Cricut to offer downloadable files!?

CRICUT - adapted from an article in the New York Times

The Cricut line from Provo Craft in Spanish Fork, Utah, includes machines that can be used with or without a home computer. Jon Lee, brand director for the line, said customers typically liked the simplicity of purchasing and using a collection of cutting patterns on a cartridge without having to understand software or computers.

In the past, Provo Craft sold patterns on cartridges that might include several hundred designs with a similar theme; it hopes to expand its online offerings and triple the number of cartridges available next year. Designs include a variety of original and licensed outlines, including popular cartoon characters like Batman and SpongeBob SquarePants.

The basic machine costs $149, and the Cricut Expression, which can handle 12- by 24-inch paper, is $349. The company also makes a hand-held tool called the Gypsy that is used to choose fonts and shapes to be cut. It lists at $300.

Mr. Lee said Cricut’s Internet-based tools might offer individual patterns to customers for a particular project, but he declined to provide details. One small company, Craft Edge, sells a $90 software package that has fonts and outlines that can be cut on the Cricut machine.

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Can you believe it? What a great idea, down loadable files! What a great way to grab some more business! I cannot wait to see what they come up with, there have been several times I wanted to buy a cartridge for only one or two images!!