Hi, I'm new to this board so hi from Montana!! I don't own a Janome but wanted to put my 2cents in! I bought a Brother (computer-type machine) and it was great until one night it was sewing normally and then it slowed down to tiny little stitches and then it resumed its normal stitch and then started to stitch backwards! I couldn't believe it-I called the company and of course they never heard of their machines doing any of this, but they told me it was a new model and maybe had a few bugs to work out.( I needed to hear that ) and so I returned it and got another one and so far so good. I have always had a Singer so I wasn't sure if I wanted to try a Brother but my friend had one and loved it, so I bought this one. I do really like it. I sews quietly and makes a really nice seam and when it stops the needle is in the up position! (doesn't take much to make me happy).