More than once, Leonardo sent a generic error message with no explanation of how to fix the problem. You have to cancel the message before you can do anything else, which feels like reaching the end before you can try to troubleshoot or find an error code in Leonardo.
The connection, fortunately, is very simple and seamless. Romeo connects to your computer via Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth, which seems like a minor detail until you’ve wrestled with the things Bluetooth can sometimes throw up (looking at you, Design Space). During my testing of the Discover 5, I would occasionally lose my Bluetooth connection, requiring me to disconnect the machine from my computer, reconnect, and try again. I’m not sure if that’s a Design Space issue or my laptop juggling multiple Bluetooth devices, but it could be a headache. Through my testing, I have never had a Romeo machine disconnect unexpectedly.
Making Space
There’s no getting around it: Romeo is big-has twice the cutting width of the Explore 5. It’s not the kind of machine that sits easily on a closet shelf when you’re not using it. Many people will want to dedicate a table to him. That’s not necessarily a downside, but it’s meant to exist as a permanent fixture in your workspace. (And remember to calculate the clearance at the back of the machine, as the equipment feeds through the back!). But it is solid and well built; it never moved on the table when cutting, there was very little vibration, the car moved seamlessly without rattling, and nothing shifted or rattled.
Its open design is another business. Unlike the Discover 5, which folds up, everything remains open on the Romeo. I haven’t seen any buildup yet, but I’m concerned about pet hair and dust getting in, and it’s something I’ll look into in time.
When it disconnects, the Romeo beeps and beeps like a dial-up network, while the Cricut beeps and beeps more like an old inkjet printer. Neither is loud, but worth considering if you share a workspace.
Time to graduate?
Photo: Nicole Kinning
After spending time with both machines, my biggest takeaway is that the Cricut is designed to eliminate as many decisions and friction points as possible. Romeo gives you controls and expects you to learn how to use them.
