Cricut software comparison

I have seen so many questions and there is so much information to slog through, that I put together a chart with as many relevant parameters as I could think of. This is based on a really quick look at the Make-the-Cut demo and my accumulated, but not necessarily perfect, knowledge of the other products. In other words, there might be some errors. I anticipate frequent updates in the near term so please send others to this page instead of sharing the file. Thanks for your cooperation.

Download a PDF of the chart here

Hinge technique for cutting printouts

Shown here with the Cricut machine by itself, here’s a technique that is also helpful with Cricut Design Studio, the Gypsy or with Sure Cuts A Lot. Use this when you need to see in advance exactly where the Cricut is going to cut in relation to the mat. This is especially helpful when cutting around printouts, cropping photographs and any other applications where you want the printing to be perfectly centered or otherwise positioned within the cut.

Some Tough Gypsy Questions Answered

Headed to the CHA Consumer Show in Orlando today armed with a list of questions about the Gypsy and determined to get some answers that haven’t been covered in the intro video (called a “test drive” but is not interactive) or the FAQs. The Provo Craft booth was right in front so after voting for the gold and black Gypsy cover (go Yella Jackets) I was able to corner Major Madon (Project Manager for Gypsy) manning a Gypsy demo station.
The demo Gypsy was running beta software and didn’t have all the features operational yet. Madon explained that the programming is still being finished up. So I wasn’t able to get a feel for what it will really be like, although the screen resolution was quite crisp and easy to see. Selecting individual images was very difficult, just like in CDS. This will hopefully be resolved before official release.
Here, in paraphrase, are the questions I asked, and Mr. Madon’s answers…

Q: Is there a video out port or capability
A: No

Q: Well, then, for those that teach or make tutorial videos, how about an emulator?
A: Provo Craft has an emulator, but there are no current plans to release it. He seemed to think that was a good idea and said he would propose that to the team when he got back.

Q:Ports in detail?
A: Mini USB to connect to Cricut (comes with 5 ft cable)
and a 26-pin proprietary port for cartridges (short adapter cable included)

Q:Battery type and life (total life, not per charge)?
A:Rechargeable Lithium Ion, not replaceable, lasts “years”
AC adapter/charger comes with it, car adapter optional

Q: Does Gypsy have the Hide Contour feature?
A: No

Q: Are CDS files interchangeable with Gypsy files in both directions?
A: Yes

Q: How will features that are missing from one or the other going to be handled? Such as grouping available on Gypsy, not on CDS; Hide contour available on CDS, not on Gypsy.
A: Don’t know, confident it won’t be a big issue.

Q: The Gypsy can only shadow images if that is a feature of the cartridge, correct?
A: Yes

Q: Does the “flip” command work logically or do you still have to type words backwards and then flip?
A: It works logically, flipping the entire word.

Q:Will the photo app mentioned in the FAQs be free?
A:Yes

Q:How much storage does the Gypsy have?
A: 4GB, enough for hundreds of cartridges and tens of thousands of cut files (assuming no photos)

Q: Were some of the most complex CDS designs tested to see if the Gypsy is up to the task of demanding designers.
A: “I assume so.”

Q: Can you share Gypsy designs with others?
A: Yes, but not without a PC and CDS

Q: Can you download CDS designs and use them on the Gypsy?
A: Yes, but not without a PC and CDS

Q: So the Gypsy is not really Mac-compatible?
A: It is platform independent (it can be used without a computer) but no, it is not Mac-compatible (in context with the above 2 questions).

Q: Like CDS, Gypsy comes loaded with the entire cartridge library. How will updates be accomplished when new cartridges are released?
A: Through a web-based application that can be run on a PC or a Mac.

Q: There has been much confusion over the price of the Gypsy. Can you clarify.
A: The MSRP is $299.

Q:Can you confirm or deny that the Gypsy is based on the Nintendo DS platform?
A:No.

Also, a flyer at the show stated that Gypsies would first be available a Michael’s stores on October 4th. A huge notebook with all the cuts from the 2 Gypsy cartridges was also on hand.

I really appreciated Major Madon’s patience with my barrage of questions. I enjoyed talking to him engineer to engineer, and appreciated his candor.