > source and he is asking about open source PCB schematic and layout > programs. > Personally I see no reason to switch from Protel 99SE or DXP but he > wants us > all to switch over to Linux sometime in the future. > ____________________________________________________________ You are subscribed to the PEDA discussion forum To Post messages: mailto:[email protected] Unsubscribe and Other Options: http://techservinc.com/mailman/listinfo/peda_techservinc.com Browse or Search Old Archives (2001-2004): http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] Browse or Search Current Archives (2004-Current): http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
