"John Tartar" wrote in message
. 70...
I currently use ExpressPCBs layout s/w which is fine for my applications
and great for prototypes. But I want the option to use other vendors when
the volume gets high, i.e. selling kits.

If your volume gets higher you'll have the money to purchase software, right?

Of course, there are some pretty good 100% free options: KiCAD and gEDA being
the most well-known.

Advanced Circuits has some "free" software like ExpressPCB but you do have the
option of getting the real Gerbers (not just some proprrietary format) back
after your first order with them (see:
http://www.4pcb.com/index.php?load=content&page_id=46) -- this strikes me as
an entirely fair arrangement.

---Joel

"Joel Koltner" wrote in message
...

Of course, there are some pretty good 100% free options: KiCAD and gEDA
being the most well-known.

The Fedora project just released a custom Live CD oriented toward
electronics development. It includes gEDA, as well as kicad, so this is a
pretty painless way to try it out. hmmm ... I can't seem to find the
original link at fedoraproject, but a quick google shows dozens of places it
can be downloaded from ... google on "Fedora Electronic Lab"

...

xpyttl wrote:
"Joel Koltner" wrote in message
...

Of course, there are some pretty good 100% free options: KiCAD and gEDA
being the most well-known.

The Fedora project just released a custom Live CD oriented toward
electronics development. It includes gEDA, as well as kicad, so this is a
pretty painless way to try it out. hmmm ... I can't seem to find the
original link at fedoraproject, but a quick google shows dozens of places it
can be downloaded from ... google on "Fedora Electronic Lab"
===========================
I found gEDA at one of the Mandriva Linux repositories ....excellent.
Tnx for the info.

The prog is highly likely also available at an Ubuntu Linux repository.

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH