It's not a good back up, but an EXCELLENT machine in and of itself. I love my Imagine, but I don't use it for the same stuff as my E or E2. For one thing, sizing is totally different on the I. And, as far as I've learned so far, you can't do things like weld or size things really exact using the gypsy. I don't think I'd ever use it to cut stuff with just normal cuts like I use my E or E2. It's also harder to lay the images out on the mat exactly like you can using your gypsy, or select where you put your cardstock & cut from on your mat without the gypsy with the E.
It's not a good back up, but an EXCELLENT machine in and of itself. I love my Imagine, but I don't use it for the same stuff as my E or E2. For one thing, sizing is totally different on the I. And, as far as I've learned so far, you can't do things like weld or size things really exact using the gypsy. I don't think I'd ever use it to cut stuff with just normal cuts like I use my E or E2. It's also harder to lay the images out on the mat exactly like you can using your gypsy, or select where you put your cardstock & cut from on your mat without the gypsy with the E.