From Wired, an informative article on a couple buying an Expression2 machine and using it to create some nursery decorations, and some other home decor like some vinyl decals for a tea set, and some windows decals.
They were very surprised they were unable to easily upload or use their own designed images with the machine.
It was interesting to see their reactions to the machine. The article indicates they are "crafters", but have no experience with Cricut. Their overall impression seems positive with the machine, with a few mentioned drawbacks.
Some Quotes from the Article:
As the realization sunk in that making something based on a design of our own was simply not possible, we lost interest. For us it crystallized the difference between a toy and a tool. The Cricut falls into the former camp.
They felt the user-experience was "90's". Very interesting since, the E2 is leaps ahead tech wise above the original Cricut Expression.
Once we finally powered up our CE2, we fell into a very 1990s user experience.
I'd love to hear some readers thoughts on the article, and the couple's reaction and thoughts on the Cricut machine, cartridges, etc.
First off…. the Expression 2 is not a Printer…. are you talking the E2 or the Imagine machine??
I wish you guys would get your facts straight
–Robin
Well, I think to the average person.. it is a “printer”, I am sure they were not aware of the different variety of Cricut products, and that one of them is actually a printer.
Looks like they were really looking for a Pazzles type of machine.
Robin,
When I read that I thought immediately that the E2 isn’t a printer. Obviously this couple isn’t very product savy or knowledgeable. Tooooo funny!
This couple are not very bright. They invested in a machine without doing a simple google search to see if it did what they wanted it to do. Who does that?? I’d love to share my experience of designing files formthe Wishblade. Nightmare! Straight lines fine, add a curve and it was never smooth. These people are crafty?? And they couldn’t come up with anything in their house to scrape with? They are not crafty in my opinion.
OUCH! Cricut ehthsiasts should not be so quick to attack people with an opinion that differs from theirs. First of all, the couple did not incorrectly refer to the C2 as a printer – that was the writer who interviewed them that did so in the title of the piece. It is useful to hear from someone who is experienced at crafting but is brand new to Cricut. I have several cricut/provocraft products (an investment of several thousand dollars) and have had some of the same experiences and concerns they had. Cricut has come a long way since it’s introduction, however there is still plenty of room for improvement and innovation. That can only happen if Provocraft is exposed to feedback from experienced users as well as fresh opinions and ideas as well. I wholeheartedly agree with their comments regarding not including a basic tool set with the machine. That is very unusual to make necessary tools a separate purchase with an additional price. Whether I have purchased a vacuum cleaner, sewing machine, or other brands of crafting machines, they have all come with a set of tools and accessories. Let’s all try to keep an open mind!
Ok here is what I think when it comes to Cricut Expression 2. I did play around with it it’s not hard to use but size is the tricky part, but I found out the higher number the bigger the size I just got the Cricut gypsy and I love it you can put your size in the way you want it. I created a book and it was a big hit at my church I used the Nursery Rhymes cartridge. I found all but two rhymes, I really had fun doing the book I used the first expression to do the book and I plan on doing another soon. Thanks Tracey Bauman2
My only disapppointment with cricut is that I cought the expression not long before the Imagine came out and I think these people maybe did the same. However there has not been any reports about how long the ink lasts in the imagine which for me on a tight budget would be a big consideration.
I think it was a great read, I loved to see a first hand account of a user’s experience with Cricut.
Loved this article and thought it was interesting that they could not find anything on the Cricut not being able to cut other than Cricut cartridges and not being able to use 3rd party software especially as there were several court cases on this.
I love my Cricuts’ and yes I have all but the mini, also a gypsy and CDS. When I bought my first Cricut I searched Google to find die cutting machines and the Cricut and Pazzels came up.
Cricut was affordable at NZD$995 yes that was what it was at that time and that was the Expression but the Pazzels was NZD$2500 and that was just a bit too much.
Now although these people didn’t seem to like the cartridges for me it was a plus I looked at- well what do I want to cut out? where do I find it how do I make a shadow – have never done design so I was not able to work all these things out but a cartridge that was different- I bought 4 at a cost of NZD$170 each but they had the icon the parts the shadow all of the designing had been done for me all I had to do was put it up in design studio and push the cut button.
I worked out quite early I could put multiple colours of card stock on the mat, and this purchase set me on the road to being a Cricut-holic. (NZD$1=USD$0.75) Now having said all this I do own a Sizzix eclips and an ecraft of which the eclips has cartridges and the ability to cut other file types and the e-craft has a SD card which holds files. All the machines except the ecraft work on mats and all have the same “remove bits from the mat” problem but I am surprised that they did not open the kitchen draw and get out a spatula (the type used to flip eggs) taking all the bits off with a fingernail would ruin the nails and be very tedious.
I do see that it would be an advantage having the tool kit included but what if you already owned one do you get a refund for not wanting it. Having said that I own 4 tool kits which I strategically place around my craft room so I have one at whatever table I am sitting at.
I am not sure what they mean when they refer to the 1990′s type interface I would have liked to know what they expected it to be or did they just expect it to work on the computer. I can see an advantage if you could upload files to the E2 but would we then have to add a virus checker? and which platform would they use mac or windows? which type of files and how would you be able to manipulate them.
It surprises me that more design people don’t make files with Cricut basics which is on CCR for free. If you go to cricut.com and look for projects and search Christmas Beagle you will find this person has done just that. I loved the look of the snoopy dog and as my hubby was a fan of snoopy did this for him for Christmas on a 12 x 12 canvas.
One of the things I find with the eclips is it has a controller and you can put your images from the cartridge onto it but I find the Cricut E2 much easier to work and being able to see where things are going to go on the mat makes for the ability to add different colours onto one mat cut.
Now about it being a printer?? many cutters are called printers even though they cut not print I thought (although I may be wrong) it was to do with the software in them that picks up the messages and tells the pen/ink /cartridge/blade where to go.
I did love that they tried so many things and loved the bees on the window – (now have to go see if I can find some of that window cling). I have done window cling on the imagine printing and cutting, I have cut vinyl, card stock, paper, shrink plastic, vellum, chip board, cereal box, plastic (outside wrapper of cartridge boxes) and also plastic ice cream containers, stamp material, stencil material, cotton cloth and foam (the sticky back type for childrens use. I have used gel pens and markers and the scoring tool and used this also for embossing /debossing.
I have used my machines well and love them all and cannot see me parting willingly with any of them. I now spend a lot of time teaching people who have ‘problems’ with their Cricut making videos and helping show how to get the best from the machine.
Now as to the cost:- I do not play golf, I do not drink or smoke so allowing for the cost of these failings that I would do if I was inclined I craft so the money one person would spend on cigarettes I spend on cartridges, the money spent on a golf club membership I spend on a machine, The money spent on alcohol I spend on the extra bits like stamps and card stock (not a wonder my DH thinks I have a shop in my craft room) but not only is crafting more healthy than smoking or drinking (well maybe golf does give you some exercise but well!!!!
Crafting is a good stress relief and is good for the soul. The things I make make people happy and also make me happy when I have completed them.
Now which machine is right for you? Only you can decide they all have great things they can do but none of these machine can do anything without the operator knowing what they want to do and learning how to do it.
just my thoughts.
Flo, I loved your comment, some excellent points there. Thank you for sharing!