? scal for mac user

[lexnconsmom]

I wanted to get scal for my best friend, she uses a mac so she does not have dstudio. Does she need to have design studio to have scal?
If not would she just do the download like I did with a regular pc then hook up with a usb cable and away she goes????

thanks for the help
Michelle

[papasue]

First, I have a Mac and run SCAL in native mode. Some folks will tell you that you have to have Windows for Mac and Bootcamp etc, etc, etc, but you don't! You do not need Design Studio but you do need at least one Cartridge. You must have a cartridge in the bug for SCAL to work, don't know why, just that you do.

What you do need is OS 10.5 (Leopard) for Mac and your Cricut needs firmware version 1.1. I have heard that versions of the Cricut firmware above 1.1 may be problematical but you can chose to only download the one you need last time I checked. When you turn on your bug, the screen first comes up with the firmware vs, so you know right away whether you need this step.

In addition you can download InkScape for free if you think you need it. (see comments here on this MB for details on what Inkscape gives you).

The biggest stumbling block is in getting your cricut firmware updated if you need to. I borrowed a PC laptop from a friend, downloaded a trial version of Design Studio which allowed me to update my baby bug's firmware. Then I deleted everything on my friends PC and plugged the bug into my Mac, downloaded SCAL and I was in business.

Hope this helps.

Papasue