I'm truly curious!

It seems like there are only a few of us who actually are BETA TESTERS.

Are there a lot of BETA TESTERS and we are ALL having problems such as the ones that have been mentioned here?

If this question has been asked before, I didn't see it.

WILL ALL THE BETA TESTERS PLEASE COME FORWARD? Why is it so secretive when we've been given this forum to post on; it seems there are more people on here who have never been able to CUT. ALL the BETA TESTERS should at least be able to CUT.

It would just be nice to know who the BETA TESTERS are. Are you all being able to CUT and not sharing with us? Because, sometimes, I feel like everyone else is able to do everything and just not telling the rest of us and they're just not sharing that they can do it all.

Char

I am a beta tester.....

Jodi

I am a Beta tester also, but I gave up scare to mess my machines

I guess I am beta - But..... I am NOT doing a lot with it now becuase it is not working with the imagine the way it should. It drives me up the wall with all the errors and wasted time and paper etc.... I wil try it again after the next update or fix batch.

I, too, was very nervous about doing the updates and the SYNC to my Expression. I have never used CDS or the GYPSY, so I was afraid it would mess up my machine for using it manually (so to speak) vs. using CCR with it when it's hooked to the computer.

However, I was able to disengage it from the computer Saturday morning and my Expression worked as good manually as it does with the CCR program. I used the markers, so I was happy to see it still working for me after the SYNC.

I do wish more would come on and talk about what they're doing. Only a few of us have done that, really. I mean, I realize Beta Testing is just that. The people getting the feedback don't really have time to get back to us (I know that; I just don't like it), nor do they care about the fact we are interested in what everyone else is saying and are we all saying the same things or are we all having other problems others are/aren't.

We'll look forward to more comments here.

Char

If you are able to CUT with the BETA version, I would say you are a Beta Tester. I don't think you can CUT unless you have actually been invited to be a Beta Tester. Many are able to access the Craftroom to play around in it, I think, without being a BETA TESTER. However, if you don't have the ability to CUT, you are probably not a Beta Tester.

I'm not sure what your other comments were about, so I can't comment on them.

Char

Glenda - So sorry you were having a bout with pneumonia; hope you're well now and back to your old self. I have missed seeing you on the MB for a long time. It doesn't seem like you are ever here anymore; maybe I just don't know where you hang out.

I have noticed when we can't "drag" or "click" an image on the mat, it's much slower now. I think after they have added so many more to test, everything's gotten a little more bogged down. That's sad. Of course, there are times the images "drag" and "click" onto the mat right away; and, we're always happier when it works for us when we need it.

Didn't you get two icons on your desktop when you downloaded CCR from the email invitations? If you didn't, you can place them there by doing a search for CCR and finding which are the programs and place the icons on your desktop. I am using the original icons that came with the downloads from our initial emails. One icon is for the application (which does not include the CUT button) and the other is the program with the CUT button. You can design in the application without being on the internet (the way I understand it), but when you want to CUT, you would have to go to the other icon to CUT--which opens on the internet when you go into it.

When there are updates, you will automatically get a screen popup about them when you go into CCR. Also, with the last update, you need to go into CCR and go up to the HELP menu to update your drivers for the program (and for the machine you're using with CCR).

I don't think there's any way to find out about past issues, Glenda. If there is, I would like to know about them, too. To me, this is a "sink or swim" deal (Beta Testing) and there is absolutely no communication with PC on all the problems people have had.

I have never seen anything about it damaging anyone's machine. Unfortunately, when we aren't getting the results we want, sometimes, we are apt to say something general that doesn't really pertain to what's real. We make generalizations, then others pick it up and go off and tell their version and before you know it, things are being said that aren't quite true.

Char

ok the reason why it takes long for the update with the "newest" people being invited is because during testing there was at least 10 updates and when you update you are going through all of those...when we get a new update those of us that have been doing the updates all along..it only takes about 3 to 5 minutes...

Jodi

Jodi - I think it takes longer for some, depending on their computers, their RAM MEMORY in their computers, what Operating Systems they are using, etc.! While some of us have high speed internet connections, many don't. That interferes on downloads, too. So, we can't all get everything quickly. Also, some of us have desktops, others have MACS. It think MACS were having a lot of problems early on; I think things have changed for them, now, though.

It actually took me 23 minutes to do the SYNC on my Expression. The other downloads, so far, have all gone much quicker, but not everyone's setups allow for fast downloads.

That's frustrating, to say the least, to those who don't have faster connections or RAM MEMORY. When I only have 512MB RAM MEMORY, everything was much slower for me. When I added my RAM MEMORY up to 2 Gigabytes, everything got faster along with my DSL Broadband connection to the internet. I didn't do this until after we moved over to the new servers, so I was very frustrated on the old MB when everyone was having problems with it.

Char

I am a beta tester and working with the Imagine and Expression 2. i have been able to print and cut with the Imagine. It was not consitantly cutting though. With this latest build I have had only one hitch with the Imagine. it has a hard time recognizing the cartridges. If I turn the I on and off, or close the CCR and reopen it or put the cartridge out and then back in...these solutions eventually lead to recognition. But which one is not consistent. I try them all unitl it works.

I have not tried it with the E2 yet. That was my plan for tonight but work just sent me some stuff to do tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

I don't understand why they didn't design this like Microsoft Office and just have 3 components. Perhaps starting at the expression and getting all the bugs out of that one, release it and then work on the Imagine component, get the bugs out, release it and then work on the E2, get the bugs out and release it.

The Cartridge Library is like the Fonts Library in MS Office, and whether you are using Word or PowerPoint or Excel, they all use the same Fonts Library. They all use the same drivers, etc.

From what I read on this MB, the problems seem to be on the I and E2, then why not release the Expression part?

Just a thought.

Everyone who has access to Cricut Craft Room (both the online version and the desktop version) are Beta Testers. At the moment I'm sure that number is in the thousands (especially as most Circle members have access to it).

There's just not that many users posting about it.

At the moment I'm spending more time getting my head around it and trying to get my various cricuts working with it, than posting about it. I answer questions where I can though.

I am a beta tester like many of you. I have worked with ccr some and I think it will be a great program WHEN they get all the problems worked out with the programming.
I have an e2 and I cannot cut, it will not recognize my e2 even though it is plugged into the computer. Makes not sense yet, so I am calling about it tomorrow. I have been worried about trying a cut, but then when I did try it would not work, soooooooo! YAHOO PC, you will hear my voice tomorrow!
I hope they get it ready soon, I really do think it will be nice, someday LOL

Beth - I believe they started with CIRCLE members to start out testing. Then, just a little while back, they supposedly opened it to everyone on both message boards. BUT, I think they started running into quite a few problems with people not being able to access it correctly. Then, they started inviting by email, again, which is what they did initially with the CIRCLE members. Rather than say EVERYONE can come on, they tried to control it again (that's JMHO).

I got the email early on--and, we were all told to watch for our emails if we were, in fact, going to be asked to BETA TEST. I got mine and held onto it for a few weeks because I was afraid to mess up my machine. Then, when I decided I would gamble on CCR, I went ahead and downloaded off my email invitation. I had to ask for the CUT feature, when I heard everyone else saying they could CUT, because I never received the email on that until I called PC and told them I was a BETA TESTER. After the initial CUT email, I had to call them again for a FIX to my CUT download. After that, everything worked for quite a while, until Memorial Day fiasco!

Char

I never received an invite but could login this morning and I can cut with my E2. I didnt download anything other than the built 50 update.
However, it only works with my E2 because my E and I do not cut. The I prints though, it does that.

Cheers,
Christel