Hi "signIT"!
There is no "general" best solution. The SMC-1500 might be ok for small machines. But for the software you have no other choice than PCNC-SMC (witch is quite good for many applications). But there are many other solutions, that run only step/dir boards. I started a simple overview for CNC software (in german only, sorry):
http://www-users.rwth-aachen.de/Thor...p_software.htm
The SMC-1500 togehter with the step/dir option is (as far as I know) more expensive than my 3D-Step board, witch is able to run motors with up to 2A/Phase at supply voltages up to 42V (higher supply voltage gives more dynamic at the motor)
And the zoltar-kit also includes an optocoupler board, witch realizes a galvanic isolation betweeen PC and power electronics. That secures you from destroing your printer port. I never thought this could really happen, but I burned a PCI Multi-I/O card some month ago...
With kind regards
Thorsten Ostermann