Re: protel or orcad
It's very difficult question. Both products are very good. I'll try to compare briefly 2 softwares
O*cad has a powerful schematic capture, but creating schematic library component more easy in P*otel. O*cad has very uncomfortable layout tool, ecpecially for interactive routing. P*otel layout tool is much better. PCB design rules definition is very simple in the Protel software (because you can see in the picture which parameter is changing). But O*cad has very good interface with S*ecctra Router.
In the latest versions of P*otel you can work with schematics and PCBs created in O*cad. In O*cad you can't work with the P*otel schematics.
I think, somebody can supplement with my comparison.
My choice is P*otel. But remember, please, it's just my personal opinion.
I'm using P*otel several years and I like it. Also I tried to use some other tools (including O*CAD), but anyway I came back to P*otel. I think, if you are beginner in PCB design - your choice is also P*otel, because it's very easy to understand. After understanding P*otel you can easily migrate to any other product. Getting started with O*cad is not good idea.
Good luck!