Ok, so I am at the Lancaster Quilt show and was offered an awesome deal on a Bernina 730. I was hesitant to spend the money, but had been wishing i had a machine with a 9 mm stitch for the fancy stitches (and it comes with a ton). They offered gave me the same amount trade in on my 440 that I paid. So, long short, DH strongly encouraged me to upgrade...I did. But now I am worried about my designs that I have now. This machine doesn't require the use of a separate computer as my 440 does. My 440 can use ART and PES designs. Can the 730 use the PES designs also, and/or does it use ART4 only? I literally have hundreds of designs, about 1/3 are PES. Did I make a big mistake? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

can you use the designs that you have now on the new machine? can you back out of it?

I wish you luck! lots of things to think about, I'm sure you have so many days to back out if you want to, did you sign any paper work, look on the fine print!

Craftybear

i would go to sewingpatternreview.com and ask this question.

Thanks, hadn't thought about that. Did post on the Yahoo Bernina group and the general consensus is that I am ok.

There is software that can change one format to another. I tried a demo version once that was no good, but I know there are others that work great. It may take you some time to convert, but you can do it as you need them. I hear you loud and clear about the 9mm stitches. Maybe later you can upgrade to an 830.

I do not know abput the bernina but my new machine I had to get new up dated soft ware $2400 to change all my older emb designs to the new machine

An 830 would be awesome, but don't think I would ever be able to swing that. But it is always nice to dream. :-)

i have added the pdf file from berninas site. maybe that will help

Do you have any software for your bernina? If not you will need some to change the format to ART (I believe it is ART?). The 730 takes a USB stick too I believe. Your can get a 30 trial of Embird at embird.com and get the iconizer so you can see the design on your pc. Just change the designs to your format.And save them on either CD's or USB stick separately from the one you use in your 730. Your machine can only read so much.

I have embird and explorations software and that is how I do it. I have the 640 and use a USB stick with mine, but my format is EXP. The 730 is really a nice machine and you will love it!

I have a 730E and YES it can use the .pes designs and yes it also uses a usb jump drive. If you are using Bernina V4 software, you can't read anything in V5 or V6 (just like any other software program) I don't have a "card" for mine and just dump my designs to the jump drive (i just bought another jump drive so that I can work on the computer while the machine is busy). My DH bought my machine on ebay from a dealer (I'm not sure if it was a trade in, on consignment or someone couldn't make the payments); it had very little time on it but didn't come with much other than the Editor Lite V4. I've downloaded Embird (and other programs) but found without a manual/tutorial they are very difficult to work with. Good luck with your new machine. Stepping up from a 35 year old Kenmore ZigZag - I LOVE mine!!!