FreePCB compared to Eagle and others?

[David]

Don't forget the arse protection factor. If you spend $500000 on EDA and
it doesn't perform, it's their fault and the writs will fly. If you use
a freeware tool and it doesn't perform, you'll get fired. In point of
fact, the outcome is the same, and in the latter case you might have
learned something useful to enable you to select the next package, and
in the first case the vendor will probably win the case, but who'll
listen to your side?

This is a commonly used argument in the USA, where suing people is the
national pastime. It is not such a big issue in Europe or other parts of
the world, where people tend to choose products based on things like
"cost" and "features", rather than "how easy is it to sue the vendor?".
And if you look at the fine print of the EULA on most software, all you
can sue for is the price you paid for the software, and the only thing
guarenteed is the manual won't fall apart in the first six months.

 

[engr4fun]

This is a commonly used argument in the USA, where suing people is the
national pastime. It is not such a big issue in Europe or other parts of
the world, where people tend to choose products based on things like
"cost" and "features", rather than "how easy is it to sue the vendor?".
And if you look at the fine print of the EULA on most software, all you
can sue for is the price you paid for the software, and the only thing
guarenteed is the manual won't fall apart in the first six months.

I used to work in a software company that did work in the general EDA
field. Never had a problem with Americans. It was only Europeans who
would threaten legal action even though that only happened a couple of
times. I don't think this is an argument anywhere in private industry.
Maybe in government circles as they always try to cover their asses
there.

 

[Mark Borgerson]

If the vendor goes out of business, you're better off with open source
software.

I consider this a minor point, only because vendors don't go out of
business that often.

Ivex.


Mark Borgerson

 

[Chuck Harris]

Ivex.

And let see, who did TigerCAD, and Schema, and masstek, and how many
cad companies were consumed by Orcad before they were consumed by Cadence?

-Chuck

 

[Don Prescott]

I've seen the feature set that the BIG eda vendors are providing, and

the technology is just way more than small shops need, and it would be
a lot of effort to try to keep up with them. Even Eagle is way out of
that class, but you don't see me saying that "someone running a
commercial operation using design tools in anger is unlikely to want
to drop 'big shop' products and opt for 'Eagle'- not for a long time
anyhow....".

I can't see anyone downgrading to Eagle. Have to say I'm not an Eagle
lover. It's made a mark through offering a cut-down version for free,
but it's quite a dated product nowadays (like so many around).

Prescott

 

[proxy]

Its not about suing companies. Its about CYA. The other poster was
being a bit artistic with his example. In the real world there is a
real concern that if you buy something other than a big name, your
career can suffer. There's even an expression, "No one ever got fired
for buying IBM". And that was not a statement of their quality.

 

[[email protected]]

Interesting discussion, but clearly there is more than one conversation
going on. The title of the thread is "FreePCB compared to Eagle and
others?"

How many people use Eagle for commercial work as opposed to hobby /
free time / freelance? If the discussion is centered around the
broader topic of "appropriate PCB tools for mass-market commercial
use", there isn't much to say, the adoption numbers speak for
themselves.

If however, the discussion is about low priced commercial tools vs.
open source / free tools the comparisons are much more on target. My
view of Eagle is that it is just that, a low cost / low end tool.

To my mind this is entirely a risk vs. reward question; big businesses
are risk averse and well funded while small companies are risk tolerant
with smaller budgets. Those smaller budget projects are going to
evaluate open source / free tools and some will use them and some
won't.

I know there is reluctance to talk about the Linux analogies, but I
have to bring them back up. The hobbyist / enthusiast / hacker
"market" (if you want to call it that) is exactly where Linux started
out. Considering where Linux is now, my opinion is that it is foolish
to ignore the analogy for PCB CAD.

-Chris

 

[Don Prescott]

the adoption numbers speak for themselves.

What adoption numbers..?

I know there is reluctance to talk about the Linux analogies, but I
have to bring them back up. The hobbyist / enthusiast / hacker
"market" (if you want to call it that) is exactly where Linux started
out. Considering where Linux is now, my opinion is that it is foolish
to ignore the analogy for PCB CAD.

Well where do you believe Linux is, exactly...? The mainstream is
still firmly set in Windows

Prescott

 

[Chuck Harris]

What adoption numbers..?





Well where do you believe Linux is, exactly...? The mainstream is
still firmly set in Windows ^^mired^^


Prescott

Not for long!

Let's see, the Chinese government has decided to make its own distribution
of linux for use in ALL Chinese government activities (this after getting
a concession from MS to allow them to view the 'doze source code). Japan
has started the same type of project. Germany is using linux in various
civil government agencies, DOD is firmly behind a secure linux product for
DOD use. IBM is firmly in the linux camp for all of its enterprise systems
(remember how Bill gained his dominance?), Dell is providing preconfigured linux
machines, KMART is providing "Lindows" machines retail, HP now has a Linux VP.
Add to that, Novell's new CLE program, Oracle's support of linux for all of
its DB products. Linux already has 1/2 of the server market... it goes on
and on.

.... and even microsoft is using a linux server frontend to protect its
window's based webservers, the writing is on the wall.

-Chuck

 

[[email protected]]

Well where do you believe Linux is, exactly...? The mainstream is
still firmly set in Windows

Not that I think it is advancing the discussion about FreePCB and Eagle
much, but here is where I think Linux is: rapidly overtaking Windows as
the operating system of choice in a wide variety of applications and
environments. Don't take my word for it, here's a snip from
BusinessWeek January 31, 2005:

"In servers, researcher IDC predicts Linux' market share based on unit
sales will rise from 24% today to 33% in 2007, compared with 59% for
Windows - essentially keeping Microsoft at its current market share for
the next three years and squeezing profit margins. ... In a survey of
business users by Forrester Research Inc., 52% said that they are now
replacing Windows servers with Linux."

-Chris

 

[Don Prescott]

Not for long!

Let's see, the Chinese government has decided to make its own distribution
of linux for use in ALL Chinese government activities (this after getting
a concession from MS to allow them to view the 'doze source code). Japan
has started the same type of project. Germany is using linux in various
civil government agencies, DOD is firmly behind a secure linux product for
DOD use. IBM is firmly in the linux camp for all of its enterprise systems
(remember how Bill gained his dominance?), Dell is providing preconfigured linux
machines, KMART is providing "Lindows" machines retail, HP now has a Linux VP.
Add to that, Novell's new CLE program, Oracle's support of linux for all of
its DB products. Linux already has 1/2 of the server market... it goes on
and on.

... and even microsoft is using a linux server frontend to protect its
window's based webservers, the writing is on the wall.

-Chuck

IDC predicts Linux' market share based on unit sales will rise from
24% today to 33% in 2007, compared with 59% for Windows. In a survey
of business users by Forrester Research, 52% said they are now
replacing Windows servers with Linux - Yep, Linux is certainly getting
the server market!

On the desktop side, IDC sees Linux' share rising from 3% today to 6%
in 2007

6%...WOW that's really impressive! Yes, a vertible tidal wave of
change going on Chuck! That leaves Windows with a measly 93% share of
the desktop market by 2007..... Come on Chuck, it's still gonna be an
MS world on desktop apps!

Prescott