WOW! Why are people so freaked about SCA over at Cricut?

[CBJPL31]

I am in awe at some of the messages over at Cricut about SCA!!! People are actually talking about viruses infecting our bugs and PC programing our machines to break when being used by SCA. I mean, really!!! Besides the fact that I don't think PC would be doing themselves any favors by doing that, broken bugs, especially those broken by PC themselves, don't sell ANY carts! Sure PC might lose a few cart sales to people using SCA instead but there are PLENTY of us who will still be buying carts, myself included as well as the thousands upon thousands of people who don't have nor want SCA. People are making it sound like every Cricut owner is buying and using SCA and that it's going to completely put PC out of business or something. I doubt PC is as worried about this as so many people think they are. I highly doubt SCA is going to destroy the Cricut market. I really think it's only going to enhance it and bring more people to Cricut. I'm sure if they were concerned it would have been addressed by now.
What do you guys think? Are you as surprised at some of the reactions as I am? Do you think people are just being "crazy"? (for lack of a better term) I realize there are those people who fear the unknown but some of the things I'm reading are truly "out there" IMO.

[AnointedHands]

Guess i better scoot over there and see what's going on

[wreed06]

I've read many of the boards at Cricut too. That's where I learned about SCAL. You're right, people are all worried and carrying on about getting viruses and stuff on their computers and breaking warranties. Well, they could be right about the warranty part - using non-provo drivers. However, guess what you have to have in order to use SCAL?? A Cricut! BAM - there's a $300+ sale. Gee, ya think they're worried? What I found particularly humorous on the Cricut boards was how everyone was talking about Provo finding out about SCAL. Oh no, shh, keep quiet, Provo might find out... Um, s'cuse me, if YOU know about SCAL, don't you think Provo knows about SCAL?? I just thought that was funny. After all, whose boards were they posting to? Another kick was how they are worried about SCAL doing something illegal by sending a file to Provo's machine to cut. Wouldn't that be similar to sending a print job from an HP computer to a Lexmark printer?

[Laurieinaz]

Someone was reporting on the Cricut MB that PC might do an update that would block SCAL. All that's done is convince me that I probably won't update my CDS when the time comes -- and thus will cross several carts I was planning to buy off my wish list. I really like both CDS and SCAL but if I have to choose, I'll choose SCAL.

[aperez]

I have a feeling that you were referring to my post about PC sending a 'virus' to the cricut if SCAL was installed.

Just to clarify - I wasn't suggesting that PC is so hung up on SCAL that they would go out of their way to program it into their updates.

HOWEVER - I also didn't think a big company producing the iPhone would also do that.

All I meant was that it was a possibility.

And just for the record - if I had the financial freedom right now, I would have jumped on the SCAL bandwagon by now. I don't think I would spend another dime on a cartridge knowing now that I can cut any image/font I want using SCAL. - As a matter of fact, I stopped buying cartridges mainly because I've been waiting for someone to develop a software like this or some sort of hack that would allow us to cut what we want.

Oh and P.S. - I am not freaked out over it either!

Hugs
Annie

[YahooSeeker [Bot]]

After it's all said and done, I think PC is going to charge us an arm and a leg if they ever decided to release a program that let us do TTF. If you think about it... how much have you spend on all your cartridges and supplies for your bug? Just like any business model, the bottomline is making their pockets full and ours empty, which is all fine and dandy because we allow them to =).

[AnointedHands]

I have a feeling that you were referring to my post about PC sending a 'virus' to the cricut if SCAL was installed.

Just to clarify - I wasn't suggesting that PC is so hung up on SCAL that they would go out of their way to program it into their updates.

HOWEVER - I also didn't think a big company producing the iPhone would also do that.

Hugs
Annie

The problem for the iPhone was that someone hacked into the software on the phone and when the phone was updated, it was rendered useless. SCAL will only work after you update the bug using software developed by PC.

I will not update my software unless Todd sends out an email that it's needed. I am done with update and I don't need the carts anymore (will probably sell them on ebay soon). Using SCAL and Inkscape, I have a wealth of design options at my fingertips.

[wreed06]

I have a feeling that you were referring to my post about PC sending a 'virus' to the cricut if SCAL was installed.

I have seen many posts on the Cricut MBs that have stated concerns over getting viruses or corrupting their systems or bugs by using SCAL. I have no clue who specific names were, and it doesn't really matter. Now that I have SCAL I find it the grave concerns somewhat comical. People even warn DO NOT download or buy SCAL - not really sure why, perhaps because of warranty concerns and maybe the "legal" factor.

I only have the one cart that came with my bug and I doubt I'll buy another. Many designs uploaded here are 12x12 and alas, I have the baby bug 6x12. Nope, not gonna go get the other bug.

[ailina]

I have been partly amused and partly annoyed over the comments and attitude on the cricut board. I honestly feel that it is a great extension to our scrapbooking. I will keep my cartridges, I will still use them just as I still use my sizzix dies. It gives us so many more options.
As for voiding warranty, how long is the warranty? I believe in Australia it is 3 months. Big deal! And someone did post that PC cannot legally void your warranty for using SCAL, you are not downloading anything to the cricut only to your computer.
It is fair enough if people don't want the program from choice, I have chosen to stay with my BigKick and not to buy a cuttlebug but I am not criticizing anyone else for going with the CB. Its pretty much the same thing to me.

[susibi]

OK if you use Open Office instead of Word your pc will probably blow up and doom will descend upon the household, likewise if I use SCAL my warranty will be voided - hello people do we have brain cells anywhere? Companies who make printers have been threatening us for ages for using non proprietary brand cartridges because that is where they make their money, but have they stopped selling printers - no sir! People need printers ! ANd it goes against my rights: I am free to buy what I need from where I choose at the price I can afford.
Now people don't need Cricut ( the word 'need' being perceived differently to crafters and non crafters!!) , but do you honestly think that ProvoCraft are going to do something about a program that makes their machine the only stand alone,use with pc machine, use carts or design your own stuff, on the market. I don't think so - they'd be shooting themselves in the foot. I have 2 Craft ROBOs a KNK XL and the Cricut Expression : I feel inventive I draw my own stuff and use my ROBO or KNK- I want a quick fix I use a cartridge with CE.I can take the Expression to school and cut something using the cartridges without the palaver of having to drag my laptop with me as well.
With Design Studio I can weld designs from carts, cut in black paper - scan it to my pc save as jpeg, import to Inkscape trace it add fonts from my pc, make a .svg, import to SCAL and cut from Cricut; what other combination will allow you to do this?
I wonder how many of these ' scare posts' have actually been started by Provocraft themselves - none I suspect.
This program will actually sell more machines for them I'm sure as SCAl has made the Cricut an even more attractive idea .
SCAL has also given a lot less problems than Design Studio - mine has frozen several times - if I have to keep reinstalling it it's more hassle than it's worth.
Hmm - must go check if my pc warranty will be voided if I use PSP instead of Illustrator
Susibi