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From: Brenda Chesnut
Date: 03-05-2006, 09:24 AM (1 of 11)
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Does any one have this machine? I am looking at it to purchase. Please give me any pro's or con's on this specific machine that you may have. Have a Good Day!
Brenda __________________________________________ Husqvarna Viking Scan 400 EasyLock SL370 Simplicity Serger |
User: Brenda Chesnut
Member since: 01-29-2006 Total posts: 38 
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From: Pudge99
Date: 03-05-2006, 02:11 PM (2 of 11)
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Pros For the money you are investing you are getting a lot of machine. It converts almost any design to something it can stitch. Most machines out there can sew only the designs made for them or you have to buy separtate conversion software. You have a computer monitor to plan out your designs rather than a little screen on the machine. Most machines in this price range only have a 4x4 hoop. The Futura has a larger hoop. Cons The computer and the machine must be attached at all times. So if your computer is downstairs and your machine is up you will have issues with this. The machine must be turned on to open the Futura software on your computer. Now if you do not plan to do any stitching only getting your designs planned out you can turn off the machine after you get the software loaded and continue to work with the software. If you don't buy it from a dealer (I bought mine at Wal-mart  ) you will spend many hours on the internet trying to get help from other owners.Another Pro. There is a great Yahoo group for Futura owners and wannabe owners and they welcome questions and often give never before thought of ideas for advice. Click here to join. (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FuturaEmbroidery/) All in all I love my Futie even though there are days I want to chuck her out the window. As with any new craft there will be a learning process. It will take you time to be able to produce beautiful designs but once you get the hang of it there is almost no end to what she can do with the proper software and knowledge. Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 03-05-2006, 04:03 PM (3 of 11)
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I agree with Gina. For the price you can't beat it. There is a learning curve but there is with any embroidery machine. As Gina said, you can spend hours learning how to use it or you can just buy from your local dealer and get all the help you need. Most dealers sell at the same price you can find elsewhere. Don't make the mistake of buying elsewhere and then going to the local dealer for help. You have already offended him when you thought he wasn't good enough to buy from. Don't add insult by expecting his help when you gave your money to someone else. Over all unless you are ready to spend $2000 on up the ce-100 is probably the best thing you'll find. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: Brenda Chesnut
Date: 03-05-2006, 05:16 PM (4 of 11)
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for your help. Another question. I have read on other threads in this forum some are having problems with the CE200. Is the CE100 an upgrade to the CE200?
Have a Good Day!
Brenda __________________________________________ Husqvarna Viking Scan 400 EasyLock SL370 Simplicity Serger |
User: Brenda Chesnut
Member since: 01-29-2006 Total posts: 38
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From: Tom Land
Date: 03-05-2006, 06:12 PM (5 of 11)
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Brenda, the ce-100 is a stripped down version of the ce-200. The 200 has more sewing stitches and comes with the Auto-Punch software. Other than that they are supposed to be the same machine but for some reason we have a much higher rate of problems with the 200. The 100 has a very acceptable record while the 200s record is probably in the range of most Brother machines.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: Brenda Chesnut
Date: 03-05-2006, 06:27 PM (6 of 11)
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Tom, I am new to machine embroidery. Should I start off with a CE100 or 200? What are the advantages of one to the other? I signed on with the FuturaEmbroidery Web Site. Is there a place there where I can compare the two machines? Thank you again for your help and advise! Have a Good Day!
Brenda __________________________________________ Husqvarna Viking Scan 400 EasyLock SL370 Simplicity Serger |
User: Brenda Chesnut
Member since: 01-29-2006 Total posts: 38
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From: Pudge99
Date: 03-05-2006, 07:13 PM (7 of 11)
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The only real difference between them is the 200 has more stitches in the regular sewing mode and comes with Autopunch. If you don't plan on using the Futura for regular sewing (or if you don't really care for all those fancy stitches) it is cheaper to buy the 100 and add on the Autopunch at a later date. That is how I did it. There are also other digitizing programs out there that will work with the Futura. I have been told they are much better than Autopunch. Tom is right about the dealers if you don't buy from them. You might find a nice one who will talk to you about basic stuff but if you want real help they will charge you. One here charges $70 an hour and thinks the Futura is not worth their time. Thank goodness I did find another dealer (after I bought the machine at Wal-mart) and they have been helpful with my general questions. I will definately buy from them if I ever outgrow or break my Futura. As for your questions about people having problems with the Futura. You were probably reading some problems that I posted. Almost everything turned out to be user error in my case. I think that as long as they weren't shipped out with a flaw most problems are operator errors. All embroidery machines are fussy and like things done their way. If you don't do it their way they will not do what you want. It is that simple. I think the main reason you are seeing a lot of problems with these machines is because they are affordable and a lot of beginners are buying them. If someone asked me if I would buy the Futura again my answer would be "YES! In a heart beat! The only thing I would do differently is buy it form that nice dealer I found." Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: Brenda Chesnut
Date: 03-05-2006, 07:31 PM (8 of 11)
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this is all GREAT advise . I will do some more comparing of the digitizing programs ....AutoPunch, etc. Have a Good Day!
Brenda __________________________________________ Husqvarna Viking Scan 400 EasyLock SL370 Simplicity Serger |
User: Brenda Chesnut
Member since: 01-29-2006 Total posts: 38
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From: swartzrn
Date: 03-05-2006, 10:51 PM (9 of 11)
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HI I have the CE 100 and have had it for a little over a week. I bought it primarily to use to embroider. I have a Brother regular sewing machine that is VERY user friendly and I love it so I set both up and go back and forth. I actually have found the CE 100 friendly as well provided you don't do like I did and not watch the DVD first and foremost. I read the manual and so forth but the DVD with the machine has loads of information that is not in the manual that comes in the box. I really have enjoyed it thus far. I am going to buy the hyperfont software though before I look at the autopunch software I think. I actually went into Hancocks yesterday to purchase it. I have a $50 gift certificate that I was given from my husband's battalion and was goint to use it with that software but they didn't have it. So, I'm still gonna buy it but probably will wait until they get it in or they will order if for me. It's about $149 so 50 off is a big savings to me. I don't know too much about the CE 200 except it sounds like it is about the same with the exception of the extras that it has (like more stitches, etc.) for now, I am very happy with the CE100 and the price isn't bad at all. Good luck--let us know what you decide..oh yeah--the yahoo group that was mentioned is VERY VERY informative. I could actually spend hours just browsing through the emails and learn so much not to mention looking at the files in the group! Happy Sewing! Julie
"To see the future, look into a child's eyes." |
User: swartzrn
Member since: 02-17-2006 Total posts: 436 
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From: Tom Land
Date: 03-05-2006, 11:36 PM (10 of 11)
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Brenda, If deciding between the Ce-100 and ce-200 I would go with the 100 everytime. If you decide you also want the Auto Punch you can purchase it seperatly and still come out paying less than buying the 200. Also as I said before the 100 has had a much better service record. I don't know why this is since I just replace the machine and send the defective one back to Singer and all dealers may not have had the same experiences. Out of aprox. 80 ce-100s sold I have replaced 3. Out of less than 20 ce-200s I have replaced 2. I have found the Auto-punch to leave much to be desired. You might want to shop around for other software. This is a fairly good starter machine but don't expect it to compare to high end machines. It would be wise to purchase from a dealer that has a liberal trade-up policy should you decide you want to move up. Gina, it sounds like you you've got a real loser in your area. At $70 an hour all he will do is chase off any possibilities of future sales. Your new-found dealer must love him. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: Brenda Chesnut
Date: 03-06-2006, 09:21 AM (11 of 11)
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I quess my next step is to find my local Singer dealer and go and test drive a Futura CE100! Thank you again ALL !!! Have a Good Day!
Brenda __________________________________________ Husqvarna Viking Scan 400 EasyLock SL370 Simplicity Serger |
User: Brenda Chesnut
Member since: 01-29-2006 Total posts: 38
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