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This review was conducted with a 386SX 20-MHz, math-co-processor-equipped box with 10 MB of RAM, a 14" VGA card and monitor and an BOMB fast hard drive with approximately 20 MB of free disk space. Windows 3.1 had already been loaded before the review began. Granted, it's not the fastest box; okay, it's a nano-inch away from being obsolete for dense board layout on a PC.
en if this setup is very close to what most PC-based board designers are using right now, I stand by the nano-inch comment. This became apparent as the review progressed. Windows is known to be a power hog. If you're planning to run CAE/CAD programs in a Windows environment, a 486DX-50 or-33 with doubler capability is going to be a minimum for boards with more than a few DIPs--if you're anything close to in a hurry.
I confess that I like Windows. (I've recently been accused of being a latent Mac lover...no comment.) At the present time, it's not the solution to straight DOS that we need, but it is a step (3.1 makes two steps) closer. At the time of this review, Protel for Windows is the only PCB layout system that works in the Windows environment. MaxRoute from Massteck and the CAD/CAM Group's ECS schematic capture only provide pieces.
Windows offers the ability to approximate multitasking on low-cost hardware. I was actually able to work on placement for one board while another board was in the autorouter. Both processes slowed down greatly but not to a point that exceeded my limited attention span.
INSTALLATION
If you've already installed Windows 3.0 or 3.1, then Protel is just about the easiest installation you'll ever do. Because PFW uses Windows so much, most of the functions are within the Windows code If you can tie your shoes, you can install PFW.
DOCUMENTATION
Protel's documentation is probably one of the best manuals/user's guides I've come across. It's relatively small (334 pages), and it contains a lot of information. The table of contents and index are clear, and it's easy to find information on specific topics. There's even a glossary of terms. It's a bit rudimentary; in fact, it's downright basic, but that's okay.
The on-line help (Windows again) complements the...