Homebrew PCBs

Hi, Steve.

I'll agree with all the other comments to date, and add my 2d.

Having used any schematic capture and PCB layout package will be an advantage. 
I would try a few if possible - some companies prefer OrCad (wow - I've got the 
version from DOS 1.? days :) others go for the Pulsonix, DipTrace or Eagle. 
Even if you do a simple board in several, you can claim experience (if not 
expertise) in them all.

HTH,
Donald.
-- Who has benefited from many of your sage words over the years.

Steve Greenfield wrote:
> Sigh... well, I knew I'd never get a consensus when I asked about this a year ago.
> 
> So I'm going with Eagle for now because 1. I found a book about using it in the Half Price Bookstore, 2. Someone made a library for the PIC32MXxxxx series for which I'm doing a few projects, and 3. It is free or cheap.
> 
> I graduate at the end of this year. If I put Eagle on my resume, do you think it will hurt or help? 
> 
> In my classes, AutoCAD is the official CAD, my instructor told me to choose which Schem. Capture/ PCB Router I would learn. There is a classroom budget for software, so I could pick something not free, but something that costs $2,000 to $15,000 isn't going to happen. I don't want something so limited that I can only put a few generic ICs on a board.
> 
> I'm attending Bates Technical College, Electronic Engineering Technician course. While I'm here, I'm getting the CET I should have gotten long ago and going for the FCC commercial license.
> 
> Steve Greenfield