Confusion on Altium Designer pricing

[jeremy]

Have you looked into Cadence instead? I pay a fraction of that for Orcad PCB Designer.

If you don't mind sharing, how much do you pay?

[AndyC_772]

In round numbers, it's about GBP£2000 for the software, and £500 annually for updates and support.

[Psi]

Maybe have a dedicated PC for altium and hack its RTC so it runs 10x slower
Might need to keep it off-net as well.

[Kjelt]

Maybe have a dedicated PC for altium and hack its RTC so it runs 10x slower
Might need to keep it off-net as well.

And never be able to update anything official anymore since software updates should be digitally signed and will contain the date of issue which should be checked with the system time, if they are any good in writing their software 

[martinets]

Just read this thread- you might want to consider Altium CircuitStudio available [only] through Newark element 14.  It's a scaled down version of Designer and the latest version 1.1 can import Designer files.  It's only $3K- better than $9-10K.

[jmarkwolf]

I use Altium at work, have for almost 20 years (it was Protel before it became Altium).

Will be retirning in a couple years and there is no way I'll pay upwards of $9K + the yearly, for the consulting I will be doing.

I bought Circuit Studio. It is Altium without the "fluff" that I never used anyway.

The current first release is a little shy of features (doesn't support PcbDoc format yet) but I'm sure it will be adding features in subsequent releases.

Check it out.

[LabSpokane]

How long have you had CS?  What is the annual maintenance fee?

[jmarkwolf]

How long have you had CS?  What is the annual maintenance fee?

I bought it a couple months ago.

Yearly updates are "currently" $500.

[LabSpokane]

Thanks jmark...,

Are the files compatible with the full Altium package?  i.e. Altium can read them directly?

[jmarkwolf]

Circuit Studio reads Altium SchDoc (schematic) files, libraries and project files just fine.

The current version doesn't read/write Altium PcbDoc's, in favor of it's own format, but I hear "rumours" the next release will read/write PcbDoc's.

Be advised the current version of Circuit Studio does not have an integral Gerber Viewer/Editor, but there are a lot of free/inexpensive ones out there. Viewmate seems to be a nice one for free, or $99 depending on desired features.

[zeino]

Don't want to hijack this thread but  I need to share my experience with Altium anywhere I can. I am glad I came here and learned CS is an option other than Altium and I will try it, I was focusing on Eagle. My experience with Altium distributor in Canada:

Altium may be a great software but its distributor CAD Microsolutions is totally incompetent in terms of customer services, and their handling of Altium distribution in Canada is horrible as far as I have experienced. It is 9 days that I have  requested a a student license and they denied it despite me being a student. All my communications were through university email and I sent them my student ID card with latest sticker, they emailed me first that the card photo is old and I should send new card and later they wrote this:

"We have also reviewed your other validation that you have provided and although you are a student at the University of Calgary, you are going for your PhD in Philosophy - is this correct?" In other words they interpreted the PhD in my university webpage as doctorate of Philosophy and as they understood someone studying Philosophy and not Electrical engineering and computer science (so much of logic and understanding) They later emailed me this:

"it sounds as if you are going to be using your student license of Altium for commercial purposes. This is also against the requirements of owning a student license of Altium" In other words they predicted that I may do something illegal in future and denied the license. After 9 days and me complaining to Altium of they attitude and discrimination the CAD Microsolution President Darren Gornall which the day before had called me and arrogantly ordered me to listen while he is talking and saying he wants to help me and doing me a favor sent the an email mentioning article 1.25 of Academic use or basically doing the bullying again and reluctantly agreeing with the student license which obviously I declined to accept after 9 days of suffering and harassment.

Don't know if Altium agrees with this treatment but being a Monopoly in Canadian market has made CAD microsolution a hazard for Altium society in Canada and the way they treat students is totally unacceptable. I now forced to look at Eagle or Orcad for my hardware implementation of my Thesis (indoor positioning cooperative algorithms) and have very negative bias towards Altium in Canada and CAD microsolutions specifically. I hope the monopoly is ended as soon as possible and Canadians have a choice. I share this with you to be aware of it and report any similar incident. Obviously CAD microsolutions have never dealt with students otherwise the would have known what PhD stands for. Obviously the shouldn't be given the last say in licensing in Canada. They are not competent for this role at least.

Who on earth uses an expensive non perpetual license for commercial use when he knows it will end next year. It makes sense as a university thesis with the aim to master a tool before heading to market. The way of reasoning on this is absurd and if hypothetically even a student does that that should be considered a plus for Altium as they will eventually have that students as their future license buyer. Unfortunately, CAD microsolutions are  not competent enough to understand Altium stand in the market and are working against it in Canada. It is a shame that they represent Altium.

Soon I will build my circuit with Eagle and share it in Linkedin and Educational societies and repeat my story for everyone to know! May CAD microsolutions be ashamed on how they treated students and this particular student. All emails  between me and CAD microsolutions  are available for anyone interested.

[DerekG]

I have replied to you here:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/bad-experience-with-altium-canada-distributor-cad-microsolution/msg699687/#msg699687