Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "jriggen55" <jriggen55@...> 
wrote:
> My bottom line is:
> If you use Eagle, give DipTrace a try.
> Jim

Thanks from here too Jim! I'm always on the lookout for an 
alternative. I can't say I'm "fed up" with Eagle. I've actually gotten 
to where I'm quite comfortable with it, and all the features I'm not 
yet using are becoming useful and necessary, one at a time. 

Alan, I know you've bought the entry level Eagle bundle already, but 
if the "next level" you're talking about moving to, is referring to 
the Eagle "version" pricing, I'm trusting you'll carefully consider 
any limitations and alternatives. After struggling through some of 
it's "less than intuitive" interfacing, and becoming comfortable with 
it, that's really my only remaining gripe about the whole thing. There 
was a nice discussion here a few weeks ago on it. I've always seen the 
board size thing as ultimately being sort of an unnecessary "road 
block" for those using it for my purposes. 

I hang out in a DIY audio forum, where Eagle is the app of choice, and 
all the available boards are forcefully "squashed" into the freeware 
size restraints. It actually makes it a lot harder (or impossible) for 
most DIY etchers to print and etch simple circuits, which may have 
easily fit on a larger board, especially with the larger "control" 
parts like pots,buttons,etc. 

I admit, I don't know enough about that industry to know what they 
could afford to change in that area, but there has to be something. I 
was thinking that maybe if they limited some of the more 
"professional" features, like the milling and multi-layer functions, 
for those who obviously wouldn't be etching at home, it may allow for 
a size-unlimited, lower priced version, which would be too difficult 
to use commercially.  (dunno??)

If you agree with any of that, please drop them an email. I'm sure 
they get it a lot. I'm hoping they're the sort of company who won't 
disregard any customers who openly admit that they don't intend to 
eventually move into a career in the PCB field.

Take Care,

George

PS- Here's one of my favorite Eagle tutorial sites:
http://www.interq.or.jp/japan/se-inoue/e_eagle.htm