Brother PE-Design Ver 2.0
 

Hi Everyone - geez I haven't been on this board in like "FOREVER". Sorry. Life just gets in the way, but I hope to be back chatting with all of you real soon.

So I have a dilema. OK now please don't laugh at me since I'm very vulnerable right now....lol. My computer is finally dieing down on me and I have to bite the bullet and get a new one. My kids tell me to get a MAC but it's soooo damn expensive. I'm not a frivolous gal, simple is my middle name. Well not really. I'm going this weekend to check out the MACs just to appease my kids. But here is my question and remember I said don't laugh? I have a Brother embroidery machine which I just love. I purchased the Brother PE-Design software upteen years ago....so long ago the software is on disks instead of CD's. Remember disks? It is version 2.0. It has served me well and like I said, I'm simplistic and my motto is why fix it if it ain't broke. I do embroidery all the time and have hundreds of designs that I've purchased throughout the years. I went on the Brother website and see now that the software is up to version 7.0 or 8.0 or something like that. I believe the memory card is still the same one as I have but the card reader/writer is different, smaller than the one I have. I'm sure the one I have is fine, but was wondering if the software I have can be loaded up on the MAC should I break down and buy one. In either case, whatever computer I get, would I still be able to use the disks? Of course I know the tower would have to accept a floppy and most new computers don't have it anymore. Geez, what a headache. Any input, suggestions would so be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

i believe you can buy pes basic (which is like what you have) for about 100---

Here ya go--I had the version 2...now have version 4 and version 5. Both 2 (3) & 4 are connected via parallel or serial port..the v5 and later connect via USB. You won't easily find a laptop with those ports--thus I use v5. To my "fairly recent" knowledge, Mac has not supported any form of embroidery software. Tho there is one now that is available for Mac..but not Brother. If so, it is new to me. But you can go to the Brother site and look into the updates to see if they have a patch for Mac. Re the disks, you can buy an external 3.5 floppy drive (I have 2 of those--I'm thinking "extinction"!) If you are already familiar with your software (and it will do almost anything you want it to!), I would recommend just replacing my computer with a desktop with the tower/all the connections..if you can find it. And I know Brother makes a patch for the v4 to accomodate the operating systems Vista & Win7. You should do a thorough search to be sure if your new computer will be compatible. I love XP--own 4 of them just for my emb program. What would you call a person like me? haha

PE Basic only transfers designs to card from computer. V 2 can be used for digitizing and many more features.

You can now buy software for the Mac. It's called Embrilliance. You should check reviews. I think Nancy's Notions might have it. I don't use a Mac, but the last time I saw any software for embroidery - it came from Wabbit Wanch and that was the first Pfaff program!

Here's a page with some links. Looks like there are now at least 3 programs.

Thanks so much for your input.

Thanks - didn't see the link though - can you resend?

There are very limited embroidery software for macs out there, you would have to have a pc platform to run most softwares out there so not it will not work on a mac unless you have the platform. If you don't want a mac, don't get one just to please the kids, get what you want, you're the one that has to use it

I have Embrilliance Thumbnails, but it is software that shows you images of your designs ; and yes, it does work with Mac...but it is not an embroidery program. for working with designs and digitizing..

For the difference in the price of a PC and a Mac, you could probably buy the PC and pay to upgrade your software to a new version. I bought ver. 7 from Allbrands, but I don't know if they still have it. I don't use it enough to warrant upgrading to the newest version, this does all I need.

In checking the Allbrands website, they have version 4 for purchase and version 8 upgrade.

Forgot, though, you would need the new box. The older version one won't work with the newer versions of the software and the old card won't work in the new box and the new card won't work in the old one. So my idea might not work after all!

Blew my mind! They're pricing their v4 more than twice what I tried to sell mine for. But I've been very up front that it doesn't connect via USB, and tho't that was making it undesirable?

To be honest, I was shocked they have v4 available--I would have thought they would have been sold long ago. PEDesign Next is the newest one and they are calling it that instead of v9. I guess they want us to think it is better, not having a number after it. There are serial to usb adapters you can get to use with the older boxes--that's what I did until I upgraded to v7 when my husband built my last computer and put Windows 7 pro 64 bit on it.

good luck...it's not a easy decision to make....I had a simular situation with my Brother and computer...then I added a Babylock 6 needle to my collection...because the BL was newer the PE/card writer would not work with it nor all my floppies....so I got an external drive and transfered all 2,000 designs to it and pluged it directly into BL

Thank you everyone for your input. I do appreciate it.

I have an Esante V-2 which I have done digitized hundreds and hundreds of designs that are on the 3.5 disks. My computer that I use for digitizing is an old HP, which is used JUST FOR DIGITIZING, no internet.
I also have a 3.5 external drive that I can use on my newer laptop.
I also have another external harddrive that I use for backup.
I also have the Embird program. And the EQ5. One day I will go through my 3.5's and put them on a CD.
I found that a version 4 of .pes, on up, or a .sew will not work on the version 2 program. HOWEVER, you can take a version 4 or .sew over to the Embird program and change it from a .pes to a .hus (or any other) THEN change it back to a .pes. THEN the version 2 accepts the .pes. That's why I still have the older computer because it works just great. I am also thinking of getting a newer computer too. My grandson says that if I ever go to a Mac, i will never go back. I can't afford new programs at 1200 bucks or new computers, so I have to make do with what I have accumulated over the years.

Thanks for the input. From what I've been reading, I think I will buy a new computer for internet "stuff" and everyday use, but keep my old one and just use it for my designs. If I take all my other programs off it will free up loads of space. My 2.0 version works just fine for me and to start buying all new programming and boxes, etc, it's just too much for me right now. I'm keeping everyone's information for future use. Thanks again.