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i once talked to an Altium dealer and he said that PCAD is better than Protel. he said that most people like Protel because they havent used PCAD all their life. he also said that PCAD is more expensive than Protel so that also explains why it is better (although im skeptic about this statement).
protel in the past was not so strong but it was easy to use,but current version of protel DXP 2004 +SP2,3,4 is very good and strong enough for many designs.
I think it is very user friendly and you can integrates with other autorouters like as spectra and electra.
The two mainstream PCB design packages in professional commercial use are PADS PCB and Cadstar. Both around the £10K mark for decent options. The programs mentioned above are realy for the hobiest. If you want to earn money doing pcb design in industry, learn to use PADS PCB and/or Cadstar!
Well, I myself prefer Protel 99SE, since it does have that pretty SPECCTRA interface... you know, I pesonally think that SPECCTRA is the ultimate autorouter on this planet (well, I JUST THINK SO, please don't blame me if it's far too wrong!)
I'm using Orcad Layout plus since few year..and i found it a perfact tool for pcb design. it has many decent features like gird base or grid less routing, flexibility to/from import/export various other CAD tools, elegent schematic editor etc..
I agree with wahabmalik. Orcad Layout Plus is nice especially when used in cooperation with capture. The only thing is that the drawing tool is akward at first. Haven't used much else but thats my two cents.
i like ARES FROM LABCENTER it is easy to used i have tried lot cad designing programs but finaly i manage that ARES is the best choise among hobiest now it also support electra auto router
Mentor PADS Layout / PADS Logic are easy to use like PROTEL 99SE.
But, Cadence Allegro is Robust, as it is more design rules / constraints that can be set and Simulator to study SI, EMC / EMI issues. Candence Allegro is in much demand now-a-days.
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