🚀 go-pugleaf

Eeyore <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> writes:

> John Devereux wrote:
>
>> Eeyore <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> writes:
>>
>> > On the subject of dongles, a client uses an old copy of a useless POS ( IMHO ) schematic and > pcb software
>> from the UK called Vutrax. They even use it for mech drgs because you can ( it was > designed as a sort of
>> all in one package ).
>> >
>> > That requires a dongle and to their chagrin they found it didn't work with XP because of the way > XP
>> controls access to the I/O. Their only resort was to keep a W98SE PC for the purpose.
>>
>> FYI they should be able to supply a non-dongled version.
>
> For MONEY, no doubt.

No doubt :) But in their position I would pay to have a non-dongled
version of such mission-critical software. Backwards compatibility is
very good so they should not have much trouble.

All modern versions of Vutrax are available for windows or linux. They
work fine under emulation and virtualization too. In this sense it is
as future-proof as it is possible to get for a piece of commercial
software. There are no security keys, node locking or dongles. All
data files are either text already, or can be saved in text format.

Having said that the program originated ~30 years ago, and does show
it to an extent.

>> > Their use of Vutrax also means their CAD files are totally incompatible with virtually everyone else > in
>> the world but hey-ho ! As a result some products have ended up being drafted in no less than > THREE
>> packages. I've originated in Orcad for example. They complete the schematic design in > Vutrax and the
>> sub-contractor who was doing layout used PADS !
>>
>> You mean there is such a thing as a *compatible* PCB CAD format? :)
>
> Wasn't EDIF meant to be such a thing ? Never seemed to take off AFAICS.

Known as vendor lock-in.

-- 

John Devereux