I'm interested in buying Electric Quilt 7. While reading reviews, etc. about the EQ7 I see that the EQ6 sells for about $50 less. Is there that much difference between the 2? I'm trying to save DH a little money! Keep in mind, I'm an amateur quilter although I've sewn all my life. I'm getting near retirement and thought this program would be great but I'm still thinking that EQ6 would be fine then I can upgrade when they release EQ8! Does anyone have 6 and then upgraded to 7 and could give me some advice? Thanks........

The big difference is that with EQ7 you can draw your own squares. That was the deciding factor for me. I LOVE the drawing feature. Now I can take just about any quilt that I see and duplicate the blocks.

In my opinion the MAIN difference is that EQ6 comes with 4 activations. Once used, you will need to pay for additional installations! So if your hard drive crashes, or you reformat to install a new Windows OS, or you buy a new computer... poof you're going through those 4 activations in a hurry!

EQ7 can only be installed on two computers, but all you have to do to MOVE it is to deactivate on one computer, install in on the new one, and reactivate. VERY fair and reasonable.

It does have some cool new features. It's always worth getting the most current version, since they only come out every few years, a LOT of neat things get added.

Gotta' add a question--- With an upgrade package can you upgrade from say EQ5 to EQ7, or do you have to go EQ5, EQ6, EQ7?

would suggest you contact EQ and ask Penny she will answer that one or check thier site

You would have to buy the upgrade from EQ6 to EQ7 and then buy the upgrade to EQ8 You can't jump from EQ6 to EQ8 :wink:

EQ7 has a lot more features than EQ6... it may pay you in the long run to get EQ7... you may not ever need more than it has to offer. The ability to transfer it from computer to computer is a wonderful improvement over EQ6's limited installations. :D:D:D

You can draw your own blocks with ANY of the EQ programs... I think Design Wizard is the only one that you can't :wink: :D:D:D

Thanks everyone for the input........looks like EQ7 it is!!

So where is the best place to get EQ7? Santa is in a really great mood here lately and she got me a new Laptop for Christmas (Yay!!) and now I am wanting to see if I can get the EQ7 to go on it!

Billy

Maybe some of the members can give us that info.........I've been searching on the internet and standard price seems to be $189. Found it on Ebay for $169, but feel more comfortable ordering from Amazon. Anyone know where to find it cheaper?

Would one of the stores carry it that have coupons?

Thanks for the reply. I thought you had to go up with each step... and EQ 7 with the unlimited download is the only way for me to go here.....

Also, most of the higher priced items are not allowed with the coupons at Jo-anns, and possibly Hobby Lobby (even if they carry it).

Thanks everyone for the input. I ordered EQ7 yesterday from Amazon for $179 and it has shipped already. Excited to get it and see all that it has to offer.

Eq8
 

When is EQ8 coming out? Has anyone heard? I think I'd rather buy the whole version as opposed to paying $90 for the upgrade to EQ7 and then another $90 for the upgrade to EQ8! :o

Does anyone use it on a Mac? I have it but I never really got the hang of it. I'm wondering if that's because I have only used macs for so long. ?

I stumbled across a thread somewhere in the EQ forums where an EQ rep stated that EQ8 wasn't even in the works.

Here is info about EQ7's features:
http://electricquilt.com/online-shop/electric-quilt-7/

The other difference is that you can activate 6 on a computer once and that's enough. Mine resides on a old XP box that is OFFLINE for security. I cannot validate EQ every time I use it as the ethernet cable is not even connected to the computer. I can connect for flash upgrades. All of my crafting software is on that computer. (backed up, too)

I do have on a laptop with a connection. If 7 needs to validate every time I use it, it can. Or I suppose I can allow it.
I'm probably going to dual boot with Linux mint and keep Windows 7 offline.

This might only apply to those users of legacy software - especially embroidery software which is expensive to upgrade and want their crafts on the same computer.

The manual for EQ6 works for 7. I downloaded 7 and there was a disclaimer that most of the 6 manual would work. I'd bought the hard copy of 6. Any changes are posted on the EQ website.