Just had to share this with you all. Finally got the courage up today to plunk down the dosh for EQ5. Was looking at EQ6 but was unhappy about activation restrictions as I mentioned in another thread, so was unsure what to.

Took on board what Patrice had to say about the main new feature being the scanning of fabrics to add to your EQ stash, and as that really isn't what I want it for, took the plunge with EQ5.

Have had a little play with it this evening, mainly simple shapes and the wreath tool, but can already see many possabilities. Am so happy, have waited ten years for this, had to wait till I could afford a computer good enough to be able to run a quilt design software programme.

My old computer (now don't laugh) had 8 yes that's right I said eight mb of ram. (stop laughing) Is one of the origional IBM machines, It's a classic :lol: My new one has 512 mb, wee bit of a difference in performance :lol:

Anyhow am really wrapped to finally have quilt design software, can't wait to get into it some more. Will be even harder now to get off the puter and do some actual sewing work :lol:

Thanks for all the advice and chat from folks it all really helped me with my decision.

Cool! I have EQ4, and I would love to update it. Maybe eventually. There are always so many other things to come first!

I particularly like it for sizing quilts. It configures all of that when you adjust the borders, sashing, change the block size, etc. It's nice to be able to make images of quilts for clients or students, too. I dont' really use it for "making" the quilt, because I draft my own rotary cutting/piecing instructions - mostly for making pictures of the quilt and blocks and also for figuring how to make the sizes I want.

I didn't see the thread about activation restrictions for EQ6 - what's up with that?

if you're on dial-up it's a bit of a pain, actually. you have to be online when you install EQ6 so it can connect your computer to their server to register the installation. i think you can call them instead but can't remember. i'm one of those annoying people on direct connect so it wasn't a problem for me.

Congratulations on your new EQ5! I have one also. I like that I can go to their website a couple times a year and download additional fabric stash for the library.

And I just discovered that they offer classes through their Quilt University. If I can afford to sign up for some soon, I can report what I have learned. (I really want to learn curved piecing but all the classes I could take here in Pensacola are during the weekday! I have to work, so that is impossible.)

Have fun, but be careful, you may spend more time designing virtual quilts that you spend in the sewing room making real ones!