[QUOTE=irishphoenix;5504699]
My one reservation about the Viking, is that they have been taken over by Singer, and just my opinion, Singer are not the brand that they used to be. When they break down, like jlm said, that is the worry. Having to send it back to Washington after all the time spent trying to get it repaired is just awful.
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Not sure where you heard this at but Viking has not been taken over by Singer. Viking is still in charge. Even the machines that are being put together in Shanghi are all manufactured and governed by Viking in Sweeden. Not all machines are done in Shanghi, my Ruby was completely done in Sweeden. Yes, Viking does now have other companies under it. For me that's not a bad thing. Since Viking and Pfaff use the same 5D software I can add any of the Pfaff machines under my machine manager in my software and that will give me not only all the stitches, designs, etc that are available with the 5D software for Viking it also gives me the extra ones that are in there for Pfaff. I found this out last night and was amazed at how much extra I had just by doing that one little thing.
Someone said on here that Viking software is limited. You get a basic organizer with the machine which alot of machines don't come with any from what I've heard on here. You can then purchase 5D in three different versions depending on what you want to do and on top of that you can get extra modules to add to that.
I'm not saying that Viking is the best thing out there or only makes their machines but if you look around you'll find out alot of machines are being made by other companies, that's just the way things are. I also found out that Viking is coming out with a Ruby Deluxe so I can't wait to see what that'll do. Mine does alot so I know this one will do even more.
I did check my facts with my Viking rep. The Ruby, Diamond and deluxe are all on Vikings web site as being manufactured and made in Sweeden.
I realize especially with the price of software that not all can afford even the lowest one Viking or anyone else has to go with the machines. There are others out there. Sierra offers a full design software for free as a download or 15 if you order the CD. Florani has one for aroung 300; I'm getting that one free with a two day workshop that I signed up for in Oct. There are many out there to chose from depending on what you need. It took me almost a yr to buy a full software package and now I'm learning how to digitize and do all kinds of stuff. I get amazed each month at stuff that I can do now.