Provo Craft's New: The Gypsy!!!

A member on one of my groups posted the details on this:


Features:
•Size – 8” x 3” x 1.5”
•Weight – 11 ounces
•Screen Size - 4.7”, 16:9, 480 x 272
•Stylus Length – 3.75”
•Storage – ~4000 Cartridges, 10000+ Designs
•Battery Life – 4 hrs cont. 18 hrs int.
•Compatible with all Cricut Machines and Cartridges •Weld, size, slant, rotate, stretch, preview
•2 Full content cartridges preloaded
Benefits:
•No computer required
•All CDS functionality on-the-go with no PC
•Interfaces with CDS when connected to a PC
•Stores All Content
•Stores All Overlays
•Stores All Manuals
•Stores CDS Projects

Scuttlebutt:
All your cartridge info can be stored on this device. However, when you store it, the information is actually removed from your cartridges and installed onto the device, rendering the cartridges EMPTY. Therefore, you still only retain one copy of your cartridges. It has ample storage on it and pricing will be approx $300. I hear it will be loaded with two cartridges worth of images that will NOT BE AVAILABLE for purchase any other way than getting the machine. So all you collectors out there, this has your name all over it!

AND more info: the Gypsy is an electronic version of Design Studio that comes with 2 cartridges already installed. It has a stylus and the top flips open to reveal the virtual keypad and mat for designing on the go. And appears that possibly two of the new cartridges released in the DS font pack this week will be on the Gypsy and that's the only way you'll be able to get those cartridges, much like buying a Cricut machine with its dedicated cartridge(s), so if you are a collector of everything Cricut, this has your name all over it!!!!



My thoughts: with Provo Craft's customer service, or the lack of,............I am not so sure I am willing to gamble my entire Cricut cartridge library on this new item. I also get the feeling that everyone out there that does not register their Cricut cartridges, better do so ASAP, if you intend on buying this item, as that may become key. And finally, I hope this is better thought out than Design Studio, as this product still needs a lot of work and maybe The Gypsy is why that has gone by the way side, however I have a lot of doubts in my own head. What do you think?

~Kim

Comments

Jody said…
Hi Kim ... I agree ... I don't want to loose my cartridges ... on an experiment! I am very happy right now as things stand ... so will keep with my design studio and my Cricut Expression!
Rhonnie said…
Wow! What a bad idea!! So what happens if you are transferring your cart and it gets erased but the write to the gypsy didn't go right or is corrupt?? No way!!
Kim Bush said…
I hope to get a lot of these questions answered at CHA.
Nancy said…
Hi Kim... my thoughts, opinions, questions ... I can use Design Studio on my laptop just as well, I like the option of being able to share my cartridges with my friends who also have the Cricut and if I download to the Gypsy I wouldn't be able to do that anymore at crops, unless they would take all of my carts on the Gypsy at once (if I'm understanding correctly).

I'm curious how it connects with the Cricut? - does it have to go through your computer then to the Cricut or does it connect directly to the Cricut? If it would go directly to the Cricut, you wouldn't need to drag a bunch of cartridges around and that would be cool, but I'm still concerned about "erasing" the carts themselves.

I can buy a lot of cartridges for $300... personally, I think I'll go that route, at least until the bugs are worked out and maybe the price comes down...
Kim Bush said…
I will see what I can find out for you, Nancy! I have a ton of questions about this product.
cre8ivgrl said…
Just wanted to help clarify some mis-information regarding Cart usage with Gypsy! I have it from a pretty reliable source (pretty high at provocraft) that no- the carts will not be erased. So if you own a cart and download it to your Gypsy - your friend can't take the same cart and upload it to her's. The carts can only be downloaded to the original users.
So with that said- I can not wait to get my grubby hands around one!
Kim Bush said…
That is very interesting! Although, that is not what a customer service rep said, when asked that same question. Although, we must consider the source of this as well. Another BIG question is, how would the Gypsy know this, as all like cartridges have the exact same serial number. And lastly, one would think Provo Craft would arm all their dealers with good information so they may address these type issues before the rumor mill starts so they have champions of their product and not a lot of negative speculation. It is a good thing to get the "buzz" going, however not good, if it starts in a negative light, IMHO.
Kim Bush said…
I wanted to add an additional comment to my blog regarding the post made by: cre8ivgrl. This is a "dummy" blog with no credentails (no posts & all pics are photobucket pics), so although I so appreciate your "expertise" and am leaving this post up, as we all have questions regarding The Gypsy, I think whatever weight you might have had, bears no fruit at all, as you really and truly don't have any insider info.

And lastly, you are the only person, to date, that is ready to run and go by this little gem by PC! I suppose it is a good thing that you either are a PC employee or own your own store, so you may purchase it at cost........IMHO

Just my two cents as, bless her heart, she so loves the new Gypsy!
Anonymous said…
I came across your blog and was reading it and just wanted to comment. I just looked at cricut website and here is what I found that it says about some of the concerns I read on here. Ok, your carts would not be erased. If you uploaded them to the gypsy your friends can still use them only in the machine though. basically they can only be uploaded to one gypsy but still can be used in any reg machine. It says if it crashes or gets broken it can send you another one with the same serial number so you could re-upload your carts to it. It actually says to make sure to keep your carts just for that reason. The preloaded things look awesome. The price, I dont know, I am with you all on that. I have the baby bug and I could buy the big one and one or two carts for that price. Maybe one day if it goes down in price, but for now I think I will just wait and see. Thanks for letting me share and all the info is up on the cricut website.

Popular Posts