I love my basic Embird with its Iconizer plug-in, but as I have'nt decided to learn to digitize, I have not purchased the Studio portion. A very talented digitizer told me she would recommend Embird to anyone learning to digitize; the best for the cost. She purchased the much more expensive Generations software later.
As you already have PE-Design Next, I think I would truly give it a good try, before investing in any other digitizing software. I have heard it is a good software.
Angel

I have Embird, which I love, and a second digitising program as well; or rather the other way round: Viking software (currently 5D) since 1999, Embird since Nov 2008.
As Embird does not have pre-digitised alphabets in the program - they can be bought separately - having another program is nice.
Embird let you zoom in close, so that's no problem when you want to set points. There are a number of free tutorials, there are lessons you have to pay for and there's a lot of knowledge here on Cute as so many people use it to their satisfaction.
Hope this helps you decide.

I am getting embird today! Live Laugh Download Stitch!

I don't have Embird. I have Bernina V6 and I just love it. It has everything you ever need. Hope that you find Embird to your linking, if you should buy it. I have no knwledge of it myself, but the patterns digitized with it seems nice and well done.***

Well if you have PE Design Next it should be similar to Embird. The cost in the UK (where I am) of Next puts it way out of my pocket. I have a lower version of PE Design which I enjoy using for what I want. My suggestion is to get some further info on using what you have like

http://www.memories-in-thread.net/?p=yahoogroup

www.secretsofembroidery.com also has information of PE Design Next Good Luck and let us know what you decide

I don't want to waste $ on anything that I won't use--I only got PE-Design because it was on sale. I re-read my post, and thought that boy, did I sound snobby! I just want to learn how to digitize and the yahoo groups that I've found used to have free lessons, but now they cost per lesson!

I have PE-Design version3...I will not upgrade. I also have Embird. Embird is much more affordable, and I love the program. I have two of the plug-ins....cross stitch and font engine. I want Studio, but it will have to wait. I can digitize with PE-Design, but I do all my Editing in Embird. Can you tell I am a big fan of this program?

I have an old version of PE design, a friend has PEDesign 7, I think, and I am drooling over PE-Design Next! I think once you learn a program you are NOT going to mess with another program. Once you learn it, you will love it. Did they offer classes to go with it? On the other hand, I have heard people rave over Embird. Do you want to sell PE-Design Next for cheap?? Jan

I was interested in what kind of answers you got - makes for interesting reading for future reference.
But, I do have an opinion. If you already have one - see if you can find some help on how to use it. You can also get a free trial for embird.

I think that the Embird is very easy to use and you can add to it gradually if you really get into doing the digitizing. I don't know much about the other program. Embird has several sites that offer tutorials and they are precise and clear even for the beginner.

hugs,
mj

I have 4D Embroidery software and loove it. I'm not familar with the others that are mentioned. I see you have a lot of information to go by.

I have PE v7 and love it. I was offered free class when I brought it. My husband uses Master Work and hates PE design. I have never us Embird. Good luck

Hi,I have PE Design Next and really love it. I started out with Version 6 and upgraded to Next last year. If you want any advise, help, tutorials, just PM me and we can work something out.

Christie in Germany