Hello!

I have recently discovered the fun of quilting and would like to try an Electric Quilt program. Since I just started quilting in January of this year, I do not want a program too advanced for a beginner to enjoy nor too simple for me to expand my skills.

I am trying to decide between EQ6 and EQ7. Is there any difference between the 2 programs in terms of easiness to use, ability to add your own fabrics, or any other fun features that helps to design your own quilt patterns. My initial impression from the EQ website is that EQ7 appears more complex to use.

I do not mind paying more if EQ7 is as easy to use as EQ6 and has newer/updated features.

I would appreciate your opinion since I have never used either program and would like to hear user opinions other than by someone trying to sell me the program. :)

Thanks,
Anna

I've had EQ6 for 4½ years - don't know how long this version will be supported.
If I were to buy today I'd get EQ7 knowing it would be supported that much longer.

Do you find it easy to use?

I would get EQ7. As Glassquilt mentioned, it will be supported longer.

I did the tutorial and while the program has a high learning curve, if you do the tutorial, you can start almost right away. Use it regularly or, like many other programs, you forget how to do stuff.

With Electric Quilt, you receive a Getting Started book which helps you learn all the options available and then a Cookbook which then takes you into the details. I have used this program since 1995. I am a little behind the curve since I am using EQ5 and delighted with the changes from my previous program EQ4. GOOD LUCK and I am sure you will enjoy it. I did read on QB about another software program that some quilters preferred and was less expensive. You might want to try a search to find that posting.

Thanks for your replies! I will try to find out the name of the other quilting program.

Where would you recommend buying EQ7?

Thanks,
Anna

Quilt Pro 6 is the other quilting program. I am going to have to check this program out also before I decide.

EQ7 has a lot of new features, not the least of which is the ability to easily add your own fabric images, and it's a lot easier to manipulate those images.

EQ7 is a MAP-controlled product, that is, sellers are not allowed to advertise it at less than the Manufacturers Advertised Price.

To get a deal on it, you need to find a dealer that will sell it at less, or whom offers rebates on it. Online is your best bet.

I upgraded this time because it is the first time they have let you use it on multiple computers. Before, you were restricted to three max. Now if I have to replace my notebook, I can continue to keep changing to new ones in the future.

I started with EQ6 back in 2007 about a year after beginning
to quilt.

When EQ7 came I did upgrade #1 reason I did that is because
you had unlimited activations, unlike the 3 (I think) in EQ6.

However I did learn something new although there is unlimited
activations you ARE limited to how many computers you can
have it activated on at any time, I had it on my desktop and my
netbook computers, so when I got a notebook computer a
few months ago I installed it there too, when I tried to activate
I got an error message saying I had no more activations.

I ended up deactivating the netbook so that I could have it on the
notebook, should I decide to do any switching I just need to deactivate
one of the others before using it on my netbook again.

But I LOVE Electric Quilt even though I still have yet to
ever complete all the tutorial videos.