Free Altium is Coming - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ludzinc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 07:55:23 am
content: So after this post:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/sequentially-numbered-multi-channel-design/msg502524/#msg502524.. and catching up with the Amp Hour today, it got me thinking:What features do you think Altium should not include in their free version?What deal breakers are there for you to *not* want to try their free version?I'll start:Not Needed:o Roomso Auto Routero Templates and WizardsDeal Breakero No 3D

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 07:58:56 am
content: It's got 3D.In fact, its supposed to have most stuff you are used to.The idea is not to limit the actual functionality.

author: Ribster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 09:34:54 am
content: Quote from: ludzinc on August 27, 2014, 07:55:23 amThat one i find quite usefull actually..When you are laying out a driverboard with x outputs, you only have to draw one.I never use autorouter, but i don't like to do things twice..

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 11:53:53 am
content: i feel something is terribly wrong. did you miss the word "trial" or "30 days evaluation"?, or simply Altium is closing down?

author: charlespax
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 01:04:39 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on August 27, 2014, 11:53:53 amNow talking about the evaluation.Dave mentionedAltium is releasing a free version. Light on details right now.

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 02:22:46 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 27, 2014, 07:58:56 amSo maybe Altium will lock the ability to export gerbers to a maximum size & maybe this version will have a different file format that will be limited in some way unless you part with more $$.

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 02:33:42 pm
content: Quote from: ludzinc on August 27, 2014, 07:55:23 amI actually think that not including the auto-placer & auto-router would be a deal breaker for me.Hell, DipTrace does a great job of doing both of these complex tasks if you spend a few minutes to set them up properly.The Altium auto-placer works very well, but the auto-router doesn't do as good a job as using Electra professional with DipTrace.Even the standard DipTrace autorouter does a reasonable job. Even after spending some time cleaning the tracks up, it is still MUCH faster than routing complex boards manually.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 03:04:47 pm
content: I hope they exclude the fpga/Embedded stuff, together with the C compiler. Simulation can go, its cumbersome anyway. Keep all functions in schematic/PCB. 3D is a must.I would be perfectly fine if they would limit it to 6 layers or number of components to some 2-3000. And no vault. Maybe even the Gerber editor could go, it is FUBAR anyway, if they would keep (and improve) the viewing.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 07:32:54 pm
content: Windows only? No love here.Will be interesting to see if the Maker vendors such as Sparkfun and Adafruit will standardize on a Windows only program.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 07:38:32 pm
content: So it has features. But now I'm starting to worry about how they've crippled it to make people want to upgrade...

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 10:10:04 pm
content: I predict it will be limited enough that it won't be a "must-use" for most folks. There will still be enough reasons to ditch it and use full DXP.And the open sores crowd will continue using kicad/eagle because it's cross platform.

author: Cside
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2014, 10:54:50 pm
content: Make the full version free without caveat. Those who want to support it can and will. Those who cannot afford will do so latet add their business grows. Those who are just hobbies shouldn't have to pay and those who are psychopathic were always going to pirate it anyway.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 01:19:10 am
content: Free for non-commercial use I'd guess. Maybe a 4 signal/2 power layer limit. Limiting size and connections is kind of dumb.Sent from my iPhone

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 01:23:36 am
content: Quote from: DerekG on August 27, 2014, 02:22:46 pmOf course it will be limited in some way, and of course you have to part with $$ to get more.Altium are a commercial PCB tool developer, they have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders to make money.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 01:24:09 am
content: Quote from: timb on August 28, 2014, 01:19:10 amNope!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 01:25:53 am
content: Quote from: marshallh on August 27, 2014, 10:10:04 pmNo, that will have little to do with why people will continue to use them. People stick with programs because they are invested in them.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 01:27:25 am
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on August 27, 2014, 03:04:47 pmYour wish may be granted there.This will be a PCB/schematic focused tool, as Altium have publicly promised the focus of the company will be on.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 01:27:56 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 28, 2014, 01:24:09 amHuh. From the details you're giving, I can say for certainty that this is either going to be an industry game changer or a completely mismanaged flop.Sent from my iPhone

author: snoopy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 01:28:41 am
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on August 27, 2014, 03:04:47 pmYes keep all of the schematic and pcb stuff as it is and get rid of the FPGA/C-compiler stuff that nobody ever usescheers

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 01:30:33 am
content: Quote from: timb on August 28, 2014, 01:27:56 amYep, I was excited by what I heard and saw.Like I've said, there were few things that made me think they are headed in the wrong direction here.Doesn't mean they can't completely screw it up in true Altium tradition though

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 01:40:07 am
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on August 27, 2014, 03:04:47 pmFully agree.Another take could be that the cut down version will only export an encrypted file that is then sent to board shops who team up with Altium. These board shops then add on a margin to each job which is paid to Altium for the decryption tool.So the design software is free but you pay more for your pcbs.This concept is not new:http://www.sunstone.com/pcb-products/pcb123http://www.fabstream.com/how-much-it-costs.phpAltium would then promote these "Board Shop Partners" within this software package. You could send your design away to (say) 4 specified vendors for quoting. All this can be built into the software so that it is simply "Click for Quote".This could/would be a good model for Altium & I suspect this is the track they are going down with this new version.

author: Cside
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 01:43:53 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 28, 2014, 01:23:36 amMustn't upset the precious shareholders.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 02:05:25 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 28, 2014, 01:25:53 amI would give it a try if it would run natively on my Mac OSX.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 02:07:54 am
content: Quote from: DerekG on August 28, 2014, 01:40:07 amNope, that's not the direction they are headed.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2014, 02:11:38 am
content: Quote from: Cside on August 28, 2014, 01:43:53 amWell, the fact is Altium is a publicly listed company, and they do have alegal fiduciary responsibilityas a public company to make a profit for their shareholders.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FiduciaryMany people forget this.If they were a charity, they would be registered as a charity, not a public company.