When I decided to spend the extra bucks to get the MakerGear M2, a couple of factors influenced it.
- Great community! The forums are alive with tons of helpful information and user interaction
- The build platform - I just wanted something a bit bigger than the typical, and I didn't want to be forced into an enclosure for part size reasons. On the MakerGear M2 the build area is 8"x10"x8" (200mmx250mmx200mm)
- Quality - MakerGear has a reputation for quality and I can see it in the product. And in the service! Even the setup guide was extremely detailed and a relatively painless operation, from unpacking to setup to printing the first sample.
The only thing I am not wild about is the print nozzles they use are not your typical commodity, so buying replacement heads / spares from them directly is a better bet than hoping one of the many on Amazon will actually work.
I am pretty happy with the quick start app, and in general the software that comes with the unit. I am using Simplify3D for most of the printing but the included software is good and does what it needs. And I love that they included some samples on the micro SD card so you can start printing right away.
This is not near as noisy, and doesn't vibrate nearly as bad as I had read (typical of most 3D printers). Pleasantly surprised at that.
Overall first impressions have been very positive!