I wonder if/when KiCad will be as a schematic tool so we don't have to say we use it by having it under Other.

How do I import models for components in my circuit right from the web?

Yes. You can perfrom MC analysis. It is so easy to do in PSpice. You simply define glocal or local tolerances and hit run. You can pick any output node after analysis is run and find out the effect. No need to run again for checking diferent nodes. 

PSpice Advance Analysis further offers you superior capabilities over and above what is offered by regular Spice simulators.

How do I avoid convergence errors in PSpice?

SPICE simulators relies on iterative solutions methods such as Newton Raphson to solve nonlinear circuit equations. When these iterative methods are not able obtain a stable solution they report these are convergence error. PSpice offer Auto Convergence mode, in this mode PSpice tries to achieve convergence or solution by intelligently tweaking simulator options.  You can also refer “Convergence and “time step too small errors” topic in PSpice user guide to know more about handling convergence problems.

what are some of the obscure characteristics of chips that PSpice can model?

You can model a devices like resolver or Pulse oxymeters. One can also model a ferrite core - a highly non linear device with hysteresis and saturation effets.  

How do I increase productivity and reduce cost at the same time for my circuit? What tools does PSpice have?

this is a technical chat, so we only discuss the technical aspects of the tool here

OK. Thanks! 

Is spice simulation used in circuits that is almost exclusives digital and if so how do you model a simulation like that if most modern ICs are black boxes?

No Spice simulation not for digital. You can simulate almost anything. It is mostly used for Analog. You can model/simulate black box - if you know Transfer function or input out characteristics. take the example of switching or PWM controller - No manufacture publishes actual implementation - they just provide functional block and people do model and simulate such IC using datasheet only, no internal details like circuit diagram. PSpice support ABM and C language as modeling language - which enables you to model a black box device based on input/output characteristics.

MATLAB- PSpice? What's the integration about?

MATLAB-PSpice interface - also called SLPS - allows PSpice models to be simulated from inside a Simulink model.

So you could start with an algorithmic model in SLPS, then move some of the blocks to transistor-level implementation in PSpice, and simulate the entire system together.

@Sophi Kravitz Does PSpice have any motor and/or electromechanical models?

I have a part I want to simulate in a circuit. But I can't find a SPICE model for it. Can I make my own?

Yes. You can. You can not only model several devices using PSpice Modeling apps or PSpice Model Editor. These tools lets your create a models for varity of devices

Can I save the probe display with some settings, and restore it in next session?

Yes - In PSpice probe, you can create any combinations of plot windows, and save the display with a name of your choice. You can load it from the Display Control menu later - it is saved in a prb file at the same location as the dat file.

It can also be used to save measurements

e.g. Create a measurement - bandwidth of a trace . save it as a display. In the next run, PSpice will load the dat file, and automatically evaluate and show the saved measurements.

Does PSpice have any motor and/or electromechanical models

Yes. PSpice comes with set of DC motor models and models for several other electromechanical components like Relay, Tacho, flywheel, gearbox, viscosity etc. In addition, you can also co-simulate any MATLAB automotive models with PSpice

There are a lot of free simulators in the market, what are the three main reasons I would prefer PSpice over them?

Each of the spice implementation might have tweaks to enable the solver to improve  convergence.

The other reason would be that it is a well known package so some vendors might be more willing to supply a more accurate spice models in encrypted form.  e.g. don't expect TI to give encrypted model for (LinearTech) LTSpice.

Does PSpice have a better solution to solve non-linear circuits to avoid convergence errors?

Yes, and I see that there are various PSpice models from most IC vendors, thanks for that!

http://www.electronicdesign.com/boards/taking-peek-under-hood-your-spice-circuit-simulation-engine

>Depending on the vendor, Spice works pretty hard to make even poorly constructed models converge. Most modern Spice simulators employ variations of the described operating-point convergence methods and have fine-tuned the algorithms.

That's essential what I have said.  Without knowing the inner working or working with Pspice vs other spice, I can't say if theirs are better or not.

If doing the tweaks requires someone working with the right experiences on them full time for months, then chances are a paid package would have the resources that a "free" package won't have.  "Free" isn't free anymore if you have to be the one fixing the code.

Please note different time for this chat! This Hack Chat is at 11a EDT/ 8a PDT/ 9:30p IST on Friday, March 30th

I think timing are 8 AM PST/11AM EST /8:30PM IST.