Or, try Cadint.  ( http://www.cadint.com/ )  Like Eagle, available in 
pin limited versions for free.  Available in packages up to 32 layers.  
You can add capabilities as you need them.  Best integration between the 
schematic side and the layout side of any package I've seen (I've seen a 
few).   No connection, just a very satisfied user.

Dave

Bob Blick wrote:

>>Is Eagle Professional in the same league as the PCB layout part of
>>Orcad or Protel (now Altium Designer)?
>>    
>>
>
>It's almost USD $10K, so it's not in the same league. But I should tell
>you, in 1996 I worked for a company that used Protel, so I had to use it.
>I didn't like it, and I didn't like the bugs it had either.
>
>Fast-forward to 2005. I'm thinking my PADS PowerPCB 3.51 is getting a
>little long in the tooth and want to see how Protel, now Altium, is doing.
>I get the 30 day demo and do a start-to-finish design. Almost all the bugs
>that Protel 1996 had are still in Altium! Disgusting.
>
>So back to PADS for me. But they are now part of Mentor Graphics. Mine is
>the last version that includes SPECCTRA autorouter (SPECCTRA is now part
>of Cadence, competitor to Mentor Graphics). So I'll keep using the 3.51
>version, and it is just fine.
>
>For the price, Eagle is great. But I have never seen an autorouter worth
>using except for SPECCTRA, it really works well. Mostly the comments I
>hear about Eagle's autorouter are like this: "Run the autorouter to get an
>idea where the trouble spots are, adjust the layout and then route it all
>by hand". OK, whatever, I'm happy with SPECCTRA, run it, touch up here and
>there, and send it off to get built :)
>
>So I guess if you want SPECCTRA now, you need to buy OrCAD. I estimate
>$15K for a fairly complete seat with capture, spice, layout and autoroute.
>But if you talk to them long enough expect to get it for half that - it's
>the yearly maintenance they really want from you.
>
>Cheerful regards,
>
>Bob
>
>
>
>  
>


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