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From: bridesmom
Date: 01-15-2006, 10:33 PM (1 of 12)
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I'm trying to figure out the difference between these two converter boxes. I came across Magic Box Plus and Amazing Box II on Ebay. I have a Bernina Deco 500 and both seem to be able to write .pes cards. So, what's the better system??
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 01-16-2006, 09:58 PM (2 of 12)
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They are the identical same product except for color and name.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 01-17-2006, 02:10 PM (3 of 12)
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Thanks Tom, that was easy!!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: pretnichols
Date: 01-17-2006, 02:26 PM (4 of 12)
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Silly question Tom, but why would they make the product with 2 different names, assuming they are by the same company? If they work with all machines? Just wondering.... 
Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-18-2006, 04:20 AM (5 of 12)
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Magic Box is an OESD product. The Amazing Box is made/distributed by a different company (I think.) Tom, does Amazing Box write ART? If not, that is the major difference. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 01-18-2006, 01:00 PM (6 of 12)
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Dumb question - what's ART? Is that the format that the Artista uses???
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-18-2006, 01:12 PM (7 of 12)
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It is the format that Bernina machines use. Several companies make software and devices that can read ART but few can write in ART format. The Magic Box writes ART. OESD and Bernina are closely associated and OESD puts out the Magic Box. All the boxes generally do the same thing, they just don't all read and write in the same formats. Some are more reliable than others.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: caroldhughes
Date: 01-19-2006, 09:42 AM (8 of 12)
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apparently they are similar in that they can both read PES and ART files. HOWEVER - I recently bought a mini Amazing box (Amazing Designs product) at the Houston International Quilt Show - having been assured that it could do all that the Magic Box (OESD product) can do. I quickly discovered (at a cost of about $200.00) that there are compatibility issues with the drivers when using OESD software. I own Explorations - the OESD product (I am told by OESD) is not necessarily compatible with the Amazing Designs software. As I already had Explorations - I was able to return the Amazing Box - and I purchased the Magic Box Plus - and have had no problems. Be forewarned, however, there are all sorts of driver issues if you have Microsoft's Internet Explorer 6.0 with Service Pack 2. You may need to spend a while on the phone and have someone walk you through installing the correct drivers. In the end, I am very happy - but it took weeks to do the troubleshooting and the Christmas gift projects that I had planned went out the window. My advice - evaluate which software product you will be purchasing (can you add components later, how is monograming handled, can you resize, etc.) before buying the box. Good luck! |
User: caroldhughes
Member since: 01-19-2006 Total posts: 1 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 01-20-2006, 02:25 AM (9 of 12)
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Thanks for the info. It's hard to research as there are no stores around me that sell either of the products, and so I have to rely on word of mouth or what I can find out on the internet, which is mostly advertising so they sound wonderful but they neglect to tell you the issues, or the things they won't do. I did check out the Ultimate Box, and realized it only is compatible for Brother/Babylock/Deco which is fine if I stay with this machine, but if I decide to upgrade and don't go with something that works with the box, then I either have to really upgrade to a highend which I can't see happening unless I sell my motorcycle. I wish there were somewhere around here I could check these out - I may have to make a Seattle trip to see what I can find down there.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-20-2006, 07:09 AM (10 of 12)
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You might check embroideryonline.com That is the OESD website. There is probably some information on the Magic Box and it can be purchased there (at full price). I don't know if you could get a discount at a dealer's or not; the dealers are given latitue in their pricing...however, all updates are handled at that site. Also, they have a help desk at the OESD site to answer questions. The thing about a help desk is that you see all the problems with one product but not with another but it is nice that the people at OESD are on hand to help. There have been about 3 models of the Magic Box that I have seen. One is a two slot and there is a four slot, but there is a newer model. It is my understanding that the newest model is the best. You may want to check and see which model is current if you are truly interested.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 01-21-2006, 12:17 AM (11 of 12)
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Thanks Pam, I think the Magic Box Plus is the newest one out, at least that's the one that sounds like the newest one. I checked embroideryonline.com to see if there is a dealer near me and the one they come up with has a dead link, so I need to see if I can phone them and see if they are still around.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-21-2006, 12:33 AM (12 of 12)
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You might also check for Bernina of Canada to see if they have a dealers' link. Each country maintains its own site so they may not. THe US site has all kinds of good information, but any dealer references would be for the US. If you just to to Bernina.com (that's the swiss site), you can request your country and be sent to their site. (By the way, just in case you didn't know, if you'll log in to the French site which is free, they have some very nice older licensed designs.) I don't read French so I had to feel my way through but the box you click on is the second box and I knew that gratis (or something like that) sounded like free so....I headed that direction. The designs are copywritten, but they are great because they were from the design cards! Also, the www.berninaUSA has free designs that they change out about every 2-3 weeks. These designs are from the cards too. I do believe that you are right. I think the Magic Box Plus is probably the new one. I understand that it works much better than the older models. If you don't find a local dealer, OESD should be able to send it to you, but I think you might get it cheaper if you could buy it locally. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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