Best electronics simulators/design programs

[GK]

Was "Circuit Maker" the name given to the software suite that was swallowed up by Protel? I remember evaluating a trial version of the simulation part of the package years ago as an apprentice. In addition to the standard selection of components you could incorporate animated rockets, race cars and blinking LEDs into you schematic. The rockets and race cars could be configured to launch at logic thresholds when the simulation was run and the LEDs would light up when conducting current. I remember simulating a ripple counter that successively launched and array of rockets to demonstrate the capabilities of the software to my boss. Unfortunately he poo-pooed the idea of purchasing the software on grounds that "we don't need to launch rockets or race cars", so we were stuck with Multisim instead (which was pretty crap, IMO).

[rmacintosh]

Yes, that was what I used going through school.
That and traxmaker, for laying out boards designed in circuitmaker.

I still have them installed on my old computer.

[lgbeno]

You should try ViaDesigner, it's Mentor Graphics System Vision which is a mixed signal tool based on Eldo and ModelSim.  The have free evaluations for Amp Hour listeners.

ViaDesigner.com/theamphour