My Kingdom For Some OS X Sewing Software
Madwen
First let me say that I've always owned only Macintosh computers dating
back to the original, autographed 128k one.
Yes, there are thousands of really great Mac software programs. But
games is not the only category of Mac software that is lacking. There
is almost nothing available for fiber artists and designers in the areas
of pattern drafting/grading, embroidery, clothing design, quilting, and
more.
To make matters even worse, there isn't a single sewing computer/machine
that can interface with the Macintosh any more (there were before Macs
went to OSX). Bernina, who makes the best sewing machines in the world,
now uses the Windows OS exclusively in all their computerized machines.
And they refuse support to those running their software under Virtual PC
on the Mac or in Linux. I'm told it currently runs so slowly that it is
not worth the bother and expense.
I'll expand on embroidery a bit since that is such a hot area of
interest right now. Nearly all sewing machine manufacturers have
embroidery machines. If you want a certain unique pattern embroidered
on your shirt or hat, for instance, you need digitizing software to
translate that pattern into an embroidery format that includes coloring,
stitch patterns, stopping and starting for color changes and all kinds
of other things necessary for your sewing machine to be able to
embroider that pattern on a piece of fabric. As with graphics formats,
there are also a number of digitized embroidery formats. Certain
machines usually only read one or two formats.
So those who do not have Windoze boxes but want to do some machine
embroidery are forced to buy cards or CDs of designs already digitized
by others. Most of those available are dorky little "precious moments"
kinds of emblems. With only a few little designs, cards and CDs usually
start at $60 and $100 respectively. They are ridiculously expensive.
And get this, to even update the software on the Bernina for instance,
you have to take your sewing computer into a dealer who may keep it for
*weeks* until s/he finally gets around to doing an update that may only
take an hour or so. So even though the computer/machine may have a
modem or a wireless card, they won't even let you do a software update!
Imagine having to do that with your regular computer. Obviously, lack
of competition exacerbates this problem allowing the machine
manufacturers to exploit customers.
So even though I loathe the thought of using Windows, with the advent of
the Intel Mac, I wondered if there was any hope that sewers or fiber
artist Mac users might be able to run some of the PC pattern drafting
CAD or digitized embroidery software in emulation at a speed reasonable
enough to make it feasible.
Madeleine
Tim McNamara
Madwen <inv...@nospam.com> wrote:
> So even though I loathe the thought of using Windows, with the advent
> of the Intel Mac, I wondered if there was any hope that sewers or
> fiber artist Mac users might be able to run some of the PC pattern
> drafting CAD or digitized embroidery software in emulation at a speed
> reasonable enough to make it feasible.
You may be able to boot an IntelMac into Windows directly, without an
emulation mode. It's been done, verified, reproduced. Driver support
is lacking as yet, but that will change rapidly I suspect.
Tim Crowley
Would it not be cheaper and make more sense to just use a Windows box
for this function. That or write an OS port or program to do so.
Computers are just tools. Use the best tool for the job.
Tim McNamara
"Tim Crowley" <timmyt...@gmail.com> wrote:
While I think that natively booting Windows on a Mac is an abomination
in the sight of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, I also think that buying a
second computer for such a specific, single-purpose task is ludicrous if
one's Mac could boot Windows and accomplish the same task.
Madwen
Tim McNamara <tim...@bitstream.net> wrote:
In truth, I'd much rather have Mac native software but lacking that I'd
hold my nose and use Windoze if it was either that or give up my hobby.
Madwen
Tim McNamara <tim...@bitstream.net> wrote:
Especially when the sewing computers/machines already cost so much these
days. You can't really touch a new sewing computer with an embroidery
module for under $5000. The new top of the line Bernina machine is over
$8000. Then there's the digitizing software for another grand, the cost
of lessons if you are not computer graphics literate, and other
essential peripherals. I can't imagine how it could possibly be cheaper
to buy a Windows box.
Randy Howard
(in article <timmcn-DF7ABF....@news.iphouse.com>):
>> Would it not be cheaper and make more sense to just use a Windows box
>> for this function. That or write an OS port or program to do so.
>> Computers are just tools. Use the best tool for the job.
>
> While I think that natively booting Windows on a Mac is an abomination
> in the sight of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, I also think that buying a
> second computer for such a specific, single-purpose task is ludicrous if
> one's Mac could boot Windows and accomplish the same task.
Given that you can buy a complete computer ( with OS) from Dell
for almost the same price as a Windows XP license for your
Apple, it seems a pretty silly argument in the first place.
--
Randy Howard (2reply remove FOOBAR)
"The power of accurate observation is called cynicism by those
who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
TKnTexas
then copies the image to WinXP laptop he got as a refurb. He twinks
the design in the sewing machine's software. He has a new Singer that
uses the laptop connected by USB to handle image control. The laptop
is small and sits close to his work area.
A new or refurb'd laptop might be the answer, no extra monitor,
keyboard, etc, and small footprint.
TK
Larry Kilgallen
Macintosh software developer ?
Davoud
> Would it not be cheaper and make more sense to just use a Windows box
> for this function. That or write an OS port or program to do so.
> Computers are just tools. Use the best tool for the job.
Exactly. Various computer-aided needlecrafts are very popular, judging
from the number of inquiries that come to my MUG
<http://www.annapolisappleslice.com>. It's too bad there is no such
software for the Mac, but that's the way it is. The answer: A cheap
Windows machine.
I have often wondered if it would be practical for Apple to develop or
fund third-party development of software for niche markets such as
needlecraft, woodworking, amateur astronomy (my pet)
<http://www.davidillig.com/astromac.shtml>, and other hobbies I'm
probably unaware of. There is a thriving market for Windows software in
these fields, and I know people in all three areas that would switch to
the Mac /if/ the software they use, or a suitable equivalent, were
available.
Davoud
Six Macs including three PowerBooks; one Sony Vaio laptop.
--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com
Ian Gregory
> Tim McNamara wrote
> (in article <timmcn-DF7ABF....@news.iphouse.com>):
>
>>> Would it not be cheaper and make more sense to just use a Windows box
>>> for this function. That or write an OS port or program to do so.
>>> Computers are just tools. Use the best tool for the job.
>>
>> While I think that natively booting Windows on a Mac is an abomination
>> in the sight of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, I also think that buying a
>> second computer for such a specific, single-purpose task is ludicrous if
>> one's Mac could boot Windows and accomplish the same task.
>
> Given that you can buy a complete computer ( with OS) from Dell
> for almost the same price as a Windows XP license for your
> Apple, it seems a pretty silly argument in the first place.
Unless of course you care about the environmental impact of the
hardware industry - but that could be addressed by salvaging an
old PC instead of buying a new one.
Ian
--
Ian Gregory
http://www.zenatode.org.uk/ian/
Tom Harrington
Kilg...@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen) wrote:
> So are the machine manufacturers unwilling to work with an aspiring
> Macintosh software developer ?
Define "work with". Apple provides free software development tools and
a lot of information for free. For varying levels of money paid by the
developer there are varying levels of additional options. But they
don't provide direct financial support or anything like that.
The sewing machine companies don't seem interested. Everyone uses
Windows, after all.
--
Tom "Tom" Harrington
Macaroni, Automated System Maintenance for Mac OS X.
Version 2.0: Delocalize, Repair Permissions, lots more.
See http://www.atomicbird.com/
Madwen
"TKnTexas" <tknte...@aol.com> wrote:
According to people who do machine embroidery, it would have to be
pretty new to properly run the most recent digitizing embroidery
software and it sure would not make sense to get an older laptop that
would only run outdated software. The Bernina system is way more
complicated and robust than Singer. The laptop would have to have at
least a 17" screen, 2 USB ports, a dedicated parallel port, a serial
port and recent Windows software. Can you give me an idea how much a PC
laptop like that might cost? I just can't imagine how I would justify
this.
void * clvrmnky()
> A friend of mine does a lot of his basic graphic work on his iMacG5,
> then copies the image to WinXP laptop he got as a refurb. He twinks
> the design in the sewing machine's software. He has a new Singer that
> uses the laptop connected by USB to handle image control. The laptop
> is small and sits close to his work area.
>
ever seen.
Larry Kilgallen
> In article <Ukizlp...@eisner.encompasserve.org>,
> Kilg...@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen) wrote:
>
>> So are the machine manufacturers unwilling to work with an aspiring
>> Macintosh software developer ?
>
> Define "work with".
> The sewing machine companies don't seem interested.
Will they provide adequate specifications to a serious developer
to allow them to build a compatible product without reverse engineering ?
Madwen
Kilg...@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen) wrote:
> So are the machine manufacturers unwilling to work with an aspiring
> Macintosh software developer ?
I really don't know. I suspect that they dropped the idea when Macs
switched to OS X and just haven't revisited it again. Like so many
others, they may not be aware of the advantages of the Unix
underpinnings and may be content to serve only the Windows market.
Frankly, I don't understand why the digitizing software can't be ported
to the Mac so that Mac users could digitize their own designs in .art
format, copy the designs to a CD and then upload them into their
Bernina. The machine has its own operating system (Windows) so you
don't need a separate computer to drive it.
Larry Kilgallen
> In article <Ukizlp...@eisner.encompasserve.org>,
> Kilg...@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen) wrote:
>
>> So are the machine manufacturers unwilling to work with an aspiring
>> Macintosh software developer ?
>
>
> I really don't know. I suspect that they dropped the idea when Macs
> switched to OS X and just haven't revisited it again.
They have to be approached by that developer. One cannot assume the
hardware manufacturer will seek one out.
Milton Aupperle
Madwen <inv...@nospam.com> wrote:
> In article <Ukizlp...@eisner.encompasserve.org>,
> Kilg...@SpamCop.net (Larry Kilgallen) wrote:
>
> > So are the machine manufacturers unwilling to work with an aspiring
> > Macintosh software developer ?
>
>
> I really don't know. I suspect that they dropped the idea when Macs
> switched to OS X and just haven't revisited it again. Like so many
> others, they may not be aware of the advantages of the Unix
> underpinnings and may be content to serve only the Windows market.
More likley there was not enough people using OSX to justify the cost
of re-writing the software. Apple's Market share back in 2000 was 4%,
it's down to 2.1% in 2005.
Steve Jobs admitted last year that they finally crossed the half way
point of OSX penetration and that 50% of the Macs that are capable of
running OSX are actually using it instead of OS 9.
> Frankly, I don't understand why the digitizing software can't be ported
> to the Mac so that Mac users could digitize their own designs in .art
> format, copy the designs to a CD and then upload them into their
> Bernina. The machine has its own operating system (Windows) so you
> don't need a separate computer to drive it.
The "Why" is quite simple. They likely use a proprietary format to lock
you into that Manufacturers product. Open standards means you can take
your designs elsehwere - but if it's proprietary you likely can't do
it.
HTH..
Milton Aupperle
www.outcastsoft.com
Davoud
> > fund third-party development of software for niche markets such as
> > needlecraft, woodworking, amateur astronomy (my pet)
> > <http://www.davidillig.com/astromac.shtml>, and other hobbies I'm
> > probably unaware of. There is a thriving market for Windows software in
> > these fields, and I know people in all three areas that would switch to
> > the Mac /if/ the software they use, or a suitable equivalent, were
> > available.
> > Six Macs including three PowerBooks; one Sony Vaio laptop.
Michael Vilain:
> I think Apple is choosing their markets carefully...
I agree. I sometimes forget that Apple has no interest in expanding its
PC market share in any significant way outside the niches it now holds.
This will remain the case as Apple delivers additional consumer
electronics devices like the iPod.
> This is clearly a hobbyist's niche. The question is, are you willing to
> hold your nose and buy what you need to use the tools of your hobby...
I held my nose -- that's why I have the Sony laptop/XP Pro SP2 -- to
run a couple of astronomy applications that aren't available for the
Mac. Things are brighter in the amateur astronomy hobby than in the
needlecraft hobby, however; firstly, there is some good astronomy
software for the Mac; secondly, Software Bisque
<http://www.bisque.com>, a premier maker of astronomy software, are
planning to bring their applications to Mactel.
Davoud
Madwen
wrote:
> I held my nose -- that's why I have the Sony laptop/XP Pro SP2 -- to
> run a couple of astronomy applications that aren't available for the
> Mac. Things are brighter in the amateur astronomy hobby than in the
> needlecraft hobby, however; firstly, there is some good astronomy
> software for the Mac; secondly, Software Bisque
> <http://www.bisque.com>, a premier maker of astronomy software, are
> planning to bring their applications to Mactel.
That's good news. I'm still using Burnam's for manual settings! Last
time I looked, which admittedly is quite sometime ago, I could not find
any software for my equatorial drive.
Davoud
> > Things are brighter in the amateur astronomy hobby than in the
> > needlecraft hobby, however; firstly, there is some good astronomy
> > software for the Mac; secondly, Software Bisque
> > <http://www.bisque.com>, a premier maker of astronomy software, are
> > planning to bring their applications to Mactel.
Madwen
> That's good news. I'm still using Burnam's for manual settings! Last
> time I looked, which admittedly is quite sometime ago, I could not find
> any software for my equatorial drive.
May I recommend <http://www.davidillig.com/astromac.shtml>?
Davoud
--
usenet *at* davidillig *dawt* com
Madwen
Ross Bernheim
that Lemkesoft's Graphic Converter program can import the ART format.
You might contact them and see if they will add an export for the ART
format since they already are familiar with ti and it shouldn't be too
hard to do since they already have written the import module.
This would let you work on any graphics program on the Mac with any
number of formats and then run it through Graphic Converter to get your
.art file to run in your embroidery machine.
Ross Bernheim
Gnarlodious
allowed to create such a file.
Not positive though...
-- Gnarlie
Entity Ross Bernheim uttered this profundity:
Leonard Blaisdell
Gnarlodious <gnarl...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I believe the ART file format is AOL proprietary and no other software is
> allowed to create such a file.
>
> Not positive though...
I'm downloading the newest version of GC as I type. GC 5.7 didn't seem
to have a 'save as' that included ART. Now to 5.8.1. Can't find it on
the newest version of GC either.
leo