PCB design and layout software

[Uman]

I have a couple of questions about PCB software and manufacturers.
I am in the market for a PCB design and layout application software to produce small single and double sided boards. There are so many to choose from and trial versions to "learn", I am having trouble selecting. Of course price is a factor and so is ease of use and the learning curve. I will not use this daily, so I would like an intuitive progam. I experimented with PCBexpress PCB software V2 freeware and it seems good. If anybody has experience with PCB Express customer satisfacation, I would be interested too.

Also, can you recommend a good prototype PCB company to produce a couple of prototype boards at good quality and price?

Thank you,
Jeff in Florida

[Dazza]

Hi Uman,
I found PCB express software the easiest to learn and use :), and I am absolutely hopeless at learning to use new software :(. I like to make my own PCB so this software isn't much good for me, it won't print out the PCB pattern >:(, I'm still searching for software that is as easy to use as PCB express, no luck yet,

[Dave Elliott]

Try the PCB Wizard (Home Version) from Maplins. Their e-mail address is http://www.maplin.co.uk I have bought it recently and am delighted with it. It lets you do schematics & pcb layout for single and double sided layouts. It prints pcb layout at actual scale.
If you have any difficulty in obtaining this program send me an e-mail to this website.
Regards
Dave.

[MP]

Here are some tutorial sites for the free Eagle Layout software:

http://www.interq.or.jp/japan/se-inoue/e_eagle.htm

http://www.precma.com/informatica/tutorial.htm

MP