Just take a road trip and go try all the ones you might be interested in. Study them online first...and,if you have a trusty service guy/woman in the area...ask them questions! I did and from that and word of mouth, that is how I tried the Janome. The prob w/so many machines from what I understand, is there are so many plastic parts where there wasn't years before. I have to admit, my old brother could have melted to the ground w/a candle:))LOL Just like our vacuums...so, check them out and defin. check them out inside. I have many friends that all have the Janomes...which tweeked my interest at the time. So, started out w/a very generic one from Hancocks...which I still like but so love my Janome 6600...it does many tricks and smooth as butter. Now if I can figure out how to make it make my coffee!!:))Just my 2 threads worth...Skeat