Cricut vs Sihouette Question

[Khloee01]

I have no idea if I'm asking this in the right place or not. If not, sorry.

I really hope someone can help me out. I've been wanting a Cricut for a long time - have a friend with one and she has SCAL2 so it's what she recommended. Asked for the Cricut Expressions for Christmas but then the Expressions 2 came out so I decided I wanted that since it cuts fabric, too. My husband got me the CE2 for Christmas and now I find out that SCAL doesn't work with it and is no longer going to be available for the Cricut machines at all. VERY disappointed in this! My question is: Do I exchange my CE2 for an Expressions and try to find the SCAL2 software on Ebay or somewhere? Or do I just scratch Cricut altogether and get a Silhouette? I don't know anyone with a Silhouette and have no idea how easy they are to use. I'm completely and totally NOT tech savvy at all! I just pulled my CE2 out of the box last night and was a little disappointed that I was having a hard time figuring it out.

Any advice and input is GREATLY appreciated!

TIA!

[alliellis]

As far as I know SCAL2 isn't transferrable so it would be risky buying it on ebay. I would do what so many others are doing buy the Cameo or Sizzix eclips which will work with ecal a version of SCAL. I hope this helps.

[scrappinvt]

I changed from the CE to Silhouette Cameo & I love the cameo it is very user friendly & it works well with scal 3. I started using it right out of the box.

[Jax]

Unfortunately due to legal actions SCAL could no longer use Provo Craft items in their line up. I've heard very good things about the Cameo, especially it's cutting ability. From what Ive heard its cuts are so much better than the Cricut, curves and details on the Cameo cut cleaner. I'd say trade in the Cricut and get the Cameo with SCAL3,

[jasenj1]

This is a tough one. If you want to use the computer to cut with, a Cameo or eclips would be better choices. But being admittedly "completely and totally NOT tech savvy at all" then a Cricut or eclips - one of the machines that uses cartridges and doesn't need the computer, would be a better choice.

From your message, it sounds like you haven't used SCAL or any other cutting software before. So you don't have any preferences of one program over another. The Cameo software, SCAL/eCAL, and Make the Cut all behave differently and have different "personalities". You might really like one and find another confusing. Unfortunately, it's hard to know this without trying them out. And not being tech savvy, you may not have the patience to/skills download each and try them out.

In my personal and totally biased opinion, the Cameo is the best machine out there. It is the only one with an optical sensor to align print and cut jobs. If you don't know what that means, and don't plan to do print and cut, then that feature may not be important to you. The eclips or Cricut may have some feature that makes one of them "best" to you.

We have a Cricut and my wife likes the ease of use of the cartridges. I'm the one who uses SCAL. The nice thing about the Cricut is you can go to Michael's and take classes.

[sstehman]

Will give one more bit of input. The Cricut cartridges are quite expensive when you start adding up the cost of them...and it only works with the cartridges. The nice thing about SCAL3 and eCAL (using either the Silhouette or the eClips) is there are so many pre-made files available that are free or very inexpensive and you will find your library of files will grow rapidly once you get the hang of it. You don't need to create your own if you don't want to. You do need to use a computer of course to connect to your machine, but with what I have invested in 15 cartridges already (could have bought another machine).

Hope the input you are receiving helps you decide. Either way, have fun creating.