The digital cartridge appears to be getting a greater push from Provo Craft.
More and more releases are digital only, and new releases that are physical cartridges are now being released soon after, as digital.
This is obviously much more profitable for Provo Craft (Cricut). They can cut out all the re-sellers and small and large craft stores out of the cartridge business.
Please leave a comment and share your view on digital cartridges.
Is this the future of cartridges?
Do you still enjoy having physical cartridges that can be shared, traded, re-sold?
I am so NOT into the digital versions of the cartridges. When I upgraded to the larger machine, I got the Expression, not the E2 for the very fact that I don’t like having to use a stylus on a touch screen with icons. I’m used to the overlays and prefer to use them that way. My only worry if PC stops making actual carts, is that I will be limited to what I have already (which is plenty for what I craft), but what about if there are any problems with my carts or machines? They will soon be deemed obsolete, so I’ve invested a small fortune into products that may not last very long, and I’m not willing or able ($) to upgrade yet again. Deb
I totally agree. I have the original Cricut and also an Expression. I’ve a vast library of cartridges and between my scrapping pals I think we have just about all the cartridges.
We’d hate to see PC go all digital.
I know too many older women (one if our group of scrapper too) who are in no way computer savy and if PC were to go all digital – I feel so sorry for them.
One of the gals already gave away her Mini – she didn’t realize she needed to haul her laptop with her whenever she wanted to use it. She purchased it because it was lightweight.
Yes, I still like my physical cartridges. I enjoy thumbing through the booklets and bookmarking those images I want to try out. I also have not been very successful in using CCR so digital is not presently an option for me. As you mentioned, it is much more profitable for PC to sell digital images, and black ink wins out in most instances…
It might be the future of cartridges. However, there are still people that create without using a home computer. I personally like to share with friends that don’t have or can’t afford to purchase a cartridge. I like to be able to sell any that I don’t use. I would like to expand my creativity without buying new cartridges. I am purchasing a Silhouette Cameo.
Jenny ,before u buy that silhouette chek out the utube videos an look into the sizzix eclips!! I just got mine a week ago from oh my crafts & I love it,they always have good deals,it was $202 plus $15 shipping, it took weeks to come in,but it cuts such details!!! u can use ecal or cartridges, I have downloaded the mothers day collecton from svg.com and it is awesome!!! I have never downloaded files before so I was so pleased and the eclips cut it out perfectly!! Which ever u buy just watch al the utube videos to make a good choice,thanks Jean
I forgot to say 6 weeks to come infor the ecips from omc,also pumpkin patch has it for $299 an you get the ecal program with it!! and $20 to buy svg files so another great deal an free shipping!!
I’m pretty sure Provo Craft has made quite a bit of profit from my purchases alone! I much prefer a physical cartridge and booklet to easily refer to. If the cartridges are digital they should be much less expensive.
I prefer physical cartridges. The didgital cartridges seem to have less on them for the money. Also I don’t keep my Cricut any where near the family computer so I would have to move it every time I wanted to cut something.
“Please leave a comment and share your view on digital cartridges. Is this the future of cartridges?”
This question scares me. Are they thinking of not making traditional cartridges in the near future. I love to hang around with friends to make cards/scrapbook. We share our cartridges and it’s alot of fun!
I’m sure alot of ladies out there will agree with me!
I agree with your post 100%!
Agree also! Not into the digital AT ALL!!
I love my original Cricut personal & expression machines. To each his own, but for me, I feel more creative with the original. If Cricut goes to all digital, they will be leaving me as well as many others out in the COLD!!! Do we not generate enough profit for them to leave us out?
I love my Cricut and love my cartridges, they are loaded in my Gypsy but I still want my cartridges. I don’t have good luck with the craft room, and would be afraid of the digital. If they were much cheaper, I would think about an occasional special one. I have invested a lot of money into my machine and would hate if it went totally digital that my collection would then end. It is bad enough that I have huge paper weight called Imagine!
I know this is off the subject, but does anyone know where I can get a 3″ turquoise Cricut figurine. And down with digital!
I prefer the cartridges so that I can use them as I please, not depend upon a computer or gypsy to use them. Sometimes I just want a quick cut and don’t want to bother with the digital forms to get them to cut…
I like having the books and still use the keypad overlay with the touchscreeens as a reference…
I hope they keep the cartridges. If I’m going to pay that price I want something tangible in my hands. It’s not like there is a great price break for the digital version…if it was 1/3 of the price I might consider it…(the many parts of the physical cartridges warrant the price…the cartridges themselves, booklet, keypad, packaging and the digital content)….giving me the digital content only for the same price is not a good deal for me.
If they go totally digital I want a file that I can download to my computer not connect to a program that I have to depend upon them to “manage”.
I agree. It wouldn’t be so bad if we had a file that we can download to our computer. I don’t want to depend on always having an internet connection or for them to maintain their server.
I definately enjoy the physical cartridges. I also enjoy flipping through the booklets. I do not want to go to the digital.
The thought of not having a physical cartridge gives me heart palpatations and panic attacks. I am also not a fan of CCR or digital cartridges. They don’t have the content of a regular cartridge and I like having the manual to hold and look through. I don’t even like trying to use the manuals as PDF files. I wish hubby could understand that. LOL I agree with a previous comment that not all people have access to home computers and internet.
Hi all, I agree with many of your comments. I think the digital content is WAY over-priced compared to the traditional cartridge. I don’t like that they want everyone to use the CCR, because who wants to lug around their laptop? How many people don’t have laptops and just use a PC?
However, looking at it from a business standpoint, I think they make a lot more money with the online content because it can’t be shared like sharing a cartridge with a friend. They also don’t have to maintain inventory and share any revenue with places like Joanns when they do that. I can’t imagine why Joanns even bothers to sell the Cricut Mini now. The post-purchase revenue is going to PC, not the store.
That’s just a few of my thoughts.
Dawne
I like my physical cartridges too even though I have an E2 and an Expressions. I enjoy sharing cartridges at crops with my friends and not everyone is cut out for the technology curve especially to take time to learn at a crop. We are there to produce! I don’t see how they can go just to digital especially with intricate layering involved and I think there are still many, many, many ladies out there with Expressions, Create and Baby Bug that Provo Craft will not discontinue or they will loose many more Cricuteers to other cutting machines.
I can’t agree more than w/ the ladies above. It is just more of PC being money hungary and controlling. I do not care for CCR either. I love my cartridges and I have about 200 of them. That’s a small fortune not to mention that I have purchased 3 cricuts since they came out. I tried being loyal to them, but they irritate me. It will force some of us to not only keep what we have, but buy something else that is user friendly to those of us who are NOT interested in digital. I’m all for change, but not greed.
Amen to that – I would really be disappointed if Provo decided to this. The thought of them even thinking of it makes me upset. I would not purchase anything digital then from Provo. I don’t now and don’t plan to. I , too like the manuals.
I don’t want to have to rely on a computer every time I want to cut. I’ll keep the cartridges. I don’t see myself going digital anytime soon.
I don’t like digital and will not be purchasing any of the digital carts. If PC stops making physical carts, I’ll still have plenty to craft with and it will save me a ton of money!
Carts or digital?? I love the carts but how about coming up with some discontinued carts in digital format??? Digital does cut down on space. But my gypsy is due to show up at my door tomorrow. How will I download digital images into my gypsy??? Such thoughts and problems to ponder.
Whenever you update your gypsy, your digital carts will be able to be updated then.
I have my original expression and imagine. I also have a gypsy and use CCR. I love not having to schlep all my carts to a crop, but I also love being able to share with friends.
I do use digital carts and would buy more ONLY if they signficantly drop the price. There is no reason for a digi cart to only be $10 less than a traditional cart.
PC needs to wake up and realize they don’t need to make 85% profit on the backs of us individual customers.
I like to be able to cut digitally but is not the best option specially when I need internet to cut in my cricut. Being in the military and moving so much is almost impossible to use CCR sometimes. I like to be able to carry all my cartridgse with me using the CCR but the limitations right now are too many for Provo Craft to cut be thinking to cut the physical cartridges.
I love the physical booklets and cartridges. When getting away to scrap, I don’t want to have to take my home computer with me (I don’t have a laptop). I have a Gypsy for my cartridges, but still need the books. If the digital would download to the Gypsy, that would be okay, but I would still want the books with it. I dont like the thought that if I buy the digital, that it really isn’t mine and I can only use it in the craft room.
Sorry for being long winded, but please don’t quit making the cartridges. I have way to much invested in Provo Craft.
I like the physical cartridges simply because I can use them all by myself. There are problems I have had with the Gypsy that they have never resolved for me no matter how much time I have spent on the phone with them. They just keep telling me to redo it but if they do not make the “free” cartridge that was to come when I made the purchase, I cannot pull it out of thin air. It seems they often “move on” to the next new product too quickly before working out all the bugs and then they never go back and fully resolve the problems in the older products. My computer is not close to my scrap area and it is not feasible for me to use it. I think they are just cutting out the middle man to increase their profits by providing less product to consumers.
I am 63 and the CEO of a national online company. We sell continuing education and training in three formats – online-interactive, self-study printed books and live seminars and presentations. The reason I mention this is that I know that companies MUST make their products available the way clients want them, not the way it is easiest for them.
People who are familiar with software or computer gaming can see the analogy between physical cartridges and drawers full of CDs vs downloading the same thing immediately and much less expensively.
Quickbooks is a very good example. They have simple, single-user software, completely online and available to anyone with an internet connection (computer, smart-phone, ipad, etc), and high-end multi-user for larger companies. I can run my business while on vacation at any internet cafe, wi-fi on a cruise ship, in hotels, in flight, etc. I don’t need to carry around stacks of cds or cartridges to do this.
I know haven’t tried the craft-room yet, but I am very surprised at how expensive the digital designs are. Why?
I am so not into the digital, if they go out or if i cannot access then it is a no for me. I want a physical cart in my hand to use when and where i want!
I love cartridges. If I had to rely on digital I would have to go cricutless because like to scrap with friends. We meet in places that we can’t get the internet and if we could most of my friends don’t have a computer and I don’t have a laptop so would be a real pain. Does Provo craft want me to invest in computers or more of their products. I hope they chose their own because computers go out of date so quickly and I want to craft not be buying a new computer.
I find digital images much more cumbersome to work with. I don’t really have space to have both my expression and computer on the works space. Further, I have an organization system for my cartridges that works well. The digital images really are hit and miss. When I am working with a booklet, I will find things that I hadn’t noticed before and will end up using those images. Often, I will peruse the booklets when I’m watching tv. I don’t want to be chained to my computer.
Thanks.
I hope that the carts do not become digital, Ihave an imagine, how would that work, I like having my carts so I can see them, ok, they got rid of the key pads and I really don’t like digital scrapbooking at all
I fully understand digital is taking the market by storm and respect those whom would have it
not other way. I however still “absolutely” find (as you term it) the “physical” my choice
of creative design and hope you will never subsume to eliminating this cartridge completely.
Just my thoughts…
Darlene
Unfortunatly carts are worth nothing if they have been linked. I have 100+ carts that I cant link to Craft Room because they are linked to gypsy. Using CR is useless to me. Disappointed
Not to mention how many times I had to send machines and gypsy back for replacement. All the warrantys are past their limit and I had to return them and was told no more replacements. So if each of my 5 cricuts and gypsy die I have a whole lot of useless carts.
Your heading toward the future and I’m at a dead end. Then the lawsuit put a lot of people at dead ends. Your customer service is good but I hate being on the phone for ridiculous wait time
Disappointed…
Dawn Lampman
I like my cartridges and handbooks. The digital’s are just as expensive as the traditional yet Provo Craft is not producing handbooks, key overlays, cartridges, warranties, and the storage boxes for the digital therefore, they should be much cheaper like 1/4th the price of the traditional!! I do not want to spend that kind of money for less that what I received with the traditional.
I like both – BUT really like having the physical cartridges – fun to share – love the books and having them in my possession I like… I am afraid of spending to much on digital for the fear that their system will crash, get a virus, etc and then I LOSE the digital as well.
I do like purchasing some of the digital for items I don’t have or are unique. I personally can’t figure out why they have to be so expensive when they sell for so much less on some sites (e-bay, fellow on-line stores, etc) so digital would seems cheaper – BUT I DON’T think so at all…
IT comes to the bottom line – less outgoing – more incoming…
I wanted to add… I say – Provo Craft….MAKE the PHYSICAL & the DIGITAL for each cartridge – this way – each person can decide which one works best for them……
I would rather have the cartridges. It is a shame that we can’t get some of the digitals on cartridge. I do have a Gypsy, Expression and the Imagine and I use them all. We just went on a 4 month trip to Florida and there wasn’t WiFi available. I took the Imagine, Gypsy, carts and books along. I was happy that I had everything with me. If PC makes it all digital, they would lose me as a customer…period. We, the customers, have made PC millions and millions and millions of dollars. I hope PC doesn’t decide to go all digital. This company keeps changing the rules and we are forced to go along with alot of stuff. Don’t get me wrong, they have a great product but I’m getting tired of them saying one thing in their HSN presentations and infomercials and they don’t follow up or they change the rules once you buy. Ginger Adams said back in November on HSN that those really cool ornaments they showed on would be available after January. Now I understand it they are only available if you buy the Mini. That’s a perfect example how the rules change. Argh…it’s frustrating.
I do not use CCR because all of my cartridges are linked to my Gypsy and having to pull out all the cartridges to use CCR isn’t worth the extra effort so I haven’t bought any digital cartridges. Also I feel the price it too high, it should be much cheaper since there is nothing to produce other than the images.
I prefer the handbook to look through, a lot of times I’m not sure what I’m going to make so looking through the book helps me get ideas.
PC is making tons of money off the Cricut products, I think it’s time to lower all the prices so more of us on tight budgets can take advantage of the great items. This would also keep the business in PC and not so much resale like ebay and such.
Not interested in the digital’s. I do not take a computer to crops and would not share my computer with anyone not family. If Provo Craft goes digital I will just use my cartridges without getting anything new. They will loose a customer from this house for sure….
This is not only a BAD idea but also unfair to all of us who have invested a lot in PC products already. I have no intention of going to a digital format in any way. I love to feel the paper and manipulate it into some firm of creation. We learn and talk about the many ways a student learns at school and not everyone learns the same way. I am not a visual learner I am more hands on.
I love Provocraft even though they don’t have the most reliable machines, their carts are also high for the qty I know they produce. I still buy their Cricut products because of the improvements of cutting ability over the years.
If they make carts all digital and keep the price as if it’s a hard copy, I’ll be getting a Silhoutte even with its massive learning curve. Then when Cricut croaks sell off my carts.
I may need to reconsider if the full content digital carts all come down to $20 to $25 (max). Otherwise, they will run themselves out of the Cricut market. We still have to be able to overall afford their product and be able to sell the product for at least a portion to get our investment back.
For many crafters, our money doesn’t grow on trees.
I like my cartridges!! just hanging out with friends, i can take the cartridges with me, and don’t have to use a computer, it nice to take a look in the handbooks so you can see what you have. We like to have something in our hands. And its true digitals are just as expensive as the cartridges but way cheaper for PC to make. Greetings from Holland
I live in England and our cartridges are expensive. I have an expression which was a gift and when I had the e mail telling me about the digital ones, I thougt great will be able to get them cheaper, wrong they do not sell to England, why I have no idea. I guess digital is going to be the way forward but I doubt if it will be cheaper.
In theory they sound a good idea but I haven’t tried one yet
I don’t have an E2 or Cricut mini and I just love my original Expression. I have alot of money invested in actual cartridges and bsides wouldn’t getting rid of actual cartridges also make the gypsy obsolete? I love my Gypsy!!!!! I say KEEP the actual cartridges!!!!
I have the E2 but I have no interest in digital cartridges. When I go to crops I do not want to haul another thing along and taking a computer is out of the question. I love my physical books and all the work that I do with local schools and my cricut would not be something I would be able to do with a digital base only. Just my 2 cents
Please please please! keep traditional cartridges as well.
I often have internet or CCR issues so a physical cartridge is a must. I hope they continue with offering both.
I definitely like the physical cartridges and MUST HAVE the handbooks. Given the choice, I would always buy a cartridge.
That being said, I can see several reasons for digital. First, if you’ve ever purchased a new software program for your computer, you usually have the opportunity to purchase a physical disc or download the software. Downloading is not significantly less expensive. What you are paying for is not the materials, which are relatively cheap, but the developemental costs. Basically, the Cricut cutting machines are just another type of computer with its own software. Downloading also gives you the availability for immediate access, which could be very important to some people.
I had a rough start with the CCR, but now use it almost exlusively. Being a visual personal, I really like to see what a cut will look like on the mat, before making it permanent.
Would I ever buy a digital? Yes, if I thought that I would use enough of the diecuts in a cartridge to warrant the cost. However I do that with my physical cartridges as well and hardly ever purchase unless they’re on sale. Right now, there’s usally only one or two cuts that I would use and I don’t think the cost is worth it for me.
Comments from other ladies who share their cartiridges with friends, are very valuable. If I were PC, I wouldn’t worry that if by sharing cartridges, sales would decrease. I could guarantee, that those of us who take our papercrafting seriously, make plenty of purchases. Sharing is probably just a singular event. If I had to borrow a friend’s cartridge often enough, I’d just go out and buy my own. Consider sharing as a free sample with the hope of sales. Grocery stores do it all the time.
Gloria you are correct when you say sharing creates sales. When I share at crops what I have done with a certain cartridge someone always says. I need to get that cart. Most of the ladies I scrap with don’t have computers of have any idea how to buy stuff online. I have made many cartridge purchases for others because I have shared a cartridge at my monthly crop. PC should be giving commission for selling their product for them. I have sold many machines also.
I understand where Provo Craft is coming from, though, with their profit margin. They are a business and not a benevolent force in the universe, so I do not expect them to care what people want. They want to please their investors.
Having said that, I will add that I have not had the best of luck with the craft room. I like the physical cartridges. I will just keep using mine and buying any I really like. If they stop making them, so what? I have long since gotten over my obsession with the machine and collecting carts. They will just not ever make very much money off of me with digital only versions. I think they charge waaaayyyy too much for four or five images!!!!!!!!!
My feelings on the recent digital offerings, as well as the paltry sum of carts that have been released, is that the artwork is inferior to Provo Crafts’ previous products, so I am not buying anything “new” from them anyway.
If they go digital only, some entrepreneurial crafter will fill the void. In the meantime, I am looking into buying a Silhouette Cameo. I sure hope someone from Provo Craft reads this blog site to at least understand how the consumers feel. If they are not careful, they might just “digital” themselves out of business.
I prefer cartrides. I have not nor do I plan to but digital from provocraft. I have 2 expressions, the E2, the original cricut. Cricut cake and Imagine I also have 80% of the carts so I have invested a lot. I have the eclips so if I wet digtal it would be with them using the free svg files. I don’t want to use the computer that is why I purchased the cricut. When they stop making the cartridges I will be done with Provocraft purhases hmmmm. I will finally be able to save money so may not bea bad thing. I have hundreds of carts so ill just use what I have.
I do not buy digital I like the cartridge and book that you can reference when you need to. Also not everyone has a computer and probably later on I might not have internet services if all the prices of everything keeps going up that would be one of the first bills I would get rid of, as I am retired and do not plan on trying to find a job
NO TO ALL DIGITAL!!! I can’t even fathom PC changing to all digital. Too many of my scrapping gal pals cannot afford to switch to digital, when they’ve invested good, hard-earned $$ into the cartridges and machines they have. And I know a lot of older women who need that booklet in hand to be able to actually see what they’re going to cut out.
Does PC really think every person who purchases their cartridges can afford to have both a computer and laptop? Because it sure seems like it if they’re thinking all digital.
I know myself – I don’t want to have to haul my laptop with me everytime I go to an all day crop, or weekend crop retreat.
PC – you’ll loose a lot of customers, because the older crafter will not want to be forced into having to purchase a computer and/or laptop and internet service – they’ll have no money left to your products..
I feel the same as all the rest of the people who have responded to this email. Digital is nice, BUT…. once again, we have already invested in the cartridges and most of us like what we have. I also feel that having invested in the original Cricut, the Expression, Cricut Mini and the Gypsy, I must have put food on someone’s table. Please consider what all of the people have responded to. NO DIGITAL. Let’s stay where we are with what we have. By the comments I have read thus far, not to many are really willing to accept the digital. Also as one person stated, I sure hope Provo-Craft reads these responses.
I enjoy and prefer the physical cartridges. I try to do as little at a computer as possible. I enjoy the hands on creation a physical cartridge gives me. I pray they do not phase out the physical cartridge.
Ditto to the overwhelming majority of responses: I will only buy the physical cartridge, complete with manual and overlay. I have both the E1 and E2, a Gypsy, the Design Studio software (no longer supported) and close to 200 cartridges, almost all linked to my Gypsy (until the update screwed up my Gypsy – argh!); my computer is not in my craft room (desk top pc) and I will not buy a laptop – I need an ergonomic keyboard.
I love being able to share my carts with friends, and they share theirs with me. If I liked one of their carts and saw more uses for it, I would buy it myself. As someone above said, it’s like getting a free sample from the store, if I really liked it then I would most likely buy it, not cheat the company (PC) out of a possible sale.
The Gypsy was supposed to ‘free us up’ from using the computer (ie, Design Studio), which is why I bought it. I was part of the update-screw up and my Gypsy has not been able to fully update ever since then, PC’s response was to reformat and relink, they’d give me $20 credit at Cricut.com (never received), and no further help coming from them. Upset? You bet I am!!
I’ve purchased a few of their newer cartridges, but I’ve decided not to buy any more. PC failed me, so I’m returning the favor. I have way too much money invested with PC, and they’re more intent on pushing out new product than they are to fix their known problems (Gypsy update issues, carts still not being able to link with Gypsy, Imagine issues, etc.), and they’re failing their long-term customers. Plus, they are so intent on suing MTC and SCAL, they’re mired in legal debt.
PC has basically lost me as a customer . . . unless they come through and finally fix or replace my Gypsy, but I don’t see that happening. Hopefully, someone at PC is actually reading these posts (yes, I know this is not a PC-site), but then I’m probably dreaming again.
::harrumph::
I own a scrapbooking store, and I would recommend that you call and keep calling. I would not settle for a $20 g/c either….that is ridiculous! I deal with PC, and I have found that they usually do make things right. Just keep calling! Hope you get somewhere!
My heart goes out to you, I know exactly how sad you felt when your “Gypsy” failed to update. All the effort to link the cartridges and then to have the “Gypsy” fail. My Imagine froze when I tried to update it; that was a terrible experience for me. I had to send it back to Provo Craft and it took more than 6 weeks to get it back. I completely understand your feeling frustrated when Provo Craft let you down. I wish I could fix your Gypsy for you. These tools are expensive to purchase, dollar wise, then we invest our time and creative talents to make something but the machine fails to perform as advertised. . .it is heartbreaking because we are excited about our project but cannot finish it because the tool isn’t properly supported by Provo Craft.
First of all, I am a bit concerned at the rate that Provo Craft introduces machines, then discontinues them. Think Gypsy, Cricut Cake, Imagine, etc. I would never want to switch to digital because I am then depending on Provo Craft to keep CCR up and going. Then all my money would be put into something that I can’t use if they shut down CCR ever. What happens when if they decide CCR isn’t viable? Besides that, I also like the option of selling the carts if I don’t love and use them. I also don’t want to hook to a computer. Frankly, there are other machines that have good reputations that are for hooking up to computers only. The ONLY thing Cricut has that I love is that I don’t have to have a computer handy to use it. I also like the ease of sticking in the cartridges and just get going. That is what sets Cricut apart from everything else out there….they would be foolish to change!
I requested to follow this link but WOW was I surprised to see all my e-mails tonight were in regards to more comments. I see alot were knowing but hoping that PC was viewing these. Not mine to bring to light but maybe cartridgelibrary.com needs to tell them to check it out to see what consumers concerns and opinions are.The people have spoken and PC should know what we are saying!
There have been a lot of good comments from looking out for the needs of the consumers (CEO Sandi), and the fact that we have fun sharing at crops, buying and helping sell from these experiences.
Not every one can keep up with progress. Once you buy the machine you struggle to find some one to teach you how to use the machine but no is available close to you so you struggle to work it out. So you find You Tube brilliant teaching tool but that’s where you get left behind again, because they come up with the newest gadget called gypsy or scal
Then your out in the cold so to speak again because you can’t afford the next new gadget so your left behind with just cartridges to buy so for us slow pokes or oldies that need the cartridge we need you to keep dishing them out to us We need them just like air to survive !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Colleen
Australia
Although I like looking at the physical cartridges sitting on my shelf in my craft room. I really would be ok with digital carts, but the Cricut Craft Room SUCKS!!!!!!! I designed tons of projects for my niece and couldn’t cut any of them. I had to go back and cut them manually with my cartridges. Its a good thing I was not using any digital carts. I have only purchased one digital cart, but I may never get to use it if I can’t cut. Anyway, that is my 2 cents!
I also like looking through the physical booklets. I like to take the book to, places where I might have to wait, for example a dentist or doctor’s office. I really like having the cartridge and the actual book. I am not sure why but it just seems easier visualize and plan a project when I can flip through the colorful pages of the booklet. I know you can go to the Provo Craft website and look through a digital copy of the little handbook but there again a person has to be near the computer. It seems so easy to carry the little handbook, to the laundry room while waiting for the dryer to finish or carry it outside to the patio.
Digitals are only used in the CCR correct? Well that sucks for those individuals that go on retreats where there is not an internet connection and not everyone has a lap top computer to take with them. I have yet to purchase one because of this and that’s sad because I love my cricut and cartridges and use them all the time. I scrapbook daily and use them all the time.
Going “All Digital” does not interest me AT ALL. In my opinion, computers, despite all the hype from the “Bill Gates Lovers” in the world; are completely unreliable and on many occasions, for a lot of people, promise a lot but deliver very little as far as productivity is concerned.
One only needs to go to the Microsoft Support Website and see the thousands of individuals who need help to either “restore” their computer or “update” their computer because Microsoft has released a version of their operating system that now no longer functions on a computer that was “just yesterday” working just fine.
It is my opinion, that of all the electronic items we purchase, we go right ahead and spend a great deal of money knowing full well that it is going to fail. . .and require constant updating and monitoring for efficiency. Anyone who has suffered through the “death” of a Hard Drive knows full well that a computer is a tortuous, odious, wasteful piece of equipment. Even with the so called “back-up hard drives”, one must waste a great deal of time installing all the programs that one was using before the Hard Drive failed. And even something as simple as a re-install can become a “nightmare” because the newer Hard Drive, may for some completely “unknown” reason will not run the programs that were on the old Hard Drive. I hate computers; and EVERYONE practically DEMANDS that EVERYONE HAVE A COMPUTER. We are charged all types of fees on our phone bills for access to the Internet even if you don’t have a computer the “Universal Access Fee” is on the phone bill.
Just imagine, your Hard Drive has failed, you have your back-up disk, and your Boot-up disk, you are good to go, right? Yes, you are but not so fast none of your operating programs are there so all of that must be re-installed. . .depending on how many programs you use, you could be facing days of re-install time; time that takes you away from all the other things you need to do in your busy life; now just imagine the possibility that you will have to re-install more that 100 digital Cricut cartridges. Anyone who has restored a Windows PC; you know that it takes more than one hour to get your valid Windows License Key recognized by the new Hard Drive and in every case that I have worked on it requires a call to Microsoft; if you are fortunate enough to get to actually work with a Microsoft Representative. And this “re-validation” of a “valid” license key requires a Microsoft Representative, not just someone who says he/she is “Microsoft Certified”.
I just wasted 3 days this week trying to get my computer to “remember” that it is a Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System” with a Windows “Install” function; which worked just fine on Saturday, May 5, 2012, but now on Monday, May 7, 2012, it is incapable of installing “Important Windows Updates”.
Microsoft Windows is so stupid; it cannot even update its own operating system. There are THOUSANDS of people searching the internet for the “fix” to this “FAILURE” of BILL GATES’ Multi-Million Dollar Company to support its customer base. This problem requires the computer owner to enter the “system programming” and run “Regedit”, then locate the system code: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM|CurrentControlSet\msiserve
because in all probability, “msiserve” has been destroyed or removed by one of Microsoft’s own updates.
You can only fix this if you are able to “Extract” the missing line of code from another computer that you own; or you might be able to go to a “restore” point on your back-up external hard drive but then you have to know “when did “Microsoft” destroy your “msiserve”. With this option you could waste several hours restoring different days of “restore” points to find the one that contains your original “msiserve” line of code.
Considering Mocrosoft’s willingness to create computer code that destroys parts of its own Operating System, all the computer viruses, worms,Trojans and hackers out there, I can assure you that if Provo Craft goes all digital; it will be a SAD day for most people. I certainly don’t need, in my life, anymore time wasting computer programs and peripherals demanding re-installs. Every time someone in a store or bank says: “You can do this on-line you know”; my stomach rolls over. These companies have technical support staff on-board to help them with any problem they encounter but for the rest of us, it isn’t that simply and most of the time, it is very expensive to repair your computer; it is probably the only piece of “expensive” equipment that it is easier to throw away then get repaired.
Well, I have vented enough. . .computers. . .love the convenience, when they are functioning hate the inconvenience when they fail to operate. . .the hours wasted trying to figure out WHY it worked yesterday now it doesn’t work. . .WHY?
My, I hope you got all your anti-computer frustrations out, but that was a totally inappropriate dialogue on a topic way off the main subject. Can we please post intelligent feedback to the questions asked?
I just believe the digital purchases are not as convenient as having the actual cartridge. I enjoy looking at the booklets that accompany the cartridges. To me it is fun to look at the pictures and talk about them with my grand children; the bright colors and the various layers just seem to be more obvious when I flip through the booklet. I have used my mini and the craft room but I get more pleasure out of planning the project when I can carry the little booklet to the kitchen table and lay out the paper and embellishments and flip through the pages of pictures. Digital means you have to be at the computer to see the various layers and elements of the images and too me that is not as convenient as seeing the images presented on paper.
I love my expression…my cartridges and the digital idea. I think they (PC) could help cutters LOVE digitals if they linked the digitals to our cricuts instead of our computers…. Link them from the site to our machines just like they do when we link from CR with our cartridges….. this way you dont need laptops…. you can cut as usual because the digital program is on your cutting machine…. in CR they let you use Cricut basic font and shapes without having a cartridge… even though with bought carts, they say you cant cut unless you have the cart plugged in….this is what PC could do with digital programs…. I am sure there are a few bugs that would have to be ironed out…BUT I am sure it could be done…AND the prices could be a lot lower…. LESS overhead for PC… think about this PC… makes perfect sense to me……
I think linking the carts to our Cricut machines would be a wonderful idea….. However, my first thought is that there is not enough memory in the machines to hold enough of the carts to make it truely worth while. After reading enough blogs, there are people out there with 100′s of carts. Keep in mind that the machines are just MINI computers. I’d be interested to know just how big the memory is in them, but could guarantee that there’s nowhere near enough space and DEFINITELY no where near what’s in even the smallest home computer. In the CCR, Provo Craft just needs to keep a record of each customer’s account and that takes up just a couple of hundred bytes at most, then send the desired image to your computer based on your linkage. Also keep in mind that the cost of the carts is not in the materials but in the developmental costs. All the artist’s and programmer’s time to create a cartridge is pretty expensive.
I remember PC saying the Gypsy would be able to hold like 20,000 cartridges. I have over 200 on mine now and love it. Knowing that, PC shouldn’t have a problem with their mini computers supporting all the carts.
I really need the physical cartridge but I purchased the digital paper pups because it was the only way I could get it. I missed out on it earlier. I do not have a mini or an expression. I do have the original and the create. I also have the gypsy and jukebox. I don’t want to have to continue purchasing all the machines that provo craft puts out. I am a senior citizen and I’m sorry but I just can’t continue to learn all of these different machines and programs. I am so confused with it all.
I really need the physical cartridge but I purchased the digital paper pups because it was the only way I could get it. I missed out on it earlier. I do not have a mini or an expression. I do have the original and the create. I also have the gypsy and jukebox. I don’t want to have to continue purchasing all the machines that provo craft puts out. I am a senior citizen and I’m sorry but I just can’t continue to learn all of these different machines and programs. I am so confused with it all. Oh my, do I have to own the cartridge to use the digital paper pups that I just purchased? What a waste of my social security check!
Hi June,
I agree with you, these machines and cartridges are expensive. My Imagine locked in “Blue Screen” mode when I tried to Sync it. I didn’t know what that meant but soon found out than not only could I not use new cartridges but also the machine would not turn off, it would not respond to any commands. The “Blue Screen” meant that the machine was broken, it had to be sent back to ProvoCraft in Utah. I had to contact the Utah Better Business Association it order to get it repaired. My Gypsy locked up too, I had to punch the little re-set button on that and I thought it was permanently broken too but I used the re-set function and it seems to be OK now. I fear ProvoCraft is too interested in developing “new products” and will decide not to support their current customer base. I know that some of the original Cricuts cannot be updated. I have an original Cricut, and the original Expression plus I have the Expression 2. I use the original Expression in the classroom but I worry that some day I won’t be able to update it. And I use it a lot and the children in the classroom just love it; they learn so much about shapes and sizes. It is a wonderful tool.
Hi June, Your new digital copy of Paper Pups should download to your Gypsy the next time you Sync it with the Provo Craft website. So you should be able to create your project with your Gypsy and then cut it with the machine that you currently use with your Gypsy.
Provo Craft says that we will soon be able to link our Gypsy with the Cricut Craft Room. Have you tried to link your Cricut with the Craft Room? Before you try to connect your original Cricut or the Create you might want to call Provo Craft’s 800 support number to talk to someone before you try to connect your Cricut cutting device to your computer’s USB port. After my Imagine broke when I tried to Sync it with the Provo Craft website I have been too afraid to connect any device except the Mini to the Craft Room.
I did get the new Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2 cartridge and when I tried to use it, the Expression 2 said the machine required an update but the machine all by itself went into “update” mode and in just a few minutes the cartridge was recognized. Now my Gypsy had been updated so it recognized the cartridge but when I tried to cut with the Gypsy it wouldn’t work. So maybe I needed to update the Expression 2 then if I had plugged in the Gypsy it probably would have been fine.
I must admit though, it is a little scary, like I said my Imagine was destroyed by the Sync process and had to be replaced by Provo Craft because it was not even 6 months old. That was an expensive error and all I did was download the Sync program and plug in the machine when the website said to plug in the machine. I think you will love the Paper Pups; they are so cute. Good Luck!
My imagnine and 2 of my friends did the same thing with that update, we were lucky…they wanted me to send mine back,but my friend got a rep who walked her thru reset on the imagine an then it worked for all 3 of us!!! so I didnt have to send mine back!! thank God!! My gypsy has done the same thing,before I knew about the reset button I just left it over nite til the charge ran out of it then it stared up fine in the morning!!! I just bought a sizzix eclips and I like it way better than the cricuts!! It cuts cartridges or svgs from on line an I got the ecal with it so it can do anything even cut an print from my home hp printer!!! It cuts much finer an detailed cuts perfectly!!!
Poor Provo Craft; they tried so hard to get my Imagine to Sync but for some reason it just would not Sync. They did send me a new one but I didn’t have a machine for more than 6 weeks; and this all happened when I was half way through putting together a “Family Tree” graduation album for my Great Niece; my brother’s oldest granddaughter so I was really sad. I didn’t get to finish the album the way I wanted to but my husband helped me get things photo copied and we cut some of the items by hand.
Your Sizzix sounds really nice. Did you say it cuts and prints from your home printer? Does it do color images like the Imagine? I will tell you why I ask, I love the “D.J. Inkers” website. I have several CD’s from them because I use their images for my classroom bulletin boards, name tags and just so many things. For Halloween I used the D. J. Inkers Images and made 14″ images for the children. Then we snapped pictures of each of the children in my class, printed the pictures in the classroom and then let the children cut out their face and paste their face onto their D.J. Inker paper doll. We used those cute paper dolls on the front of their lockers for the month of October. The images were so colorful and cute plus the children had fun selecting the “Inker” character they wanted to be. It was fun. They really liked doing this, they used their “serious” face, their “silly” face, their “happy” face any thing they wanted to do. Each child was allowed to have 4 photographs taken and then they selected the one that they figured was the best “Halloween” face.
I havent tried the colored part myself yet,but what I get is what ever color the image is thats the color it will print out!!! utube has videos on it!! I have made 2 items from svgs from on line an they cut out perfectly , Ill soon try the color thing and when I do I will post, Ive only had the machine a week today an there is so much to try with it!!
I love old style cartridges because i can load them on my gypsy and then my daughter can use them to cut. at 9 years old i am not sure she can figure out the craft room and when you are crafy it is nice to take your stuff with you. however it is hassle adding a computer to the mix we were only born with so many hands its just to much to carry.
Don’t you just love that Gypsy! I take it everywhere. When I have to wait for the bus or wait at the dentist office or anything. I just pull out my little Gypsy and start working on my project. I think that little thing is so nice.
GO CARTRIDGES. I am new to this world but I started in Feb and have 23 carts. I invested a lot of money and prefer not having a computer to lug around. I want cartridges.
I may be living in the dark ages here, but I have enough access to things on the internet at work, so my husband and I have chosen not to have internet at home. Therefore, digital images are of no use to me, I have no way of getting them when I am home. I like the actual cartridges because of that reason and because I can take them any place I want to do my scrapbooking and card making. I have two nieces, who are young enough that digital images on the internet is not something they can do, but they have a blast playing with my cartridges and printing out anything they want that way. I take my cricut and a couple cartridges and go over to their house for a bit or they come to mine, or we meet at grandmas house, we have even went camping with cricut (thanks to a generator). With digital you have to have internet and a computer access, which only makes it more difficult to be mobile with. I think things all going digital is sad, and actually takes ppl like me and excludes them from taking further part in all that can be available. I know even if i had internet and computer access at home or my brothers house, I cant leave two little girls alone with internet, not with all that could go wrong with pop ups and things little kids dont need to see or be part of, but I can leave them alone with the cricut machine and some cartridges to create and discover on their own. They love to make surprises for everyone, so its a secret they dont always want an adult with them to see what they make until its done. It lets me create and its safe and they love it, they wouldnt like it if I had to be right there all the time, it would ruin the surprise. I also live in an area that is sort of rural and close to a military base so our internet signals are not reliable there (tv and radio signals are also some what unreliable, especially on training weekends), so if I did have the net I still wouldnt always have access when I wanted it. So digital just isnt something I can or could use.
I am definitely against PC going all digital. I know it COULD be more profitable for them, but I know a few people who scrapbook and don’t even own a PC. And yeah, I have both a PC and a laptop but I don’t keep them anywhere near my Expression. Nor do I want to have to bother with turning one of them on and relying on my network connection just to be able to cut out a few images. Complete garbage.
Part of the draw to Cricut versus other machines for me and I believe for many of us is that we did not need a computer to use it. They even use this ” no computer needed” feature as part of their advertising, particularly on HSN. I understand that some newer Cricut users may prefer the digital option but doing away with physical cartridges completely , I believe would be detrimental and would turn away many loyal Cricut users. They might be able to bring down their costs, but they would also bring down their sales. Not a good idea, I can’t imagine that they would make such a colossal customer service mistake.
8/21/12- I would not personally favor the digital cartridge. I prefer the physical cartridges. I am new to the scrapbook/cardmaking crafts and I would suggest to leave the customer the choice to purchase either digital or physical cartridges. PC please think of this suggestion.
I was totally against digital cartridges to start with. However I have purchased some of the exclusives in the craft room and find them and the craft room a joy to use. The CCR still has bugs to be worked out but it just keeps getting better all the time. The only problem I see now is being able to get on line with the computer when I am at a scrap. Unfortunately my current monthly scrap group meets where I can’t get online. I have a MacBook Air and it is so small that I recently took my Expression and computer to our school and made bulletin boards for teachers it was a blast. I didn’t take any cartridges but had my Gypsy
which is linked to about 200 cartridges. I think I now prefer the bigger screen on my computer but still love my Gypsy. As of now I can’t link my Gypsy Cartridges to the computer but I know Provo craft is working on that and will be able to in the future. Having so many cartridges does take up a lot of space in my craft room so I just might start getting digital as soon as my cabinet is full. I store them alphabetically in an old metal library cabinet that has 10 drawers. Each drawer holds 2 rows 16 or 17 cartridges. If the cartridge didn’t come in a box I grouped those 3 to a box in VCR boxes. Just thought I would share my storage solution to get people thinking about recycling the old cabinets that schools/libraries might be throwing out in your area
I live in a very small rural area!! Getting the internet signal at our house can be a nightmare!! We can be without the internet for weeks and then go months with out having any issues, but if I had to be completely digital I would be in trouble during those times that I am without the internet connection!! I enjoy digital, but I am a VERY visual and hands on creator!! I LOVE my carts. and the books and being able to flip through and just being inspired!! I think its okay for them to grow digitally, but they need to also remeber the market share of their company that is used to and wants to create with the carts. and manuals in hand!! Also, all of the other companies (Creative Memories, and others) that have their own carts. made to go with their products would be something that would go away and I think the market share lost in those areas would be MAJOR!! I don’t see them going all digital with all of the other companies that are doing that, but maybe they will?? I, like many of you would be SAD to see that happen!!
I only have a computer at work and DO NOT plan on buying any digital cartridges. We have a huge group of croppers/friends that try to purchase every physical cartridge available. As a group, we’ve already discussed the digital future for scrapbooking and believe that’s NOT our future! Not everyone has access to computers!!!!!!! ProvoCraft needs to realize it’s the young mothers, the older retired gals and people with limited budgets that got their Cricut business going in the first place. Not everyone is computer savy nor do they want to be…..otherwise, all scrapbookers would have already bought their Gypsy or gone with the Silouette machine. Wake up Provo!!!
I downloaded craft room thinking it was going to be great only to find that it is not compatable with Panda my antivirus/firewall. Therefore I cannot run Craft room or use digital downloads. I sure hope thay don’t quit making the cartridges!
I hope they don’t get rid if the cartridge because I don’t have a computer that is why I bought the imagine machine in first place
I have the original Cricuts, Create A Cricuts, Expressions and also an Expressions. I’ve a vast library of cartridges and I have just about all the cartridges. I do not like digital images because you can only use them with the Craft Room. I prefer to be able to use my cricut machines without accessing the web. If Provo Craft opts to not sell cartridges anymone, then I will no longer buy any products from them or anyone else..
I think the digital cartridge selling is good idea, but they should keep the traditional way, too. What I don’t like that the digital cartirdges for same price, then the traditional one (even don’t need paperbook, silicon keybord, cartridge, box), and limited how we can use them (in the Craft Room) and some people don’t like to use their machines through the internet, so why don’t allowed to download the digital cartridges to our gypsy for example?
Yes, they should allow fix it so we can download the digital images to our Gypsy. I would then be interested. I like some of the original digital images but don’t like using the pc for that. Example I got a virus on my last computer and lost my files. I’d be mighty annoyed if I lost the digital images I paid for. I have almost every cartridge and will stick with cartridges as long as Provocraft makes them.
I don’t think you will lose files if something happens to your computer. If they are in your craft room they will be there no matter what computer you use. It is stored out in hyperspace is what I like to say. But really Cricut has the records and stores it for you.
I hate digital. First of all, I live in the country with sketchy internet. Then their is the issue of being able to tell what your cutting. The images in the ccr are not clear enough to tell what your cutting. Is it a deer or a dog? Then I don’t understand if the layers are cutting to the same size as the previous cuts.
I own the original and the e2. The e2 is hard really hard for me to figure out. I wish I would have just bought the e. I can’t figure out the sizing at all, can’t watch utube with my internet and there isen’t anywhere to go to have someone teach me.
One last issue with digital (including the e2) I simply have a hard time seeing what I’m doing. At 48, eyesight isen’t real good. Here’s hoping that PC keeps the physical carts, otherwise I’m done with PC.
I agree. I love the cartridges and am not real thrilled with going digital. Please keep the cartridges and make info about them more accessable.
I have several of the cartridges and love them I have purchased a few digital carts of carts no longer around hopefully PC don’t go all digital. As having carts over digital is the only way to go. In case some people don’t have access tot he internet they can still use the carts
How does one even sell digital cartridges? do you turn over the account..can you transfer the items?If you turn over the account to someone what about your credit and address info that is permanent on the order form :/ …money they will make but they need to figure it out
Good Question. Sorry I don’t know the answer, but great question.
I totally agree. I have the original Cricut and also an Expression. I’ve over 100 cartridges in my library alone and my scrapping groupies, I think we have just about all the cartridges.
We could have gone digital but did not want to have to carry a computer around with us when we wanted to get together. We would just hate to see PC go all digital we started with Cricut because we did not want to do the computer/digital scapbooking or cardmaking.
I know too many women who are in no way computer savy and if PC were to go all digital – that would be a great let down, and a waste of money. Also making cartridges that is not usable with the existing machines is also a waste.
Why mess up a GREAT thing. There has been too many of the regular cartridges sold to not have any more that will work with the existing machine.
Please do not get alway from the traditional cartridges I do not like the digital stuff I am not that great on a computer and have no one around me that is. My daughter lives 1500 miles away and don’t see her that often and when I do there is not time to learn how to do. Plus she would have to learn first to be able to teach me.
Earlier this week, BAML Capital Partners, the private-equity arm of Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC), acquired a majority stake in Utah-based manufacturer and retailer of hobby and craft products Provo Craft & Novelty Inc
However, Provo Craft management and Lehi, Utah-based private-equity firm Sorenson Capital will continue to hold significant equity stake.
http://www.dailymarkets.com/stock/2010/03/26/bofa-acquires-provo-craft-stake/
Hmmmm, maybe it is about control? When I buy digital cartridges, do I become an owner of these digital cartridges? Can I download them and use them without being connected to the internet? I think that the name ‘cartridge’ is somewhat misleading. Someone may think it is (still) a physical cartridge. But I think they’re just a bunch of images??? I don’t have any so, correct me if I am wrong.
As many who bought the Cricut, I did not know Provocraft would be so controlling. But I stick with the twelve cartridges I have. No more cartridges! I made a deal with myself to be very creative with the ones I have. They fit in the two boxes; good enough for twelve cartridges:-) So I don’t have space for new cartridges. I am totally not in their digital images or cartridges, because I believe I should own what I buy. And own any creation made out of the cartridges I bought. What will happen to all those creations saved in CCR? Is a bought digital cartridge your own ? The fact that linking your cartridge to the CCR is permanent, is also disturbing to me.
Also by producing CCR I feel as Provocraft neglect a lot of clients who once invested in a Cricut Design Studio. I read somewhere that they will not update CDS anymore. CDS was not cheap either and every time my computer crash or if I buy a new computer I have to contact Provocraft to unlock my serial number. I can not just install my CDS again, without their interference. Crazy!!!
Well, I enjoy my Cricut. I am just annoyed by Provocraft who is trying to control too much. So I will not buy any products without being free how to use what I bought.