If you have already purchased an Explore, and especially if you have already been impacted by this policy, please do not quietly buy a new computer thinking this is the norm. Cricut is changing the game here in a way that is not consumer-friendly and it’s important that anyone considering an Explore understand that. Yes, time marches on and technology improves, but you always have the option to refuse updates to be able to keep your hardware running if that is your need or choice. Up to this point, the system requirements on the box have always been assumed to be current and valid for the life of the product. I know of no other hardware that comes with this kind of caveat. I was still holding out hope that this was an oversight until Cricut’s policy on this was added to the FAQs this spring, and until today’s instructions to Mac OSx 10.6 users. I remain a Mac OS 10.7 user by choice for this very reason, yet wonder how much longer my Explore will operate. While it is sometimes possible to update an older computer to a newer operating system, this can be costly, result in performance loss or perhaps resulting in the loss of other legacy hardware or software that may not be replaceable at all (Mac OS 10.6 users should be especially cautious about the 4 OS jump Cricut is recommending to you). System Requirements for Cricut Explore Air per HSN.com screen captured 7/15/15Īs of this writing, Mac OS 10.6 users are unable to use their Explores, even though their computers met the system requirements at the time of purchase. Others who do not meet the new system requirements are sometimes encouraged by Cricut’s Customer Care to purchase a new computer when they call about a problem. As you can see, RAM requirements quadrupled and 4 operating systems were dropped. On the right are the new system requirements that quietly appeared in the FAQ’s at after a February update to Cricut Design Space, which is required to run the Explore. On the left are the system requirements that appear on retail boxes for the Cricut Explore and Explore Air. Say what? You’d be outraged, and rightfully so … yet that is exactly what has happened today to Cricut Explore owners with MacOS 10.6 under Cricut’s policy of changing system requirements retroactively.

Your call to support yields one simple solution … purchase a new computer to support the new requirements of your printer. Imagine if you picked out a new printer, checked the system requirements on the box to be sure it would work with your computer system, took it home, set it up, were happily using it until one day when, without warning, your new printer was disabled by a non-optional, irreversible driver update.

Install cricut design space to d drive