Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Gypsy vs. Design Studio

Advice, please

I would really like some advice from my fellow Cricut lovers out there. I have been wondering what the difference is between the Design Studio software and using a Gypsy. I guess I'm not sure I would use the Gypsy enough to validate buying it so I wanted to get some opinions, feedback, advice, whatever. If you have other blogging friends, please ask them to come to my page and comment (no need to be a follower I just want a lot of feedback, please).
Thanks so much!

16 comments:

  1. I had design studio for a while and may have used it 5 times total. My mom bought me a gypsy for my birthday last year and at first I thought I wouldn't use it, but I am going to tell you that I could not live without it. I absolutely love it and it makes it so easy for crafting, since you can design on the go and you don't have to have the computer like you do with design studio.

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  2. I have Design Studio and honestly, I have only used it a handful of times. It does work though for exactly what I wanted it for (word books and hopefully in the near future shape cards) I think the mobility of the gypsy would be great but I never have time to craft on the go, I am lucky I have time to craft while sitting down to do it lol. If I was you I would just wait until the online free version of DS comes out and see how that works.
    Tara

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  3. I have both. I got a great deal on DS so it didn't cost much. I had the trial version for about a year before I got the full version. I love my gypsy better because I feel it is more portable and user friendly than ds. So if I had to choose between the two I would probably get the gypsy. The ds is nice cuz you get a bigger screen to work with. I love the grouping feature in the gypsy but I do miss my pull handles like we have in ds. HTH

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  4. I have been thinking about this too! I wasn't really sure of my thoughts, but then I heard about a new option coming soon for Cricut owners. It's the Cricut Craft Room that Provo Craft is going to provide free of charge online. You can read about it by scrolling down to online design tool article at:

    http://www.cricut.com/news/

    We will be able to use a virtual cutting mat and design and weld images, from our computer, which is what the Design Studio and Gypsy does. Sounds like it will be really useful!

    Hope this tidbit helps you!
    http://www.mudpiereality.blogspot.com

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  5. I love both of these tools (DS large screen and can transfer to Gypsy)...BUT if you do not have either do not buy Design Studio as the new Cricut Craft Room is coming out soon and will do even more than what DS does Plus: FREE!! I never thought I would use my Gypsy so much but love it!!

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  6. You guys are so awesome with the feedback!! So, I will add that I do travel A LOT! In the fall, we will drive 8 hours to football games almost every weekend. My son is in college 4 hours away, my daughter travels for dance (3-5 hour trips one way), blah blah blah. Maybe a Gypsy would be nice for me to use in those instances. Hmmm. I'm still doubting myself, so please keep giving me your advice. Thanks to Janice for adding my post to her blog! :))

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  7. I've used both. My friend has design studio and I have the gypsy. I prefer the gypsy, I think it is more user friendly and you don't have to have a separate computer. Also you can take your Gypsy anywhere and design LO's or any project!!! That's a Major plus!! I've taken mine on the plane and to the doctors office and long car rides! You get the picture:)
    Good Luck! I have seen the gypsy for $50 before too!
    ~Kim

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  8. I have both. I have to tell ya, what you are questioning is exactly where I was back in November. When the Gyspy came out I was not impressed and no way could justify the price. I felt the DS was great, a bit clunky at times, but good. Then I got the Gypsy- OMG, what did I wait for. It is sooo much easier to use than DS. I was worried about the screen size, but it is so easy to use, I can design so much faster on it. I also like that I don't hve to switch out my carts in the machine at all- what a time saver. So from a skeptic turned believer--BUY IT!

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  9. Hi Jan, I have both and only use my Gypsy now, got it at the end of December and just can't say enough good things. Here's my likes, don't have to use cartridges anymore, they are all linked in my G, I take this where ever I go, I can't create while I have to wait, I forget what it's called but you can delete parts of a cut. You can search for cuts on it! I have made so much more since I got my G!
    Everyone has there own preference but the G is for me!! Hope this helps!!
    Cindy

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  10. I have both but never use DS anymore. I really resisted getting the Gypsy for a while, but I am so glad I did! I only miss 2 things about DS- the big screen (of my computer) and it was a little faster & easier to resize an image with DS, other than that I haven't missed it a bit!

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  11. I have never used design studio but I absolutely love my Gypsy. I just did a post about why the Gypsy is a must have. Check it out here: http://simplecreationspapercrafts.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-gypsy-is-must-have-tool-for-cricut.html

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  12. I like the Gypsy so much better because it's portable. I don't have to drag my computer to my Cricut to cut some thing out, I just take my little Gypsy. Also, it's great when I have an appointment or am waiting for an oil change or whatever...I can't just sit there and make a few cards up that I can cut out later. I also use it to design every card or scrapbook layout I do so I don't have to change out cartridges. For the most part, I like it better than DS, though, just because it's portable. :o)

    Lisa
    prettypaperprettyribbons.blogspot.com

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  13. I've never owned the Design Studio, so I can't comment on that. But, I can tell you that I use the Gypsy for EVERYTHING!!! I take it with me EVERYWHERE...even if I have 5 minutes in the car while hubby drives, I'm all over my Gypsy. And, since my computer is so far away from my Expression {& there's no room for me to even put my E next to my computer to hook it up} my Gypsy is so handy because it can go TO my E & doesn't take up much space. Again, I don't own the Design Studio so I can comment on functions, but the Gypsy is a MUST HAVE!! :)

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  14. GYPSY!!! All the way!. It's portable (you can watch the boring sports w/hubby & make layouts at the same time!) It's cordless until you have to plug & cut, It houses all your carts- so if you go to a crop, you don't have to worry about losing carts, & it's way cuter than a pc-you can buy different colored sleeves to make it match your purse! Can't do that with a honkin' big computer! Just my thoughts :) Hope it helps!

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  15. One thing I have to add to this is that if you have a gypsy and you use your carts with it, and at a later time you wish to SELL THAT cart, the person you are selling it to can NEVER use THAT CART with THEIR gypsy.

    I was not aware of this, but a friend of mine has a gypsy and just sold some of her carts and had to tell the girl she was selling them to that they would only work in the cricut machine not through the gypsy.

    :)

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  16. I only sell mine to my friends who are not interested at all in the Gypsy. I have a group of three friends that go "halfsies" with me on carts. So cool for us to share. Another bonus is that if I need the cartridge for backup I know where to find it! Works for us!

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