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My aunt, the best in the world, is giving me money for my birthday with specific instructions to spend it all on myself and buy myself a Cricut, lol. I have spent countless hours online comparing different Expression bundles and the E2. I can't make up my mind. I'm a former SU! consultant, I still stamp and make cards, so I would be using my Cricut for a lot of cardmaking. I'm also a fairly active scrapbooker, so I would like to use it for titles and embellishments. Finally, I'm a speech therapist in an elementary school, so I'd be using it for school projects - games and bulletin board decorations. Any comments or suggestions would be so much appreciated:-) Thanks!!!
First of all, Happy Birthday -- and God Bless your Aunt!! What a lovely gift and one you will no doubt use often.
I haven't seen the E2 yet but it seems to me that ProvoCraft is notorious for releasing products before the work the bugs out. It was that way with the Gypsy as well as the Imagine. So just try to read lots of reviews before you make your purchase.
Enjoy your new Bug -- I love mine and use it way more than I thought I would!
One of the things you'll need to research is whether or not you're committed to spending money on cartridges for it or not. If you're someone who designs yourself and would like to get into using other's images (not on cartridges), then you need to look into a totally different brand of cutter. If you want the freedom of no cartridges, you need to be looking at machines that are compatible with Sure Cuts a Lot or Make the Cut. The Cricut is no longer compatible with this software due to all the lawsuits Provo Craft filed. You might want to research the actions of Provo Craft in general to see if this is a company you want to support. There are some other threads on SCS about the lawsuits and a movement of people boycotting them. Hope this helps.
__________________ Leslie Harnish
Sambro, Nova Scotia
Canada
I would highly recommend the Expression based on the uses you would have for the machine. I have over 100 cartridges and have never paid full price for any of them. There are lots of places you can get good deals on them.
Personally I feel the Expression would be all you need to create cards, scrapbook pages and any school projects. With a bit of your own creativity, there is no limit to what you can do with the machine. Adding your stamps and embossing folders even further enhances the images you cut.
I don't have any of the other programs mentioned in previous posts. I do have the Design Studio (Cricut product) which is amazing what you can do with that. I have the Gypsy, but for me it's a bit small screen to work with. I like it but prefer to use the Design Studio.
I have both! The advantages of the E2 is that it is touch screen, it has preset cutting settings for different papers and the ability for you to program more. They are basically the same size and both use the 12x12 or 12x24 mat. I have an introductory and exploring video. I'm using my phone right now but I can send you links if you are interested in viewing them. One disadvantage of the E2 is the price. You can get the expression for so much less right now.
The E2 comes 4 cartridges preloaded (2 are exclusive to the machine) and you can't print but can cut imagine cartridge images.
Thanks for everyone's comments. Hiding, I'd love that link:-) Thanks! Everytime I think I've made up my mind, I find another "deal" that makes me second guess my decision. There's a great deal at Overstock right now that comes with 4 cartridges and a bonus bundle pack for $289. I think the thing that I keep coming back to is that I'm afraid if I don't get the new one, in another year or so, they'll start phasing out the old "system" and everything will be on-line and you'll have to have the new one and update everything from your computer. Since I don't have one, maybe what I just said doesn't even make sense, lol.
First Cricut: Expression vs. E2?
