Five Days of Impressions

Five days isn't a very long time.  It's an especially short time when you can't put full days into evaluating a product.  But, it's certainly enough time for either buyer's remorse or confirmation that one's decision was a good one.

I have a Gazelle, it's the only other digital die cutting machine I have ever used.  And, it's a good one.  In fact, among those digital die cutters that use a cutting mat, it is one of the best ones.

I have two daughters.  I would like to give each of my daughters a digital die cutting machine and keep one for myself.  That means needing a minimum of three machines.  And, as I've mentioned earlier, I have already ordered 2 eCraft machines.  So, the question is this.  Should I simply give one of the daughters the Gazelle?  Or, is the eCraft impressive enough to go ahead and make sure that each of us owns one.

Now, remember, I've never tried the software with the eCraft.  And, my final decision will certainly have to wait until I've had a chance to see how easy it is to use eCraftShop Pro.  And, I should also say that one daughter is a Mac user.  To purchase a third eCraft also means giving that daughter a PC with which to use it.  Even so, my inclination after just 5 days of having an eCraft is that whereas the Gazelle would sit for much of the time, the eCraft would be used for much of the time.  And, that means I am planning to purchase a third eCraft while the introductory price is still available to us.

Obviously, this means that I have no buyer's remorse at all about my initial eCraft purchase.  None whatsoever!

Yes, there are some actions when using the control panel that could be smoother and more intuitive.  As soon as I have a voice back, I'll create a video that demonstrates some of these.  And, yes, there are still some questions as to the absolute precision for more advanced applications requiring repetition.  But, from the standpoint of simply sitting down, selecting a shape, putting in a piece of paper and creating a cut... as I expect my granddaughters will want to do... there is no cutter out there that is better for them, if for no other reason than one does not need to mess with a mat.   And, should my granddaughters have a friend over for a visit, they can step them through the process by simply pointing out the Quick Start directions right on the inside of the cover. 

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There is something about the eCraft that just makes it comfortable and non-intimidating to use.  It invites you to use it.

And, if there is one thing that I would like to impress upon you about my own initial impressions is that very thing.  It invites me to use it.  It invites me to think of new ways I might use it.  It invites me to thnk of new materials I can use with it.  It is an inviting machine.  And, it is an inviting machine because of the thoughtfulness of the designers.  They weren't just designing a machine that cuts.  They were designing a machine for US... the humans that need a machine that cuts.

The tests that I have done and have planned might be able to communicate tangible hard facts.  But, they will not be so great at communicating the intangible ways the eCraft's designers just make you feel comfortable with it.  Sooner or later, I expect the eCraft to recieve an award simply for the case design itself.  That's part of it's inviting appeal.  And, then, there is the way the cutting/printing trolley is so accessible and the comforting blue light is so visible.

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The thoughtfulness of the numbered and lighted pressure dial contributes to my appreciation for it.  But, perhaps, the thing that makes it say, "I'm here for you." more than anything else is the abundance of step-by-step directions printed right on the machine itself.

The Basic Operations on the inside of the top cover....

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The clear Blade Replacement directions just above the trolley...

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And, even the Pen replacement directions.

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In five days there is no way to know how well the eCraft will hold up.  There is no way to know if it will easily do everything we will want to do with it.  And, in fact, it is already apparent that it will NOT do all I'd hoped it would do, like handle Fun Foam and give me perfectly aligned cuts across pages time after time.  But, I would rather have an inviting machine than a perfect machine with a design that stands in the way of using it.

And, I will say it one more time.  The eCraft is an INVITING machine.