Dwayne=A0, I am happy with Mentor Graphics Pads. I am not saying best in the world but= compare to other high end software pads is good. AA ________________________________ From: Dwayne Reid To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. =20 Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 6:56 PM Subject: Re: [EE] Altium Electronic CAD software questions =20 Many thanks to everyone regarding their thoughts and experiences with=20 Altium.=A0 I've also had a chance to talk with a couple of users here=20 in Edmonton and they both tell me that they would NOT purchase Altium=20 again, given their experience with the package. Their experience matches some of what was mentioned by PIClisters -=20 its buggy and it crashes.=A0 One local user sort-of drove a final nail=20 into Altium's coffin - one of the main reasons I was wanting to make=20 a change was because Altium updates component symbols and footprints=20 on a regular basis.=A0 Craig (one of the local users I spoke with) says=20 that Altium designs their footprints for high-end automated=20 production equipment and the copper features are often too small for=20 easy or reliable hand assembly and rework. In other words, he winds up modifying most of the footprints that he=20 uses (both SMD and through-hole) to have larger copper=20 features.=A0 That is: wider and longer SMD pads, larger copper annulus=20 on through-hole components. So: if the main reason that I want to change to a different package=20 has been negated, that pretty much eliminates the reason for making the cha= nge. The Altium rep is decidedly unhappy with me.=A0 That's 10 grand that=20 I'm not going to spend with him. Now on to a related topic: What do people think the CAD package called "DipTrace"?=A0 The other=20 Altium local user that my business partner spoke with runs a company=20 somewhat larger than ours and he is currently evaluating DipTrace to=20 replace Altium.=A0 He, too, is tired of the bugginess that Altium=20 exhibits and is *REALLY* tired of paying the yearly software=20 assurance fees that Altium charges. I looked at DipTrace myself a few months ago, when Parallax jumped on=20 board with the package but have never spent any significant time with=20 the package. I'm not particularly eager to get rid of CADint - its a=20 stupidly-powerful software package that works really well.=A0 The=20 Altium deal looked good because of the ever-increasing library of=20 components and footprints, which CADint doesn't offer.=A0 But CADint is=20 relatively difficult for newbies to learn (easier than Eagle, but not=20 much) whereas DipTrace looks to be stunningly easy to learn. Opinions greatly appreciated. Many thanks! dwayne --=20 Dwayne Reid=A0 Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd=A0 =A0 Edmonton, AB, CANADA (780) 489-3199 voice=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 (780) 487-6397 fax www.trinity-electronics.com Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .