LT Spice or Visual Spice?

[Maxwell]

I'm a rank amateur that would like to begin learning a simulation package to
aid my understand of basic electronics. I have spent a great deal of time
searching the archives, and reading comments on sim software, and decided I
would like to go with either LT Spice or Visual Spice. Right now I can get
Visual Spice Advanced for $98. Would it be worth it to me in the long run,
or should I just go with LT Spice since it's free. If it's likely I would
want to upgrade someday, I'd rather spend the money to begin with, and avoid
the learning curve. But the what are the odds I would ever outgrow LT Spice?

Thanks for your thoughts guys, I really appreciate it,

Maxwell

 

[Homer J Simpson]

or should I just go with LT Spice since it's free. If it's likely I would
want to upgrade someday, I'd rather spend the money to begin with, and
avoid the learning curve. But the what are the odds I would ever outgrow
LT Spice?

IME get the free one and use it as a learning tool. Once you are up to speed
you will know what to look for in a simulator.

 

[Maxwell]

IME get the free one and use it as a learning tool. Once you are up to
speed you will know what to look for in a simulator.

Well that was indeed my first thought. But if I am EVER going to want
something more, and Visual would suffice for the long term, I would prefer
to start with it. We invest a lot of time learning and individual programs,
and the learning curve of changing later could make that $98 look cheap. So
I though I would put the question to the experts, because I don't now the
ultimate possibilities of either product. LT Spice might do a lot more than
I would EVER need.

 

[Puckdropper]

Well that was indeed my first thought. But if I am EVER going to want
something more, and Visual would suffice for the long term, I would
prefer to start with it. We invest a lot of time learning and
individual programs, and the learning curve of changing later could
make that $98 look cheap. So I though I would put the question to the
experts, because I don't now the ultimate possibilities of either
product. LT Spice might do a lot more than I would EVER need.

Don't just learn the software. Learn what you're doing with the
software. That makes switching easier. I haven't used many electronics
programs, but an example I can think of is switching between web
browsers. Since I know what I want to do in the web browser (say View
Page Source or Download a file rather than open it) it's easy to switch
between IE, Mozilla, Firefox, and Opera.

JMHO.

Puckdropper