I confess, I bought almost the whole shebang - I have the basic Embird, Iconizer, the Font Engine and Studio ( I didn't get the cross stitch module because I already have a program for that.)
The basic program will do amazing things - you can combine designs, cut parts out, change colors etc. You can add text with the basic program if you purchase one of Embird's digitized alphabets or if you have an alphabet already digitized. Font Engine allows you to digitize true type fonts and adds some auto digitizing functionality. Studio is the digitizing module, and I've been working with that since last year. Good digitizing is an art, and frankly I'm not there yet :oops:
When I got my first embroidery machine, I got the basic program and Iconizer (lets you see the designs in any Windows window - a must have!) and those two alone served me very well. The money I saved bought lots of thread, stabilizers & fabric!