Ilovesewing

I also have the D1 and it's a great machine. I originally had the floppy version, but it became possessed one week after I bought it so the store replaced it with a USB version. I preferred the floppys honestly. The USB is much slower to load and I have to pull the USB in and out several times before the machine reads it is sitting there. Someone above me mentioned both of those issues as well. It is an older machine so computer technology has updated quite a bit. I have to keep an older XP computer around just to use the embroidery software - I have 3D...I believe Viking is up to at least 6 now.

So you need to make sure you have the software and a computer that will read it in order to use the embroidery portion. If you only end up using the sewing portion, it is still a wonderful machine. It makes beautiful stitches, have tons of stitches built in, has the automatic foot lifter which I just couldn't live without any more.

Whether or not the price is right I can't help you as I stopped looking at machines once I bought my D1. I don't have any plans to upgrade it unless it up and dies on me. I hope it works out for you and you enjoy it!

Sandygirl

My 2 cents is that I would not buy a computerized machine that is 10 years old. Technology has evolved since then. If you are going to only sew on it, fine. Embroidery is more complicated and the learning curve can be challenging esp asking about old technology. My first combo Janome is from that era. I would be exhausted explaining how to use the flash cards, readers, software, etc. I upgraded to newer tech two years ago. Night and day better!!

Sandy

jlwheart

I have a Designer I and it's remarkable. Saying that, I got the 3D Pro software using XP. Yep, my XP still operates. If you want to use a DI and not buy software, I'd suggest finding out how much it will cost you to switch from floppies to USB port. I got a case of floppies and buy my designs from Embroidery Library so switching isn't an issue yet. The first think I'd do to test it is stitch out every programmed stitch. Then I'd use the floppies you got - you should have 5 floppy disks and stitch out samples in each hoop size. Just a thought and good luck. You can PM me if you want to talk more.

JeannieT

A problem I discovered just recently with my Viking embroidery machine which is 10 years old, is that I can't use any computer operating system newer than Windows 7 (I think that one).....to read designs from the computer....if I used cards, it's fine, but those are spendy. I figured out that's why there seems to be a lot of used machines out there, many older machines must have this same issue. So it kind of sucks, because I don't want to fork out big bucks for a new machine, but i still want to embroider........sigh....and i don't want to have a computer that isn't updated.....sigh

rjwilder

I would not buy a machine as outdated as the D1. You will have a hard time finding floppy discs and if the floppy drive in the machine quits working that will be a huge expensive problem to fix. Also the software in the machine will not work with the newer Microsoft operating systems or Apple Macintosh.

RAChhap

That machine was my 1st Viking & it was very good. However, as others have commented today's technology has moved far beyond it ..In today's embroidery/sewing 10 years is usually considered outdated. & not even supported by the manufacture. If I were going to buy a machine that old I would definitely try to get one from a good dealer.

meanmom

I don't know anything about the machine you are asking about. My sister has an older embroidery machine and can no longer get any new designs for it. The software program for the machine won't work with anything newer than windows 94 I believe. They kept an old computer for a while just to use with her machine but it quit working.
Make sure the machine works with todays technology. Most computers don't even run floppy discs any more. My new Apple laptop doesn't even have a CD drive.

RuthiesRetreat3

My mother bought one a few years ago, Designer 1, uses the 3 1/2 inch floppy. Problem is, she can't find any new patterns for it. She doesn't have a computer, but I purchased a external floppy drive with program for my computer, then found some new floppy discs, but never could get it to work. Tried to get help from Viking, they sent me a program I could use, to the tune of $700. Nope, not even for mom. So she's stuck with what she has with no chance of getting better patterns.