You can try the EDWin software for capture and layout PCB. It cost somewhere
around 70 pounds.
Moses.
moshe@gad-univ.com

        -----Original Message-----
        From:   Mario Thomaidis [SMTP:mario.thomaidis@UTORONTO.CA]
        Sent:   ש דצמבר 11 1999 9:13
        To:     PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
        Subject:        PCB Dilemma [OT]

        Hello

        I have a question to pose to those you who are familiar with PCB
design.
        I have a PCB I would like to create for production, but am having
        trouble deciding on what route to take. First of all, I will ask
about
        PCB tools. At this point, I am not inclined to spend several
thousand,
        or even hundreds of dollars for a PCB CAD tool (read: looking for a
very
        low cost solution - will not be used often).

        To this end, I have noticed that both Protel (30 day evaluation) and
        Eagle Lite have been mentioned several times before. The problem
with
        Protel is the huge cost (after 30 days) - although the 30 day
evaluation
        period would be more than enough for me to do what I need. The
problem
        with Eagle Lite is that I have a big board to design
~33cm(14")x15cm(6")
        - so it is not really an option (there are not many components,
however
        - in fact, I think I might even be able to get away with a single
sided
        board with jumpers), but I ask about it because maybe the full Eagle
        package will be a practical solution.

        I have in fact tried using Protel 99, but have found it impossible
to
        use given my lack of familiarity and its very poor documentation. I
have
        not tried Eagle Lite since it doesn't support a large enough board.

        My questions: Do I have a hope for a low cost solution to my PCB
design
        goal? If so, what might it be? If I go the route of the full Eagle
        package, what does it cost? Is it well documented? If I try the
        evaluation version of Protel 99, does anyone have any kind useful
        documentation or hand-holding guidance to provide? I doubt Protel
can be
        worth the money for purchase given that I don't expect to have to
make a
        board this big ever again - can anyone convince me otherwise?
Thanks.

        Mario