EEVblog #527 - Altium Entry Level PCB Tool Rant

[Rigby]

It's the wrong path, but there is so much inertia in that company and that brand.  They fear they will be seen as .. pedestrian if they release a freemium version.  They want the low end, but they don't want it enough to change their entire image.

If they do release a free version, which is so insanely unlikely to me, the MBA playbook requires that they cripple it well beyond usefulness.  They will then use the lack of adoption of their crippled tool as proof that they are beyond hobbyists and discontinue the free version.

In short, they're too full of themselves to understand other segments of the market.

[VEGETA]

The problem is that no one can know when will they release it. Nothing in their website and I can't visit their forum... So, all we can do is mere guessing stuff.

[mrflibble]

The problem is that no one can know when will they release it. Nothing in their website and I can't visit their forum... So, all we can do is mere guessing stuff.

Well, somewhere 2014 Q1 it would seem ...

i asked the question on the AD14 demoday yesteraday
.
yes they will release a scaled down version . january february timeframe.

But since you said "know", yes you are right that we cannot know when they release it. It's done when it's done. About 3-6 months after the release of their new major version sounds plausible. Read the bug reports for the current AD14 version, that should give you some idea if it's sooner or later.

[EEVblog]

It's the wrong path, but there is so much inertia in that company and that brand.  They fear they will be seen as .. pedestrian if they release a freemium version.  They want the low end, but they don't want it enough to change their entire image.

Altium's modus operandi has always been to do a half arse attempt at something and then move onto the next latest thing - TICK. They then have something they can put in their marketing brochure, and in this case, to the shareholders. "See, we have a low cost version, we have fulfilled our pyramid structure and have an offering in every category!".

If they do release a free version, which is so insanely unlikely to me, the MBA playbook requires that they cripple it well beyond usefulness.  They will then use the lack of adoption of their crippled tool as proof that they are beyond hobbyists and discontinue the free version.

I think they'll stick with the low cost version for a very long time. It's just a matter of how much they screw it up.
There has been no hint of a free version so far, so that's still pie-in-the-sky.

In short, they're too full of themselves to understand other segments of the market.

They have spent 10+ years flat out failing to understand their current market. The only thing that kept them afloat is a lack of competition at the price point, and no debt.

[tszaboo]

And during that 10 year period, there wasn't a group of engineers saying: " Hey let's get rid of the pointy haired boss, and spin off from Altium, steal the source code, but just for the reference, and make a real alternative for Altium, and make it better" ?

[HWgeek]

I spent a fair bit (read too much time) trying to get the 3D to work with Virtualbox.  No go.  Until Virtualbox fixes the Direct X correctly it won't work.   

Ah, thanks. Yes, I have pressed that button many a time during the various tests. Anyways, that Test DirectX says it passes with flying colors. But in the end it doesn't work, so I have DirectX turned off. That way it uses GDI, so that I can work in 2D without problems.

[gildasd]

I am not a IE engineer.
But  due to a career change, I have to get into  generators/motors and their control electronics.

But before that, I had a pretty good career designing and building shops (40/70 per year) for a French company.
When they hired me, they had one or two licenses for an old version of Autocad LT.
Within a year I had them buy 5 full licenses of Autocad.
I made a custom version (getting rid of the stupid standard UI they have since the 2004 version) that made work fast and fun.
Multilayer blocks and groups, simple workflow etc etc...
I think they even have a couple of copies of Mechanical desktop now too...
Overall, more than 50 000 Euros (with upgrades).

And why could I do this?

Because I had taught myself Auto-cad with the version 14 for free...
It was suspiciously easy to crack, but the cracked version was not updated and a bit buggy/crashy, not fit for work but great for students. Almost like it had been done on purpose.
But, I think that everybody in my year asked for - and got - a full version in their first ever job.
We were useless without it!

I don't even get me started with some 3D software you have to pay seminars to learn it:
Meaning you need to pay an engineer 3 months to do nothing, pay many 1000's of euros for the software JUST TO RUN A TEST TO SEE IF THE SOFTWARE FITS THE BLOODY COMPANY!
Who's going to pay for that? You've just limited your client base to a few mega corps. STUPID STUPID STUPID.
Offer a free limited version, the engineers will learn it on their own time modeling tree houses/go karts for their kids...
Then run a small scale test with a 45 day trial version!
WINNER!

So I totally agree with Dave:
If I had a free version of Altium, even limited to a 50 by 50mm 2 layered design, I would learn with that.
But like the other cheap schmucks, I'm going to get Eagle, and one year form now, get my company to buy that when I get hired.

[ohmineer]

Altium may react knowing that one of the big names is currently playing the same game:
http://www.digikey.com/product-highlights/us/en/mentor-graphics-designer-software/4171

[DerekG]

Altium may react knowing that one of the big names is currently playing the same game:

The offer is for the Schematic only package.

I believe it just goes to show that the market is saturated with offerings. Farnell/Element 14 have EAGLE, RS Components have Design Spark & now DigiKey are getting into bed with Mentor.

Over the past 10 years we have seen a number of PCB design software companies leave the industry.

With Protel increasing their price by US$2K in July, it will be interesting to see if Altium can continue to turn a profit in the years to come. I for one would certainly not being buying any Altium shares.

Maybe the board pushing out founder CEO Nick Martin was one of the best things that could have happened to him. When he was pushed, Altium shares were worth about AUD$0.25. Two years later he sold his shares for around AUD$2.50. In other words, the company share price rose 10 times after he was pushed.

[AlfBaz]

The offer is for the Schematic only package.

One of the bullet points

•Direct paths to quick-turn PCB layout and manufacturing services.*

further down

*Not included in Designer Schematic beta release. However, this functionality will be available in a later release

Maybe the board pushing out founder CEO Nick Martin... Two years later...

Has it been two years already!?!?

[EEVblog]

Maybe the board pushing out founder CEO Nick Martin was one of the best things that could have happened to him. When he was pushed, Altium shares were worth about AUD$0.25. Two years later he sold his shares for around AUD$2.50. In other words, the company share price rose 10 times after he was pushed.

Still worth a lot less than what they were worth at their peak. Not to mention his shares being diluted over time by silly acquisitions like Morfik. Ironically to his good buddy who then promptly sided with the board to boot him out 

[EEVblog]

Maybe the board pushing out founder CEO Nick Martin... Two years later...

Has it been two years already!?!?

It's been over 3 years since I left! 

[SeanB]

And you would never go back.......

[EEVblog]

You heard it here first, the FREE version IS happening

[free_electron]

never say never ! that is spectacular news. if it is not half crippled it will be kicking butt !

[EEVblog]

if it is not half crippled it will be kicking butt !

Let's just say that overall I'm not disappointed with the direction they are headed.

[bookaboo]

Extremely interesting, when will full details be available?

[EEVblog]

Extremely interesting, when will full details be available?

I'm not at liberty to say.

[tautech]

Extremely interesting, when will full details be available?

I'm not at liberty to say.

This reads like a Siglent product launch. 

At least hobby users won't now have to look for the Altium cracked versions.

[nixfu]

Chris now has me trying out KiCAD, and so far... I like it.

[luky315]

Altium free version? .exe or it didn't happen :-)

[mikeselectricstuff]

My guess would be an announcement at Electronex

[EEVblog]

My guess would be an announcement at Electronex

Wrong target market.

[lowimpedance]

Just went passed the 'old' Altium building yesterday, still with the big "for lease sign" out the front. Guess no one wants a big brown building with Altium over the sides  .
 Seriously, will be waiting with baited breath to see just what will be "FREE".
Ive used versions of  PROTEL right back to the Ver3 DOS days, all for work. So it would be nice to have my own, whatever it is.

[coppice]

Just went passed the 'old' Altium building yesterday, still with the big "for lease sign" out the front. Guess no one wants a big brown building with Altium over the sides  .
 Seriously, will be waiting with baited breath to see just what will be "FREE".
Ive used versions of  PROTEL right back to the Ver3 DOS days, all for work. So it would be nice to have my own, whatever it is.

Buy land. They aren't making it any more. Altium's software may become free, but that building will always be worth something.