***Update 10/23/2016*** I finally cancelled the subscription service (Cricut Access), as most months, I wasn't using it. The last few times I've used the Cricut Design Space software, it's been really slow. I've been counting, and it takes about 30 seconds or more to change a font. Frustrated, I wrote Cricut support and this is the response I received: "I am sorry to hear about the issue that you are experiencing in the Design Space. This is a normal issue. It will take some time because it needs to load all the fonts." Problem is it's not that it takes 30 seconds to LOAD the fonts, it takes 30 seconds to CHANGE the font. Also, what's odd is that it didn't used to take this long to load fonts. Based on this one fact alone, I've decided to sell the Explore and switch to the Silhouette.-------------------------------------------This is my first cutting machine ever. I had never really understood what people did with these machines and so I'd never been interested in them. Then my friend started making iron-on transfers for t-shirts with her Silhouette (the competitor to the Cricut) and I was intrigued. I was starting to amass a small paper collection, and had even purchased a few of those We R punch boards to make envelopes and boxes, so this was a natural progression. It's so much easier with the Cricut.I took the machine out of its box and stared at it, thinking "this is a really over-priced x-acto knife!". I ran through the cheesy little tutorial to print the "hello" phone greeting card. Though I put the wrong paper in and nearly cut through the mat, I was impressed! It was really cool to see the machine in action. But still, I didn't really know what people DID with them. I started looking online at Pinterest and saw all these goofy things people were making with them, and while they weren't my cup of tea, I at least started to get a feel for what the machine could do; vinyl graphics/stickers, iron-on transfers, greeting cards, party favors, home decor...The Cricut is much simpler than it looks. I admit, I felt intimidated by it and I'm an experienced crafter and know my way around technology. I think the main thing people struggle with is - where do I start? What do I make? What can it do? I started playing around with the Design Space software. I did *not* like that it was web-based, but even so, I've not had a single issue with the software since I started using it. Each day or so, I'd get an email from Cricut with a tutorial video. I started watching them and lo and behold... most of my questions started getting answered. It all started to make sense! I cut a few of their greeting cards and then started to make a few of my own from scratch. I also created and uploaded some of my own SVG (cut) files and made an iron-on transfer. It was really easy.I had a free two-week trial to their image/font store called Cricut Access. There are a LOT of images, shapes, fonts and projects in there for "free" if you subscribe. Unfortunately, the cost per month is $10 if you buy monthly or $8/mo if you buy a year at a time. You *can* buy any of the items individually, but it could add up quickly. Downside to the Cricut access subscription is that as soon as you stop paying for the subscription, you no longer have access to the included images, fonts, etc.The machine itself is a dream and I've not had one issue with it. I've used it from both my iPad and my laptop. It's never mis-cut, jammed or errored out. The only errors that have happened have been my fault. My only gripe is that they don't include a few more supplies with the machine. It's a $230 machine... how about throwing in the scoring stylus? Or the tool kit? Or an extra blade? A few pieces of cardstock? Anything???