getEdited - SELECT
by sewmom ( edited 13 Jan 2013 ) 13 Jan 2013

CES Trip Report 2013 - That’s the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. I know you all want to hear about the Brother booth at the Venetian so I will start there (see the ceiling picture). I went straight to the Dreamweaver but was quickly ushered over to the Quattro 2 6700 D after I told them that I have the ULT 2003D. They assumed I wanted and could afford the top of the line. MRSP for the Quattro is $9,000 but I was told it’s been seen for $7,500. Isn’t that about the same cost of a quarter of college tuition? I guess I have some hard decisions to make. I liked the large 12x8 hoop since I often put designs in 8x10 frames and could use those extra couple of inches in width. I was also impressed with the camera that scans your current image so that you can align your designs easily. The color shuffling is handy but not necessary. You enter the color pallet you would like to use and it shuffles the colors around to the different parts of the design so you can see how it would look, stop shuffling when you like the colors. Very useful when, for example, you want to do a 6 color flower but don’t want to use the suggested colors and you’re not sure how your colors will look. The colors on the screen have improved in the last 10 years too. Apparently you can sew with the embroidery unit attached but that was not demonstrated for me. It also resized designs directly on the machine up 200% or down 60%. I took a picture of the sample. It looks pretty good but the 200% made very large satin stitches that wouldn’t be good unless the design was under glass so you would have to change those stitches manually. I also took pictures of the photo stitch samples that were quite impressive (see the horses). I had my eye on the 10 needle Entrepreneur® Pro PR1000e which was stitching through a hat like butter. I was enthralled! “Only a few thousand more $” she said, “if I’m going to buy a machine a little more would be worth it.” It didn’t matter, they weren’t actually selling them there and I wasn’t buying. Nothing at the booth was new. You can see all of this at your local dealer so I admit I was a little disappointed that I couldn’t tell you all about something brand new.


Brother was the only sewing company at the show as far as I could tell so I’ll tell you about some of the other things I saw.

Most Impressive: The LG 3D TV. Yes, you need the 3D glasses but it was so brilliant and realistic! I saw a 3D TV that didn’t need glasses too. I’m sorry I didn’t write down the company name but I did take note that it looked terrible, made my eyes hurt and I got a bit nauseous.

The Buzz: Everyone was talking about the bendable phones by Samsung. I didn’t get to see one, they were shown only at the press conference a couple days before I went. They are paper thin and look like they would be a lot more comfortable to put into your back pocket than our current models.

I want one! The new washing machines will text you when the load is done and I’m tired of the annoying beep from mine. Besides, it’s old and my next project is redoing the laundry room. Many other home electronics like scales, refrigerators, and ovens will be online and WiFi enabled too.

Not sure if I want one: The Multi Directional Iron. It has a point on both ends. I can see the advantage to sliding backwards and letting the point in the back open up a wrinkle or gather instead of accidentally ironing over it. I saw 2 sizes, one would make my ironing area smaller but the other was the same size as mine with extra coverage where the back point is.

Samsung Galaxy Note II – A smart phone for artists. It has drawing capabilities that are very precise. Work on your designs for digitizting on your mobile!

We also saw Mommy Loves Tech being filmed. I had to Google it and it looks like someone found a niche to fill. I will be exploring that site and her Facebook page soon.
http://www.mommylovestech.com/

Fun item: A phone cover that works with Lego Blocks called SmallWorks Brickcase. My kids are too old for this. Or are they?

And now for a few personal notes: The business party I went to with my DH was in one of the Mirage Villas. A very exclusive area of the Mirage that has only been open to the general public for a couple of years. For privacy the entrances are not signed. You have to know how to get there and a butler lets you in (see the hallway picture). We felt like celebrities. I read that there is no paint or wallpaper in the suites, the walls are upholstered in silk. Wish I had read that before the trip, I would have looked more closely.

Next year I will do more research before I go to the show. There were over 3000 exhibitors, way too many to just wander around and look at. It was overwhelming! It was great to be on a business trip with my delightful husband. He earned lots of PHPs (perfect husband points) on this trip!

462372

by drro 16 Jan 2013

Thanks for sharing all your findings and tidbits about your fun!;>)

19452
by blueeyedblonde 15 Jan 2013

awesome - thanks for sharing!

38558
by pennyhal 15 Jan 2013

Nothing like having a Perfect Husband along to make a trip fun! I'm jealous that you got to see all these new things. Thanks for sharing, but now I'm lusting after a new machine.

1 comment
sewmom by sewmom 15 Jan 2013

I think most of us are!

6788
by mary51 15 Jan 2013

THank you for sharing this wonderful experience!!!!!!

26711
by danababes 14 Jan 2013

Okay I'm lame lol I like the Lego cover so much that now I want an iPhone ... however I believe they don't get reception way out here in rural West Oz .. sigh .. hope they make one for Samsungs soon then lol. (and yep, I still love Lego and get to play with it with my Littlies:) xXx

1 comment
sewmom by sewmom 14 Jan 2013

There's a child in all of us that just wants to play!

4309
by sewmom 14 Jan 2013

Here is the picture of Samsung bendable phone. Link to the article is up in the post.

462372
by sewmom 14 Jan 2013

Perfect Husband Points explained. My husband coined the term a little over a year ago. See the full post and pictures in the link. Here is an excerpt, "Interesting story, for my wife’s 50th birthday we went to Las Vegas to see Sir Elton John in concert. My wife is an Elton fan and this may be her last chance to see him live so off we went. I saw Elton and Billy Joel in a dueling piano concert a while back and it was simply amazing! The underlying purpose of the trip however was to earn “Perfect Husband Points” (PHP’s), which can then be traded in for sailing trips in Mexico etc… Right now I’m saving up for a trip to Spain to run with the bulls."

We don't actually keep tally, it's just for fun.

3 comments
sewmom by sewmom 14 Jan 2013

If you click the link and it says "get the iPad app" just click the left one. You don't need the app. We haven't figured out who hijacks the link for that message.

sewmom by sewmom 14 Jan 2013

I think it was the left one. Just click the one that means you don't want it. Our iPad app is not searchable right now anyway since the ios6 upgrade. The iPhone app is searchable and free but really you don't want it unless you work n the semi conductor industry.

ansalu by ansalu 15 Jan 2013

Last night I could not reach the page but today it works. This is really so funny. Still giggling... :o)

462372
by susiesembroidery 14 Jan 2013

Thank you for sharing your fabulous trip with us and for all the information and photos. You make we wish for more machines in my sewing room. I have Berninas at the moment and I am very happy with them The Artista 640 can increase the design 200 fold and then you can set it to stitch out step stiches instead of satin - which has worked well for me in the past. I just love my Berninas and I wish to have the 830 - she is amazing!!!

21543
by edithfarminer 14 Jan 2013

Waaauw what a fabulous time you had. Love the pictures and what you all saw. Thanks for telling us all about it. Oh my would love one of the big embroidery machines, we can dream lol.

57801
by sewdeb 14 Jan 2013

Oh, what fun! Sounds like a fabulous time! Thanks for all the links - it's almost as if I was there with you! I will also join Chris and Bettina on the very good looking couple.

1 comment
sewmom by sewmom 14 Jan 2013

Thank you. That's very sweet.

70753
by ansalu 14 Jan 2013

My poor little machines (janome MC350E, just called the diva by me and a brother innovis 750E, my true workhorse): No camera, just 5x7-hoop and one needle... No! I'm happy to have them ;o)
The most interesting part for me is your last sentence: He earned lots of PHPs (perfect husband points) on this trip!
Can you explain this for me? Maybe something really useful for me and the other cuties... *lol*
Greetings, Bettina
PS: Agree with Chris> beautiful lady! Also a great hotel and a very handsome husband :o)

1 comment
sewmom by sewmom 14 Jan 2013

I looked up the blog with the PHPs and put a link up. It took me on a nice memory lane trip. Thank you!

33986
by cfidl 14 Jan 2013

Thanks so much for sharing. There is lots to to think about!

173578
by momhome 13 Jan 2013

Wow what an experience. You are right about the horses. They looked fantastic. Hope someday I can learn to stitch photo stitch designs out and have them look good. Your husband did a great job of showing off the photo stitch of the panda. I like it better when I enlarged the picture. Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. Glad you enjoyed your trip. Now it is time for you to rest and sew.

1 comment
sewmom by sewmom 14 Jan 2013

He will be happy to know that he's appreciated. Thank you. Resting and sewing? I had to do about 10 loads of laundry when I got back and QuickBooks is muddling my mind. Not that I'm complaining, the business is why we went to Las Vegas : ) I will catch on to QuickBooks eventually.

13250
by sewmom 13 Jan 2013

I forgot to add a major draw back for me personally. The hoop connection is different than my current Brother. I would still get 4 new hoops but my other additions would not fit. I have a border kit, and a buttonhole kit. But they are probably built in now anyway, right? I would have to look into that.

1 comment
cfidl by cfidl 14 Jan 2013

They do it that way on purpose!

462372
by dana12559 13 Jan 2013

Thank you, sewmom! You've given me several things to wish for!

1239
by babybird 13 Jan 2013

Thanks for great coverage of the show. I've been reading about it all week in USA Today on my new iPad Mini. Ladies, do not buy a Mini because it is so wonderful that it will consume all your free time!

I also have the Brother ULT2003d and other than wanting a larger hoop than the 6"x10", I love my machine. Each May I attend the big quilt show at the Salt Lake City Convention Center and every embroidery machine out there is usually on display and demonstrated. The show you attended in Las Vegas sounds amazing and it was fun to hear your experiences.

1 comment
sewmom by sewmom 13 Jan 2013

Thanks for you Mini update : ) Your quilt show sounds fabulous. It would be great to see so many machines in one place.

2993
by dragonflyer 13 Jan 2013

What a whirlwind trip...thanks for sharing...I have the "sister" machine to the Brother Quattro..the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold and it is awesome...the camera feature is so precise you can move in any direction less than a millimeter in any direction...with the automatic "snowman" feature, you can actually hoop your fabric blindfolded and the machine will align the design to the correct position...upside down and sideways...no matter...hooping becomes a no brainer...it is truly amazing...and, Yes, you can do regular sewing with the embroidery unit attached...I rarely remove mine...even for quilting..I have thought about the multi-needle machines myself, but would need a bigger space...and a way to get it upstairs and downstairs and to the dealer for any adjustments/repairs...but, there is always tomorrow...thanks again...

1 comment
sewmom by sewmom 13 Jan 2013

Wow! It sounds like you really love your machine. That camera sounds amazing.

313173
by CindyG 13 Jan 2013

HI, sounds like you had a great time. I have a LG 3D TV, its great.

2 comments
sewmom by sewmom 13 Jan 2013

So you wear the 3D glasses when you watch a 3D movie?

CindyG by CindyG 15 Jan 2013

Yes, it uses the ones without batteries.

3543
by capoodle 13 Jan 2013

Looks like a wonderland of technology. Thanks for the photos and new technical information. The horse picture is so realistic and the hotel decor is grand.

89895
by pennifold 13 Jan 2013

The Quattro 2 6700D is my new machine "sewmom", just got it in mid November - still learning it's capabilities. Love and blessings Chris

By the way you are a very pretty lady - just wanted to let you know that. And so young!

2 comments
sewmom by sewmom 13 Jan 2013

Congratulations! How well does the camera alignment system work for you?

crafter2243 by crafter2243 13 Jan 2013

I have the Baby Lock Elissimo Gold which has the camera alignment. I absolutely love that feature. I can hoop crooked and yet move the pattern so everything will be straight. From your description it sounds as if they have the same feature.

234246
by asterixsew Moderator 13 Jan 2013

Thanks for the great read. Sounds like you had a busy and exciting time.

114149
by zoefzoef 13 Jan 2013

Whee ! Lots of High tech stuff ! Wished I could have been there too. Soo interesting. Thanks for sharing.

1 comment
theduchess by theduchess 14 Jan 2013

Anyone have ANY comments about the bernina 780 or 830. Pro/Con

146232