diecut machines

ok i need help im looking at buying a diecut/embossing machine.
ive seen cricut cuttlebug sixxix big shot
do they all take all dies and embossing plates or just there own brands ?
anyone have any suggestions?

pls and thx

i am not 100% sure as i don't own one, but a few friends do and i think u are able to use different ones in some different machines? sorry not much help

i know the cuttlebug can take all the other dies, you just need adapters/spacers, not sure about the others. The cricut actually works on cartridges and will only take its own brand, it also doesn't emboss. Just to confuse you even more, Kaszazz has just released their own cutting machine the "bellish", which I think would be better than the cuttlebug as it is larger and I am pretty sure you can cut 12inch papers on it, the cuttlebug cuts about an A5 size.
Also, if i was to ever get another cricut, I would get the larger size, again to be able to cut the larger size.

Bel has it all pretty much summed up I have a cuttlebug and if there is some other machine that cuts wider than the A5 I would recommend that you have a look at it. That said I'm pretty happy with my cuttlebug - it doesn't emboss the spellbinders brand very well (i do have the mats recommended) so haven't bought any cutting dies from them. Sixxiz dies cut really well in it although sometimes a shim (a piece of cardstock) added ontop of the cutting plates is necessary to get a good cut - same actually goes for the cuttlekids dies too.