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Sorry if this has been beaten to death but I am trying to determine which would be the best purchase for me. I have a brother 150 and would like to get one of these, either the regular 4 slot size or the mini 2 slot size. I was looking at them all on Allbrands and am just kind of confused as to what's the difference b/w them. Since I've never used any of them yet, I can't really make heads or tails about specific details. They appear to be pretty much the same to a newbie like me. When would you need 4 slots over 2 slots - is that if you are downloading more than 12 designs at one time since cards hold 6 designs per card acc to the product description? Sorry if these are silly questions - I appreciate any input. Thanks.

Not silly questions at all!
The different slots are for different media. Different card formats, and on the 4-slot I also think one is for floppies. The Amazing box allows you to put one format card in one slot, read it and write to another card in another slot. (Not licensed cards like Disney cards)
Download to your hearts content, any number of designs, no problem wichever box you have. You write to the card when you want to embroider the designs. Until then you just keep them on your computer.
I have the Ultimate box myself, so no personal experience from the Amzing box. The Ultimate box only writes PES and HUS files, but on the other hand can store lots of designs on the card.

thanks Asa - just to clarify - w/ amazing box i could create my own card w/ a collection of designs i'd downloaded from the web plus some from another embroidery card so that i could have my favorite designs on one card rather than spread out over serveral cards & my hard drive? sounds good to me!

you are happy w/ the ultimate box? i can't find anything so far that would determine whether one box would be better for me than another. i don't want to go overboard but if there is a difference b/w them, i would rather find out before i made a purchase!

As long as you're happy with maximum 6 designs on the card, yes you can do that. You can do that with the Ultimate box as well. The limitation with the Ultimate box is that in only does PES ans HUS. I only have Brother machines, and no plans for anything else so that's not a problem for me.
I load up the designs for the projects I have planned on my card, and when they are finished or if I change my mind I just rewrite the card. So I don't have a card collection, just lots of designs in the computer.
Ultimate box is perfect for me, but I'm sure I would just as happy with Amazing/Magic. The 6 designs limitation would not be a big problem for me, but I do lilke to be able to have more on the card.

Does the ultimate box write to the card and from the card back to the computer? I just bought a amazing box II that is supposed to do that. Is that new and does the ultimate box do that as well. I think my dealer said that the amazing box II did that but the original amazing box did not.
Janet

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Babylock EMP-6
Janome 10000
Elna 744
Pfaff 1471
Brother 500D
Babylock Imagine Wave

Yes, you can do that with the Ultimate box (if it's in PES or HUS and not a protected card, but no box can do them). I think you can do that will all boxes!

I had the NOT-so amazing box when it first came out. Actually, it was the mini box. It worked for 3 months and died a day or two before the 90 days was up. I got a brand new (NOT-So) Amazing box with 4 slots from the dealer. Well, that one never worked from the get go. In fact, when we tried it out on a computer with Windows 98, it fried the computer. I spoke with a tech (who I was on a first name basis with), and he said it is rare for that to happen, but he has heard of it happening. At that point, I spoke with a friend who is a lawyer. He was all ready to go after Great Notions for damages to my computer when the dealer said I could have my money back. I was thrilled to get it all back, and went out and got an Ultimate box. I never had a single problem. If you look at hppt://www.sewingworld.com you will see that I was not the only one who had problems. In fact, last year there were several of us who had bad boxes. One woman went through 7 or 8 boxes before she decided that it was a costly mistake and just went and bought the Ultimate box.

If you don't buy any cards, then do yourself a favor and just start there. It was so frustrating to hear GN tell me that I was the ONLY one who ever had a problem with the box.
~Leah

I just wanted to add something else about the Ultimate Box and Vikant. I bought one about a week ago and had a horrible time trying to install it. It turned out that something is wrong with my computer and not the box. However, the tech support guy (Kyle) continued to assist me even after he knew that the problem wasn't with the box. It was so nice to talk to a tech support person that was willing to help and not in a hurry to pawn you off on someone else (which is usually the case .)

Allison

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Allison

Viking Interlude 445
BabyLock Imagine
Brother PE750d

I'm also adding (beginning to look like some salvation meeting or TV infomercial...) to that praise: I ordered my Ultimate box through their European distributor in Germany, and I got e-mails not only to confirm the order, but to tell when it was shipped and some time after I got it where they hoped it worked fine and if it didn't they wanted to know!!
And when I had a question about why my PE Design box wouldn't write to the Ultimate card, I got quick and correct reply (the card can't have files written with the Ultimate box on it if I want to use it in the PE box. Makes sence, but I didn't think of that simple solution myself! )
Maybe the people behind Amazing/Magic box are every bit as good, but I don't have any experience with them.

okay..since we're making an infomercial here, I'll add my 2 cents... I have the Ultimate box, bought it shortly after I bought the 150, it installed with no problem and never caused me a bit of trouble...

MO

I have the amazing box for over 2 years. i use it cause there are some cards that I had with my 9000 Janome that would not read in teh 10000 and I also bought some White cards... Muppets and Rudolf.

I have not had a problem with it that was not user error. I dont use it on a daily basis but occasionally.

I purchased the Ultimate Box to go with my Babylock for several reasons...cost, ability to write more than 6 designs to the card at a time, ability to read the card to the computer from the box. Not once have I ever had a problem with it.

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satsumamom

http://www.threadstop.com

man, if Vikant's marketing department has half a brain, they'll come look at this thread, and use as as their next commercial Looks like a lot of us are real Ultimate Box fans!!!!

just my 2 cents...

MO

Okay, I'll add my 2 cents (Oops, sorry Mo!). Before I bought my Ultimate Box I did quite a bit of research and called Vikant to find out why I should buy their box. The customer service person stayed on the phone with me a long time and explained lots about their box and the other boxes - not bashing them, just explaining the differences. He also explained what the usb version would be like, as they only had serial at that time but were developing the usb version. Very customer oriented company if you ask me! No regrets for me.

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Debbie
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Embroidery Machines: Brother ULT 2003D and White 3300
Serger: Babylock Evolve
Software: Embird Studio, Font Engine, Sfumato
And I'm an Ultimate Nebbie Bird!!

hey deb...my mom always told me "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery""

remind me when NOVI is???

MO

Nothing but flattery!

Novi is Sep 30-Oct 3. I still hope to go on Friday and shop til I drop!

Here's the website

http://www.americansewingexpo.com/

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Debbie
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Embroidery Machines: Brother ULT 2003D and White 3300
Serger: Babylock Evolve
Software: Embird Studio, Font Engine, Sfumato
And I'm an Ultimate Nebbie Bird!!

okay deb..have to check my schedule...check my maps, ...check my bank account and make a decision!!!

MO

I have one on order at allbrands, I hope I dont regret it after reading some reviews about the Amazing boxI

The ultimate box is great...you'll love it...and you'll spend a lot less time running between the machine and the 'puter...

just my 2 cents...

MO

i have the amazing boxII coming

sorry jo..Iknow nothing about the Amazing box II, but as longas it will write to a card for your machine, you should be okay...next stop...Embird!!!

MO

I have had my very-amazing for 4 years and it was one of the best purchases I've made since buying my sewing machines.
I use both Janome and Singer machines and I have been able to download and purchase many designs and convert from any format without any problems.