Anyone switch from silhouette??

I agree with iowgirl that you should learn how to use your Silhouette. It can do so much more than the Cricut Expression, which I am guessing is the Cricut you have used in the past. You say you really want the Cricut Air, but it has a learning curve, too, from what I read.

If the time required to learn is what is keeping you from using your Silhouette, you will probably have the exact same issue with the Cricut Air. The Cricut Air has a lot more of a learning curve than the Cricut Expression does.

Try some tutorials on how to use your Silhouette and get better acquainted with It. Once you see how much the Silhouette can do, you will be a lot happier with it.

The gal who did the demo for the Cricut Air at the Scrapbook Expo Chantilly said that she had switched from Silhouette. The new Cricut can cut slightly better details on a very small scale. It can cut heavier materials, such as leather. But the Silhouette software is much better than the Cricut software from what I have seen.

I will admit that I was tempted to buy the Cricut Air until I read the various reviews. I suggest you go to Amazon and read the reviews. All of them, including the negative ones. I figured there would be some negative ones from people who were novices at using electronic cutters and expected the Cricut Air to be a walk in the park. However, some of the negative reviews were from people who were familiar with other electronic cutters and graphic software programs used to run those machines, not novices. I have (and am adept at using) a Wishblade, a BossKut Gazelle, a Cricut Expression, and a Silhouette Cameo. I love electronic cutters. I am used to dealing with a learning curve. However, after reading the reasons for the negative reviews, I decided that I did not need or want the Cricut Air at this point in time.

The past two weeks I have been using my Silhouette Cameo like crazy. I am using it mostly for making Christmas gifts. I used my Cameo software to trace a Star Wars image that I found on the Internet and then adapted it to use on my gifts for my husband and sons. It has super tiny details, which my Cameo cut just fine. The Cricut Air is supposed to cut even better detail, but I have had no projects where the slight difference in detail capability would have been an issue. For my Star Wars gift project, unless there have been major changes, the Cricut Design software would not have been adequate for what I needed. Not even close. The Silhouette software made it easy. Learning curve? Yes, but there are tons of tutorials available, many of them for free.

The Silhouette is a great machine in its own right. I encourage you to take the time to learn to use it. It will be time well spent, and once you learn to use your Silhouette, you will love it. Why spend money on another machine that will also take time to learn?

Just my two cents.

I have both machines and found the Silhouette the easiest, but I know we all vary with what we think is more comfortable. The software for the Silhouette was so easy for me to learn because I had a Gypsy for years.

I still have the original Silhouette. I just had to have it. (groan) and I have no idea how to use it.

I just signed up for the Facebook group and maybe I will get some help.

I signed up for Kerry Bradford's classes at Jessica Sprague...yet never have done them. Pathetic I know.

I have both the Cricut Expression & the Cameo. I love both machines. I use them both for different reasons. I know my Cricut is about ready to go to Cricut heaven even though she keeps managing to work every time I turn it on. When she finally doesn't work any more I might get an Air, even though I am very happy with the Cameo.

This is my main reason why I would get the Air is because of my cartridges. I know that is a main reason for a lot of people because they have so much invested in their cartridges. The cartridge reason for me is not monetary but because I like the designs and I use them a lot.

The big reason I do not want an Air is because it's online software. Hopefully by the time my Expression does die the software will be offline.

My Cameo I love so much for Print & Cut. I know the Air has P&C capabilities now but there are a lot of issues that ProvoCraft does have documentation on their web site such as browser limitations. That is a problem for me for the kind of creating I do.

Do you use your Expression now with MTC or SCAL? You can use your Silhouette with those machines too. I hardly use my Cameo with Silhouette Studio. I use MTC mainly unless I am doing a Print & Cut. That is the only time I use Silhouette's software.

If you have lots of projects you want to do that would use that feature, and it will be enough of an incentive for you to take the time to learn how to use the Air, go ahead and switch.  You don't need our permission.  It's your money.

However, you said you don't have a lot of time to learn to use your Silhouette, which is the only reason you gave in your OP for wanting to switch.

The Air will still require time to learn.  It will NOT be as easy as the older Cricut machines were.

The Silhouette is a great machine and can do a lot. Can it write and cut at the same time? No. It will write. It will cut. It just takes two separate passes.  I personally don't think that's a big deal unless you mass produce cards in huge quantities for an Etsy store or something. But if you haven't been willing to spend a little time to learn how to use your Silhouette, I think you need to honestly consider whether or not you would realistically take the time to learn how to use the Air.  Otherwise, it may just end up an expensive paperweight like your Silhouette has.

I just dragged out my original silhouette and cut out 2 pages of shapes and I haven't had it out or used it in about 2 years.

I have had trouble cutting vinyl and the iron on stuff but that is because I don't get the settings right. So I put it away but needing it today the very best thing is being able to cut any image and import fonts.

I was at a crop yesterday and the beep beep beep of the Cricut Air made me insane.

I have a new class on using the Silhouette for Titles and Text. Here's the description and more info:

Silhouette Titles Class

I love my Silhouette, I can do so much more than with the Cricut.

I have an explore, a scanncut (two of them) and a cameo...the ScanNCut is the easiest and the Explore I would say is the next easiest to use. Not that the Cameo is hard, but the software is less user friendly IMO.

The reason why I used my SNC and my Explore more than my Cameo is because they both cut thicker materials better and both are far better for Print and cutting stuff which I like to do.

However, I would never give up my cameo because it is a good machine and if you need advanced capabilities then the software is really good for that.

I switched from the Silhouette to the Cricut Explore and haven't looked back - love my Circuit!