hi, I'm new to this. I purchased a husqvarna viking, emerald edition almost a year ago & I love it. it has the needle up/down, a thread cutter & many other features. it does not have a 1/4 inch foot or marking for it which is the only thing i really don't like.
i think one of the main advantages to this machine is ,they offer a trade-in within one year of purchase with the full price you payed for it going toward an upgrade. this is based on the retail value of the up-grade. you can find these dealers located in some joann fabric shops. hope this helps to give you another idea