Cutting machine opnions...like cricut, silhouette, etc.

All the new Cricut Explore machines require a live on-line internet connection via a computer to cut, even if you already own the cartridge. Similar to the Silhouette you can use any design or font, but the Silhouette can be used off line once you download the software. If the Cricut server fails or gets overloaded you are out of luck until it is back up. I have both and use both, but the Cricut is useless at some of the crops I attend where the internet connection is slow.

By the way, there are great Youtube tutorials and Facebook support groups for both.

Cool I didn't know you could download the software free!

I have the Cricut Explore and the Silhouette Cameo.

You said you wanted a machine for titles and your DD to use at the library. I am assuming she will be using it at a physical library. Look at the Silhouette Portrait. You can make cute titles easily. Lots of YouTube videos to help.
Don't be intimidated. Cricut & Silhouette have a lot of help files & YouTube tutorials. They both shine in that regard. If your DD is actually taking the machine to a library it will be easier to transport. That's why I thought of the Portrait. It is not much expense either to buy one. You can buy one for $120 on Amazon right now.

You are getting really great advice. Definitely download the software before you look at any of the machines. You will spend all your time in the software. Have your DD play with the software too. You can download Silhouette's software for free. Cricut's software is free online. Update your Flash to use Cricut's software.

I didn't go into the Explore because I think it is overkill for titles & transporting. The software always has to be online. If you can't get online you can't cut. If a budget is being looked at for the machine the Explore is on clearance at some WalMart's for $150. I saw surfing the other day that somebody picked up one for $80 at WalMart. Everyone reading this scan the machine through one of the scanner's first. WalMart is not advertisting that price.

THere are some awesome support groups for Silhouette on Facebook. Silhouette for Beginners is a busy one and you can get help really fast if you need it.

There are Cricut groups too - but I highly recommend the Silhouette Cameo.

I have the Silhouette Cameo and the Cricut Explore Air 2. 

Both machines have a learning curve. Both will require a computer. However, as others have explained, the Explore needs to be online at all times, and that can be a problem at times.

Both machines can cut your computer fonts for titles, and for bulletin boards.

Of the two, I think the Silhouette Cameo (or the smaller and more affordable Silhouette Portrait) would be a better choice for what you want to do with it, but it does have the ability to cut fabric, vinyl, and lightweight chipboard as well.  If you think you might eventually want to cut leather and other heavier materials, I would recommend the Explore. I bought the Explore to cut leather.

I definitely prefer the Cameo software. The Explore software is less complicated, but it is not as user friendly IMO.  While there is a learning curve to the Cameo software, I can create anything I want to cut with it. If I want to create something to cut with the Explore, I have to use other graphic software, then convert it to a format that the Explore can cut. However, titles can be created with either machine's software. I am talking about creating things like boxes, tags, flowers, banners, etc. The Explore is geared to the user buying Cricut designs for cutting. The Silhouette machines can be used by crafters who want to purchase files, as well as those who want to create their own designs.  It's not that hard, and there are many tutorials to teach you how.

One other option is to see if you can buy an Expression or Expression 2. You may be able to find one on Amazon. There are some on eBay. You might find one at a yard sale. The downside to the Expression is that you cannot cut your computer fonts, you would need to buy font cartridges. However, the Expression is a stand alone cutter. No computer needed, so it is very portable.  The cartridges, however, can get expensive over time.   I also have an Expression, which I bought for portability, since I did not want to take my laptop to crops. Because I bought so many cartridges, it was by far the most expensive cutting system in the long run. I am able to use the cartridge designs with my Explore, however.

There is one thing I recommend that you do before choosing which machine you buy. If you think you will ever be buying designs, look at what designs are offered for each machine.  While there are many free designs available, I rarely download them because I don't care for most of the freebies. There have been a few rare exceptions, but I have found that I am more likely to find something I like for scrapbooking among the designs I have purchased.

Before you purchase either machine, I highly recommend that you become familiar with the computer system requirements for running the machines.

Your ease and success in using the machine will be dependent on having a compatible operating system, including, but not limited to CPU size, disk space, RAM, bluetooth connection (if you want wireless connectivity).

There are also download and upload broadband connectivity requirements/recommendations.

Here are the minimum specs for Cricut:

help.cricut.com/help/system-requirements-design-space


Minimum specs for Silhouette America:

www.silhouetteamerica.com/faq/solution/software-minimum-system-requirements

The Cricut on-line software is not working today so no one can access their projects or do any cutting at all! The Cricut Facebook groups are going wild. Another reason to get a Silhouette.

Ask yourself what you want to be able to do with the machine. Besides cutting titles are there other possible things you would like to do with your machine in the future? Make die-cuts for your LO's or bulletin boards? Scan and cut? After you have answered what all you want to do with your machine search for reviews and comparisons of the various machines. At one time there was a site that had a comprehensive comparison of the various die cut machines, but it has been taken down.

When I bought my machines (a Pazzles) I knew that I didn't have room for a bunch of cartridges, wanted to be able to cut lots of different fonts, and wanted to be able to cut 12 x 12 cardstock/paper. At the time Pazzles was one of the few machines that cut 12 x 12. Since then I have also scanned in, reshaped, and cut various chipboard shapes I have. I've also scanned in a design on a bag from the Meteor Crater in AZ and created my own die cut. I've used an outline of Lake Tahoe I found online to create a background for my Lake Tahoe pages. You might also check out the Pazzles site.

I agree, it's nothing like Photoshop. The closest comparisons I could make to other mainstream software would be Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw, both of which are vector based illustration programs. The cutting machine software programs are all vector based.

I have a really old Pazzles Pro (running Funtime), a Pazzles Inspiration (Inspiration Studio Pro) and most recently a Silver Bullet Pro (Sure Cuts A Lot 4). The software for all of them has a definite learning curve and each one is a little different. You can learn a lot by watching YouTube videos, and Pazzles does free classes every week at their Craftroom website (using their InVue software for their newer Vue machine). I would suggest doing a search on YouTube for the things you want to do and check out some videos for a few different software packages and machines and see which one clicks with you the easiest.

Not sure if you are still looking for a machine. Another option is the Brother Scan N Cut 2. You do not have to use a computer. You can just use the little screen attached to it. If your daughter wanted to use it, she could use it easily too. If you do any stamping, it is great at cutting out stamped images.