Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "AD5VJ  Bob" <rtnmi@...> wrote:

> Only problem is I am using WINXP and know nothing abt other
operating systems so guess I would have to buy a new box for linux or
> UNIX in order to even use it.

No, there are several options open to you without buying a new computer:

- buy a second hard disc, put Linux on the second disc. 
- use VMWare Server (which is free, and doesn't need to actually be on
a server). gEDA and PCB will run fine on a vmware'd system, they don't
hammer the hardware.
- get rid of Windows (might not be practical, but I did it over 3
years ago now and haven't missed it one bit, then again, I have been
using Linux in some form since Jan. 1992)
- resize your Windows partition, and put Linux in another partition on
the same disc and "dual boot".

gEDA's PCB is the first and only PCB application that I've used, and
I've got on fine with it. Apart from being Free (i.e. Free with a
capital F, i.e. freedom, not just gratis) it has open and transparent
ascii file formats which makes version control easy, as well as
modifying a layout with a script etc. 

I didn't even consider Eagle, because you have to pay a lot of money
for it not to have crippling restrictions (and I've heard some not
good things about being locked out of your own work with no appeals
just because you downloaded a footprint for a component that was made
by someone else with a pirate copy).