Altium Nanoboard 3000-Xilinx,Altera or Lattice variant?

[djsb]

Hi,
I'm thinking of buying an Altium Nanoboard 3000 for learning about FPGA's and the included Altium Designer software.
The boards come in 3 variants using a Xilinx Spartan 3AN, an Altera Cyclone 3 or a Lattice ECP2 FPGA as detailed
here
http://nb3000.altium.com/PDFs/NB3000%20Product%20Data%20Sheet_en.pdf

As I'm a beginner I'm probably asking a stupid question, but which FPGA would be the best for signal processing work (eg DSP) and general purpose work. I suppose the Xilinx Spartan 3 is the most popular judging by hits on google but I'm not sure.
Anybody got any advice on my best option?
Thanks.

David

[djsb]

Hi,
I've nearly decided on buying the Nanoboard 3000. However my local distributor is going to charge me over £4000 + VAT for a perpetual license on Altium designer even though the global price is $3999 + local taxes. This is a hurdle to me buying the board as after 12 months the license that's included comes to an end. I'm not complaining about the fact it cost $3999 in the USA just that it would cost me over £4000 in the UK for the same software. The exchange rate converts $3999 to approx £2563.
Because of this I will not buy the board or the software.
I apologise if this post causes any embarrassment as this is not intended.

David.

London,UK

[GeekGirl]

Ok first off you know that the software and IP provided in the software are yours to use forever ? IE after 12 months all that happens is you loose priority support and new releases and service packs. You can still use the Altium Forums (people there are still using versions back to 99SE)

Second if all you are going to do in the software is FPGA based designs (that is no schematic capture for PCB projects or PCB's) then you can use the cut down version supplied with the NB3000 (the price of the NB3000 includes the current version of Altium Designer and service packs and new releases from the date you install the software (and register it))

I am not an Altium employee or Reseller, I am just a long time user (since Easy Trax in 1992) (have owned most versions from 98 to current (ADS09 SP2)

Regards,

Kat.

[djsb]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
I wanted to start out with the NB3000 and then after 12 months buy the full Altium Designer package as I like the software. I also want to expand my PCB design experience into a professional package. I have mainly been using an open source (KICAD) PCB design package up to now.
As I was made redundant 6 months ago I need the skills that employers demand. Altium experience is valuable in the jobs market. As you can imagine cost is also a big factor and I really don't want to pay over £1500 extra (of my redundancy money) because I live in the UK. I wanted to buy now as the reseller mentioned that the prices increase in March 2010.
I hope this clears up any confusion.

David.

[GeekGirl]

If you just want to do FPGA work then the UK$240 (Farnell UK) NB3000 will be everything you want for the first 12 months. After that you only need purchase the "Custom Board Front-End Design" package which is US$999 perpetual or US$49/month in order to keep using the NB3000.

Dave.

Dave are you sure about this, if I am understanding what you typed, the software stops being usable after 12 months ?

Just I asked Matthew Tarnawsky (Senior Application Engineer) at the last seminar in Perth, and he told me that once bought the software could be used for ever and the IP without royalties etc. This applies to the purchased for year, not the rent for month model. (the version shipped with the NB3000 I was told by Matt was perpetual license ie never runs out, but Altium support and updates are not provided after a year)

BTW thanks about the tip for student licensing, as I am now a student I may be able to keep up to date (I need to keep my skills up to date as AD is the most widely used in Australia in my experience)

[djsb]

Hi,
The problem here is with the reseller in the UK not Altiums price for the software which I am more than willing to pay.
I have just sent an email to the reseller illustrating my complaint. They replied with some kind of corporate B******t to try and justify why I would have to pay more money (something about currency fluctuations, recovery from recession,small market bla bla). I just want to pay what people in the USA pay. If they offered something extra for the money fine but it appears they charge more because they can.
Suffice it to say Altium has lost a sale because of this. I'm a bit dissapointed as I really like the boards and the software.
If I do go on a course it won't be using Altium designer but Cadence Allegro, but thanks for the tip.


David

P.S I might still buy the NB3000 and hope that the reseller situation changes in the next 12 months. Is it possible to talk to someone at Altium direct about this as I really want to buy the software?

[Chasm]

I don't know how the student pricing or licensing works, but I saw the price listed somewhere once and it was practically a give-away price.

The student licence for Altium Designer 2009 is supposed to be priced at about 130 Euro (including VAT and s&h).
The version has a 1 year time limit. (Encoded into the license key, so forget about reinstalling. )

It has been said that Altium occasionally charges only s&h, so by all means contact Altium if you are interested.


The Nanoboard 3000 -while not cheap- looks great, but the time limited software is a show stopper which ends all discussions whether to buy it for me.


Edit:

From the Datasheet:
"The NanoBoard 3000 includes a 12-month subscription to an Altium Designer Soft Design license which is linked to the NanoBoard in the box."

So the software is not only time limited but also limited to a specific Board.
If you can't use the Software license with anything but very the NanoBoard you have bought, the time limit doesn't make too much sense.

[djsb]

Hi,
The price was cut because of the recession according to my local reseller. Now it's been increased because they think the recession is over.
I don't think it is. Altium has upset me with the way it prices it's software and the lack of UK price transparency. In particular I feel that the forthcoming doubling of the price will upset a lot of other people. Big corporate customers probably have the negotiating power to get price reductions but the small man or woman has to like it or lump it. I still feel that the UK price is too much (nearly £5000 for the perpetual license) and the increase to £8000 plus taxes will make matters worse. The 12 month subscription price is more reasonable at just over £2K per year but that too will increase at the end of the month. If the license runs out in the middle of a job and you've run out of money this will be a problem.
I like the products that they produce and sell but I still feel they are making a mistake with the pricing of the software.
Sorry to say they have lost me as a customer although I may change my mind if pricing changes in the future.

David.

[septer012]

I am a student where is this altium discount?  is it on altium.com?

[rossmoffett]

Post here when you find out, I'd like to know too, especially if you get a USA price.

[djsb]

Hi,
You have to go through your local reseller for the student price. I've been told and I quote "A student license would need to be properly verified and requires you to be a full time registered student enrolled at a recognised UK educational establishment"
Substitute UK for your country obviously. I'm assuming that once you supply the proof they will tell you the price.
The student price doesn't apply to part time courses unfortunately.

David.

[AlfBaz]

Hi,
I'm thinking of buying an Altium Nanoboard 3000 for learning about FPGA's and the included Altium Designer software.

Hi somebody in the forum is selling one at the moment
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/for-sale-altium-nanoboard-3000-never-used/