Take the time and the money and go to a big show. There are classes and you can 'test drive' all the brands. This is like buying a car, and works best for me may not be what's best for you. Take note of the features. I will never buy a machine without a hydraulic lift - it saves my back!!
In addition to the computerized systems mentioned above, there is also the Compuquilter. Check them all out. Join all of the forums that are machine and or computer system specific. Some have more going on than others. Just because some forums are quiet is not necessarily a bad thing - they may be the ones with the least amount of trouble.