[rescue] Sun Kit Needed for EE Student Here

[Joshua Boyd]

On Thu, May 04, 2006 at 10:59:31AM -0700, Don Y wrote:

> But, like most folks, I have a limited budget to spend on
> hardware AND software.  CAD software isn't cheap.  Nor
> is PCB/EDA software.  So, live without the software
> (which means you just *can't* do these things) OR live
> with less hardware -- and "work smarter"  (e.g., I
> switch to writing code when I am waiting for a 3D
> rendering of an injection molded case to complete -- I
> suspect your employer wouldn't take too kindly to your
> CAD guys sitting around waiting  :>  And, they probably
> DON'T also write code, etc. to fill that waiting time!)

I can't say that I've seen them objecting to providing unsuitable
hardware for engineers to work on, despite the delays it causes.

> And how likely is a *student* to find this sort of software
> running on a "cheap Sun"?  :>

I believe that BRL-CAD, QCad, and geda are all supposed to run decently
on such hardware.  BRL-cad is certainly clunky, but people do still use
it for real work anyway.
 
Plus, you never know what you might find preinstalled.

> One of these days I'll upgrade that machine - which will probably
> mean upgrading a LOT of $oftware  :<  Or, maybe I'll get smart
> and subcontract out some of these tasks...

One of these days I hope for more free alternatives.  Free EDA is really
moving along.  Hopefully someday free mechanical cad will also start to
take off. 

-- 
Joshua D. Boyd
jdboyd at jdboyd.net
http://www.jdboyd.net/
http://www.joshuaboyd.org/