My Husband got me a Brother PE 150 and told me if I use it I could get a better one Then I got a Card and Reader/Writer and started scoping out free designs on the internet There were no classes close by and I couldn,t afford $50. that a most of them wanted for 1 class so Everything I have learned was on the Internet Embird is a awesome program for beginners If yours has the usb I would use it for now for transfering designs and play after 2yrs He got me the 2003D ULT Brother with a 9X10 hoop for mothersday then last year for our anniversary he bought me a Janome 11000SE this art is addictive