I have both and the black one is a better quality machine. I think people like the white ones because they are harder to find as Singer did not make them for very long. They were definately cutting corners to reduce the cost of their production by then and they have no metal face plate and a plastic stitch regulator lever. There are no accessory trays (extra feet are in a green/pink cardboard box) and my case is a dark gray vinyl (think old suitcase). I find my black one stitches faster than the white one.