The New Cricut Maker is here...really?

I really want one. This one cuts fabric with a rotary blade, cuts many more mediums. They have collaborated with Simplicity to have make it now sewing projects. I am very excited about it but do not know when I can afford it.

No, I could not justify that sort of price. I don't sew, so that doesn't interest me.

If my Cricut Expression ever quits, I'll probably buy an electronic machine.

Not interested either. I would not buy another Cricut machine.

Tiny rotary blade, from what I understand.

If they can market to the quilting crowd, they may be successful with this. And quilting is bigger than scrapbooking these days if the magazines in the newsstands is any barometer.

But I am not sure if they are ahead or behind. I may be mistaken, but I thought Brother Scan n Cut can be set up to cut cloth? And I would think Brother already has a way to coordinate between that and their very expensive and very versatile sewing machines?

I am not trying to be snarky when I say this, but considering how often Cricut comes out with new machines, they must make a decent return on them, or they wouldn't keep doing it. They used to be top dog in the electronic cutter market. With the lawsuit, that came crashing down like a house made of cards, but they keep trying to get back to being the top.

The Cricut Explore was promoted as being able to cut fabric, leather, and balsa wood. So what is different with the new machine?

The new machine does have a greater cutting pressure. That is a really major improvement. The higher price of the machine is not that unreasonable for increased cutting pressure. The new blades are also a nice improvement, especially the rotary blade.

If they had decent software, I might be tempted, just for the blades and better cutting pressure, even though I don't really need another machine. The Explore Air 2 does what I need for cutting leather. I sew once in awhile, but most of the patterns I typically cut are too big for any cutting mat, and if you have the right kind of sewing weights, cutting out fabric really isn't that time consuming or difficult. The balsa wood projects looked really cool, but I have no real need for that capability any time soon. For those who are into doll houses and making miniature furniture or wood cutout home decor, it might be a tempting machine, but that is a very limited market.

All that said, as nice as the machine seems to be, they still presumably use their crappy Design Space software.

The software works okay most of the time as long as you are using their designs, for which you pay. Unlike Silhouette software, Cricut/Provo Craft made it as annoying and slow as possible to create and cut anything of your own in Design Space.

I honestly think that if they would offer decent software for those who want to create their own designs, that they would once again monopolize the cutter market. They have a fabulous machine in the Explore. I suspect that with greater cutting pressure, their new machine is going to put many other electronic cutting/crafting machines to shame. The crappy Design Space software, however, continues to limit their customers to those who want simple and easy. Stupid move. It limits their customer base to those who want that.

I can already cut all of that stuff with my Silver Bullet, and almost all of that stuff with my ancient Pazzles Pro that I've had for 15 years. They would have to do more than that to impress me.

It's advertised at M's for $399

If you're interested, my friend bought one and I'm sure she'll be posting about it on her blog. www.joyslife.com

eta: it wasn't given or discounted to her. She bought it. 

Joy got her cricut maker in the mail today so watch for a blog post soon.

I don't understand why they got rid of the dial on this machine. Now, it seems you have to put in the material you are cutting, and I guess you pull it from the drop down menu on your computer or IPad. Then, you can add more or less pressure to the default setting of that material. It seems so much like what we had on the Expression years ago. I like having the dial on my machines, it makes it easier to me. If it is set to cardstock, I can see the setting easily just by looking at it. Now, that simplicity is not there.
I was interested in the knife blade, and what it will be able to cut. But, it won't be out until at least October, from what I am reading. I also remember being told all of the materials the Explore could cut when I got it. I distinctly remember cork, and craft foam being listed. Cork just shredded on every setting. Craft foam did not work either. And, thin wood was listed then too.
I even remember watching the demos of the Expression 2 back when Jinger Adams was selling it on HSN. I remember her saying so excitedly : "It cuts felt you guys!" Now, with this machine, it cuts felt. Very confusing. I guess I feel frustrated that they still have not at least given us an offset function in Design Space. We have been asking for this for 3 years. Instead, we have another new machine. While it may look nice, and do this or that, they still never added more features to Design Space.
Looking forward to seeing the Joy's Life review. I remember seeing her reviews on Cricut a while ago.

Joy will have the review on her blog tomorrow.

I weighed in on this over at the Cricut thread. Early apologies for repeats.

I did want one. I was really excited about it. I went to Michael's a couple of weeks ago for fun. Michael's was setting up the new display. I got to see it in person. It looks like a Cricut. Nothing outstanding about it, lol. I decided I didn't want one because I didn't like the color. Yes, you read that right. I am that person, lol.

If the price was a bit lower then I might consider it. I know you have all heard me say this so many times over the years "The software is what we are spending most of our time with these machines." This is an advanced machine with basic software. I think it is going to be an issue in the long run.

The Cricut software is made for hobbyist users. This machine is made for advanced users who have higher artistic and crafting skills. I know that sounds elitist. If you work hard to get to that level then you deserve your elite.

Most Cricut users are working with small vinyl or paper. This machine is made for more expensive materials. If the Cricut software decides to fail or the servers go down when your cutting a piece of scrapbook paper makes you want to scream can you imagine how the quilter is going to feel when her $10 yard fabric is ruined?

I like to play the lottery. I think a $400 lottery for ruined materials is not one that has a good chance of winning. I rather buy an Eclipse, Scan n Cut, KNK, Janome, or any of the other great machines on the market that are in same price range with an excellent software package to go with it.

I am excited that Cricut is partnering with Simplicity. I love to sew but I loathe cutting out patterns. One of my loves is couture doll clothing. The patterns are very finicky. The new Cricut Maker is really made for me. I have been waiting for a machine a long time with these kind of capabilities. I make a lot of scale items too. I know everyone in the scale modeling world is going to be geeking out over this machine. I also know they will get frustrated to.

I really do love the blades Cricut is releasing. I hope to see the other companies bring out new blades for their machines too.

I forgot about we have to buy a separate adapter to link cartridges. I know they are slowly transitioning out of cartridges. They are still releasing cartridges. They just released a couple last year. They need to include the adapter or make it a decent price. There are still people who buy their cartridges and need to link them. Cricut didn't think about that very well.

gale w Can't wait to see Joy's review. I know she will be hard on it, lol. I love Joy to pieces. She is one of my favorite for reviewing machines.