Thanks for the info.

I think I will stick with Eagle. It is free, it has schematic capture.

Eagle is a good package but the learning curve seem to put a lot of people off. The free version does everything I need/want.

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Its worth having a play with Sprint - its only a 5.6mb download and although its save/print disabled for the demo it will give you an idea if its worth using for you.

 

ISIS and Aries for Labcenter Electronics http://www.labcenter.co.uk/index_uk.htm

The version I have is not free (I use the Starter Kit 500 pads max) but I know it and it does every thing from Schematic to VSM and on to design the board. No need to learn anything else or use any other package.

I also find the support great.

 

Well I had a bit more of a play with Sprint and purchased a copy about 5 minutes ago. Questions from the company were answered promptly via email and I've got a fair bit of PCB work to do this week so if its as good as it seems to be I can get a lot of work done

 

Zuken CADStar Express is available free now with 300 pin limitation.
http://www.cadstarworld.com/downloads.asp#express

Even KiCAD is good. Its feature rich and most important..its FREE.
http://www.lis.inpg.fr/realise_au_lis/kicad/

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The original question is too broad.
What is the best PCB Layout Software?

Obviously the best PCB layout software is something that few or none of us can afford.

Better questions would be
What is the best free Layout Software?
What is the best Layout software for under $??

I do not like the idea of a limit on the number of pins or a restricted component library.

The only system that I would switch to is the "Proteus PCB Design" mentioned by Tim_B and used by gramo. But I can not come close to affording it. Proteus adds a real feature, The ability to use the same schematic for spice simulations (with PICS) and as input to the PCB layout tool.

It is much too costly for hobby use. The version Tim_B uses is the least expensive at £150 but only supports 3 processors. The price doubles if you want a family, and is 5X for all the families. The educational discounts are on the low side at 20% off.

Also remember that you do not pay for this sort of software once. There is always updates etc.

Edit:
After some refletion I see that my cost based questions are too narrow also.

One should also concider what features the users needs.
If the user is making a board or two or if he actualy want to advance.
I am sure there are more.

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After trying Eagle and a few others, I finally settled on ExpressPCB.
It is quite intuitive in its interface and I am quite surprised that it doesn't get anybody else's approval or even the casual mention that they have tried it and didn't like it because.........
P.S. It is free.

 

I have tried it and I don't like it because when you try to take print-out of your layout, it comes with grid on. No matter what setting you try, it doesn't go. This is purposely done so that you have to order your PCBs from them only.

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I have used two different versions in the past year or so, and I newer have had that problem!
You don't "take print-out of your layout", you go to File and select the Layers you want to print. The only small complaint I have is that they only print in the center of the page but you can get around that if it is a problem
I guess it is this kind of misinformation that has given it a bad name.
Besides if you had written them about it they would have helped you, they have always answered my emails and listened to my suggestions.

 

I used it 5-6 years ago and then never tried it. I guess they removed that "feature" in the recent versions. I don't think that was a "misinformation" as such thing did existed in the past.

Read this
http://glenn.hackleman.net/Express.htm

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In the last few days I have downloaded the free versions of,

PC express
Kincad
Eagle
PCBwizard

Eagle is pretty tough for a beginner but, There is a Linux version and thats a plus.

Kincad has a linux version also but dont know if there is autoroute,
I think thats what its called when you can take a schematic and automatically convert it to a Board trace, is that right?

PC Express and PCB wizard are pretty simple, and windows only, but dont know about autotrace.

 

So you don't like the word "misinformation" when you refer to a function in a program that you tried many years ago, well then we can just call it outdated info, not much better. I think we (the forum) would like to be better informed than that.

As for the URL, you are referring to in order to back up your statement; there is no way I know of dating it and since it is not dated or refer to any Version #, I would expect that it is outdated information also.

 

Express PCB has a function called "Link schematic to PCB", that I have newer used.
Hope you are not confusing "simple" with easy to use. It has much more sophistication that is apparent the first few times you use it. It has newer let me down.

 

"Link schematic to PCB" is nothing but "forward-backward annotation" function which is present is almost all professional PCB softwares. After the schematic and PCB are linked, any changes you make in the schematic are reflected on the board and vice-versa.

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Here is part of what the Help File says:
"Once linked, Express PCB can show you which pins should be connected together by highlighting them in blue."
Is this the same as you call annotation? I am not trying to give you a hard time, I am just trying to learn.