Too Many Optical Options?

David Kuntz

These are good times for users of optical design software. Powerful desktop computers are inexpensive, and growing market demand now supports a wide range of software product offerings, from simple shareware programs to very sophisticated packages.

Choosing software requires an understanding of the needs of the intended design tasks and the capabilities and limitations of the available programs. It's easy to compare purchase prices, but factors associated with productivity, efficiency and the ability to deliver workable designs can have a tremendous impact on the long-term cost of software ownership…