Jason wrote > > A schematic entry tool that is missing features and has many bugs. > A PCB system that has missing features and crashes a lot. > An almost useless 3D 'viewer'. > A redundant spreadsheet that tries to emulate Excel. > A badly integrated spice tool > An extensive but disjointed library (PCB and SCH) > A pointless PCB quoting system > An undocumented 'Public' API > The list grows..... > > > I am reaching the end of my patience with Protel and expect we'll > will soon > give it the push, a feeling that I expect many others have. It > would not be > unlikely for Altium to receive a bill from our legal department for wasted > time and money!!
> > P.S. Heads up Cadence, you should be using this chance to catch all of the > deserting (ex) Protel users. > > Jason, I have to respond to some of your criticism starting with PCB. You wrote > A PCB system that has missing features and crashes a lot. I am not sure what setup you have or if you are using even the latest service packs which were supplied FREE from Protel, but I turn my system on at 7 am and it goes off at 9 pm every night. I use it on three different configurations computers with different memory sizes, speeds, etc) and 99SE PCB is flawless, everyday 7 days a week. Don't get me wrong, I know how to make it crash, there are some design rules that will make it crash but I'm not a moron so don't try them again. I receive designs from other "Protel" designers and yes their designs crash (lock up) when I load them in my system. I generally investigate what crap they are trying to do the board and disable or remove it. I generally find former PADS users are the culprits for blowing up Protel files. Almost 100 percent of the time I have found that other "designers" are clueless to how to use this program in the first place. That's being harsh but it is the truth, there isn't a PCB design I cant sit down with and find out what your problem is. Perhaps more training or closer attention to this forum is the answer. I consider myself an "expert" with the pcb tools and sure enough someone on this forum will point out another cool and hidden feature I never used before. Look at your computer system, including running other software junk in the background. ie virus scanners, power savers, screen savers, etc. Disable all of it....Protel will work flawless once you have your computer system setup properly. > An extensive but disjointed library (PCB and SCH) Are you are clueless? If you want to see a messed up library system, look at Accel or Cadence. Accel's library management tool is 4- 5 K alone. What is neat about Protel, as an independent design bureau, I have the option to use pcb with any schematic design system, ( I have translators) weather it be Cadence, Inoveda, Accel. Try that on Cadence, you cant because the system architecture is closed so you cant import other netlists. I will not attempt to defend all of your other criticism, due to my lack of experience with the schematic tools, spice tools. I have used the sig integrity tools for controlled impedance designs and yes they also work quite well. I use the PCB tools 7 days week, I feel there is no design I cant handle with the current design tool ( with the aid of Spectra). I am hoping ALTIUM does not make this product ACCEL like, remember is was ACCEL that went out of business, not Protel. If ALTIUM wants to do anything they should make the more expensive ACCEL (bitmapped cayola) work like Protel. Sure the 3 D tool is not even a good toy, but do I really need it? No, I'm a pcb designer, not a packaging / electro mechanical/ designer or even a draftsman. PCB has become to specialized for pcb designers to try to cover , packaging/ mechanical engineering, thermal, and the company dental plan. So yes they can even get rid of the Auto RFQ crap. I don't want to be a buyer, damnit I'm a pcb designer. I have enough issues to deal with. I do contract work for Cornet Technology in Va, they have 5 engineers using Protel Schematic capture. I cant speak for them other than their designs all work, lots of them. As many as 100 designs a year, so the schematic tools must work for someone. Some of thier designs have 1500 parts, BGAS by the tons, from power supply boards to large panels for telecom switching networks. I dont try to tell how people how to use the schematic tools because of my lack of experience with using them. Good Luck using Cadence or whatever you bail to. Wait until you buy Cadence and find the only way the program will even install is with the factory rep installing it for you. I like that, I like that alot. Regards, Mike Reagan * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * To leave this list visit: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/leave.html * * Contact the list manager: * mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Forum Guidelines Rules: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/forumrules.html * * Browse or Search previous postings: * http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
