WOW! Why are people so freaked about SCA over at Cricut?

[vellumx]

LOL..how funny that I should now just post over at Cricut mentioning pretty much the same thing about SCAL and ProvoCraft. I too thought they would be happy because now you have more people interested in getting the machine...And, there are people who are happy with just the cartridges...That's ok..something for everyone.

Maybe the concern is for those that don't run different programs and don't realize that you can have more than one without conflict. Yes, it can happen, but you are told of this before you download.

ok, just my 2cents..lol.

[sboz]

Well stated, Susibi! As I said over on the Cricut message board: SCAL doesn't just take us to the horizon with our Cricuts - SCAL takes us OVER the horizon!

Shari

[CBJPL31]

Someone was reporting on the Cricut MB that PC might do an update that would block SCAL. All that's done is convince me that I probably won't update my CDS when the time comes -- and thus will cross several carts I was planning to buy off my wish list. I really like both CDS and SCAL but if I have to choose, I'll choose SCAL.

Do you own the CD for CDS? If so you can do what I've done and go ahead with the update and then if it causes problems, uninstall and reinstall using the CD. That'll take it back to the original format where it worked. So that way you won't miss out on anything if there are no problems. I think I probably just won't do anymore firmware updates. That is where my bug started having issues with SCA. I updated to the newest firmware that they linked to on the Cricut MB even though I wasn't having problems with my CDS (just did it b/c when a company says "here's an update" I usually just do it to get the latest version) so I probably should have just left well enough alone. I was easily able to switch back with no trouble but it taught me a lesson...unless SCA says to update to the latest Cricut firmware then I won't update. lol

[CBJPL31]

I have a feeling that you were referring to my post about PC sending a 'virus' to the cricut if SCAL was installed.

Just to clarify - I wasn't suggesting that PC is so hung up on SCAL that they would go out of their way to program it into their updates.

HOWEVER - I also didn't think a big company producing the iPhone would also do that.

All I meant was that it was a possibility.

And just for the record - if I had the financial freedom right now, I would have jumped on the SCAL bandwagon by now. I don't think I would spend another dime on a cartridge knowing now that I can cut any image/font I want using SCAL. - As a matter of fact, I stopped buying cartridges mainly because I've been waiting for someone to develop a software like this or some sort of hack that would allow us to cut what we want.

Oh and P.S. - I am not freaked out over it either!

Hugs
Annie

Annie...at this point I really don't know who said what and that's why I didn't use any names or direct reference in my thread. I don't usually look at who said what, I just read, not paying attention to who's saying what they're saying, simply reading the different points of view. Does that make sense? Anyway, I just remember hearing the words virus and talk about blocking SCA with updates and all that and it's just too much. I really don't think we have much to worry about. I think people are really overreacting in general. It's like the other poster said...it's like saying you can't use an HP printer with a Dell computer. I really agree that it's exactly the same thing.
As far as buying carts goes...Cricut has some fantastic carts thanks to the layering that is so easy to do. I've cut some dingbats with SCA and have been very unimpressed with the results mostly b/c of no layering. I don't want to take the time to create and figure out layers for stuff so that's where the Cricut carts are going to be used alot for me. When it comes to fonts though I will and have been mostly using SCA.
I'm sorry if I offended you with my wording b/c it wasn't meant to. When I said people were freaking out I didn't mean anyone in particular I just meant the group in general.

[CBJPL31]

After it's all said and done, I think PC is going to charge us an arm and a leg if they ever decided to release a program that let us do TTF. If you think about it... how much have you spend on all your cartridges and supplies for your bug? Just like any business model, the bottomline is making their pockets full and ours empty, which is all fine and dandy because we allow them to =).

However...competition helps keep prices in line. Having SCA as competition may keep PC from charging so much for their product when/if they release it. It's like J's, M's, HL, and ACM. If there was only one of those in the market imagine how much we'd be paying for stuff...but since they are all competetors, we get the best prices, great coupons, etc. Competition is good! Todd could have charged an arm and a leg for his product but he didn't b/c I believe he's a good person in general and just wants to make an honest living by using his talents to create an improvement on an already awesome product. He succeeded and kept the cost fair and now look at the rewards he's reaping!!!

[CBJPL31]

As for voiding warranty, how long is the warranty? I believe in Australia it is 3 months. Big deal! And someone did post that PC cannot legally void your warranty for using SCAL, you are not downloading anything to the cricut only to your computer.

This is 100% right! In the states the warranty is 1 year. My little bug is nearly past that and my Expression won't be too far behind. I'm not worried about that at all. I think they are playing on the fear some people have and convincing them to not buy SCA. That's what they want, right? They don't want people to buy SCA so they'll say whatever they want. It's just like any other competing products. One company wants you to buy their product so they discourage the competition. Simple as that. What's sad is that people are taking PC's word as gospel without doing their own research.

[Laurieinaz]

Nicole -- I do have the CD for CDS. Same thing happened to me with the firmware. Once I got SCAL, Todd said to reinstall the original CDS. Haven't had a problem since.

[wreed06]

I think they are playing on the fear some people have and convincing them to not buy SCA.

I don't think it's Provo who's saying not to buy SCA, though it's been awhile since I've been on the boards over there. I think people just hear one negative thing and it spreads and people get worked up into a frenzy. I wonder if Provo has even made one comment about it.

As far as SCA making money, they said we will get free upgrades for version 1.x. I think we'll have to pay an upgrade price when they come out with version 2. That's ok with me. I think we're the "test market" for SCA and they're buiilding their product based on what we want. What a great way to build a great product - exactly what the consumer wants! I wonder if they'll raise their base price when 2.x comes out - it'll contain so many new great features, they probably should, but may have trouble doing so since they are priced the same as Provo. I'll bet SCA'll match Provo's cost continuously.

As far as profits go, I've been wondering how long SCAL can stay in business. To my knowledge, this is their only product. They only sell to Cricut owners. They only charge what, $70? With future upgrades, you might pay, I'm guessing $30? I don't see long term retirement for the SCA folks in that. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they have other products under different names. Or, maybe Todd does this as a side business. Who knows. I'm just happy this product is here! I look forward to future goodies we might get!

[just maxine]

This is the reason I quit visiting the Cricut BB. Too much SCAL hatin' going on over there.

[CBJPL31]

I think they are playing on the fear some people have and convincing them to not buy SCA.

I don't think it's Provo who's saying not to buy SCA, though it's been awhile since I've been on the boards over there. I think people just hear one negative thing and it spreads and people get worked up into a frenzy. I wonder if Provo has even made one comment about it.

As far as SCA making money, they said we will get free upgrades for version 1.x. I think we'll have to pay an upgrade price when they come out with version 2. That's ok with me. I think we're the "test market" for SCA and they're buiilding their product based on what we want. What a great way to build a great product - exactly what the consumer wants! I wonder if they'll raise their base price when 2.x comes out - it'll contain so many new great features, they probably should, but may have trouble doing so since they are priced the same as Provo. I'll bet SCA'll match Provo's cost continuously.

As far as profits go, I've been wondering how long SCAL can stay in business. To my knowledge, this is their only product. They only sell to Cricut owners. They only charge what, $70? With future upgrades, you might pay, I'm guessing $30? I don't see long term retirement for the SCA folks in that. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they have other products under different names. Or, maybe Todd does this as a side business. Who knows. I'm just happy this product is here! I look forward to future goodies we might get!

You are right. It is not PC who's saying not to buy it, however, they are playing the "it'll void your warranty" card which is enough for some people. So essentially I think they are discouraging it in a very passive aggressive way.
I think it'll depend on how much the cost is for version 2 and what the upgrades are. Right now I'm feeling really happy with what I have and can see being happy with it for the long term...but that might just be b/c I don't know what version 2 will be like! lol
From what I read it sounds like Todd's the mastermind behind the product but it seems he might have a partner or two. It seems to me to also be a side job...but I know none of this first-hand, it's all speculation based on what I've read and how I've interpreted it.
The main thread over there has gotten quite heated and I'm a little guilty of feeding the flame right now b/c I took high offense to what one member said. Basically she said that we are all cheating and stealing and she hopes that we all get a virus and that make our bugs unusable. That's really spiteful and I feel sorry for her thinking that way. It's so sad. I told her that we are not cheating or stealing anything. We have purchased this software just like CDS. I'm not just going to sit back and let her tell me that I'm doing something wrong when I'm not. I won't tolerate that.
Thank you all for keeping this thread a place where we can discuss the issue without flaming and throwing accusations. That's one thing I like about this place. Everyone is supportive and helpful and friendly. If someone has a difference of opinion, that's fine, they're allowed and I encourage it...but when it comes to throwing around accusations of things that aren't true that's where it becomes past opinions and into a big mess.