> -----Original Message----- > From: Terry Harris [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2004 6:26 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [PEDA] Is Protel 99SE to 2004 upgrade a good idea yet? > > Having just been offered a discount to upgrade from 99SE to > 2004 it's time to think about it again. (I knew those special > offers would keep coming). > > Is it fit to use yet or should hold out for a couple more > service packs and the next special offer?
Terry IMO if you can use the additional features and prepared to tackle the learning curve head on then I would say yes. I got a complimentary upgrade on one seat as I had already upgraded to DXP when DXP was first released. I recently upgraded another seat from 99SE>2004 and although I do not regret either upgrade, the path to productivity for me is not as quick as I would like it to be due to my lack of skills in some disciplines (mainly the query language) limit the advantages in 2004 for me, more than shortcomings of the software itself. In addition to these seats I have another 5 client supplied seats, none of those clients wish to upgrade, so I have to jump between 99SE and 2004 quite regularly, and this is the worst way to work and learn, split between 2 quite different environments, sometimes getting back to 99SE seems like a breath of fresh air, sometimes it seems a curse. If you can stick to using 2004 alone, then you will have less of a learning curve than most I would guess and get productive with it far quicker than I. Do not expect to get blown away with Situs, you will find it a bit of an anti climax compared to the marketing hype and thus expectations from it. If you can make use of the multi channel feature then you will save time for sure as this is a core improvement in 2004, you could cover the cost of the upgrade easily just with this one feature, covering the retraining costs is an individual matter. But if you do not feel limited by 99SE feature set, then I think the most honest answer is no. In 2004 you will need to change a lot of the ways in which you currently work and think, but it is not to bad. The areas I have issues on are spread across the PEDA and DXP lists as are some of the benefits. As an existing user I am quite sure your local Altium VAR would be more than happy to arrange an extended trial for you, that way you can judge for yourself :-) John * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
