If you get a reader/writer with blank card, you will not need to buy designs cards. You can get all the free designs you want from the internet--and buy/download to your computer. I have a magic box, similar to Ultimate, that writes 6 designs at a time---then erases for reloading. It writes for Viking, but my card is for .pes format. Your machine uses .hus or .vip format? Does your machine connect to internet, or use floppies? In which case you don't need anything but a floppy drive. My machines are Brother so I don't know much about the Husq/Vikings. Someone here should be able to load you with info.