I have used EQ since version 5. I personally would not recommend starting out with EQ5 = EQ 6 was a wonderful improvement and much easier to understand. The only problem I ever had was that there is a limit to the number of computers/installations without having to purchase a new license (we had two computers die within a year!)

I have purchased EQ7 and absolutely love it. I am also sure if you search online, you should be able to find a better price and it will be worth every penny - just remember you have a learning curve with anything new!

Yes you can plan your entire quilt online then pull from your stash. As far as saving your fabric imports you can save it however you choose - by color, by mfg, by putting it all in one folder, etc. You can name it whatever you want too. I like to list wherever I bought it just in case I need more. ex- yellow floral(Joann)

Our loccal guild does the AQS for quilting books/cds and quite often when they have 6 orders you are able to order at the cheaper pric. Our meeting is today so will check how much it is thru there. They usually order when they have 6 total for an order and then split the cost of the shipping.
Judy

I got an early pre-order price of $68. I had EQ6 and upgraded. It does a lot of cool stuff, but you DO need to realize you will have to spend some time with it to learn the ins and outs, but I love it. There are loads of fabrics, hundreds of blocks and designs already in there. But you can design any block you can think of, set it in any way, there are constant fabric stash updates to download, and recently there have been 'webinars' to learn how to use the program. Do you HAVE to have it? No. You can certainly design with graph paper and colored pencils. But, I'M afraid I'll get left in the "technological dust", and if I resist the lastest computer program, that when I WANT to use it, it will have progressed to far for me to EVER catch up. Just like sewing machines. I talk to so many people who spent years resisting any kind of "computerized stitch selection" and are now so intimidated by the new machines, they are too afraid to even try. Just my thoughts.

I've been using it for about a month and I love it also. I have already used it to design 2 quilts, including one with a very fancy chained border. You can try many different variations with blocks and borders and see what it will look like. I'm now trying to figure out how to use the stencils part to simulate what the quilting will look like. I'm not finding that part very well explained.

If you're into printing pictures on fabrics (which I am not), it has very nice image editing function.

Just a thought -- EQ6 is aHUGE improvement over EQ5 -- and they do not charge full price to upgrade (at least they didn't) I have the original EQ and have upgraded as each came out -- each seems to take a big leap forward. You might investigate the cost of moving up at least to EQ6 -- much easier to learn and wonderful tutorials.
Mary

Thanks Judy, I greatly appreciate that!

I keep trying to put in the cheapest place I found EQ 7 online but for some reason, QB refuses to let me post it. Go to google and type in (all one word) I have a notion.

Does either EQ7 or Quilt wizard have the wreath maker function in them? The function where you can take any design, (like a teddy bear, for example), and the wreath maker tool will turn it into a circular (wreath) shaped design with multiples of that object...that is the one thing that I am most interested in getting in any program. Thank you..Donna

Hmmmm. I went to i have a-notion (all one word) web site and saw the EQ7, but they have it listed at retail price of $189.95. Did they have it leased for less earlier?