You can machine quilt and get along just fine with an old-fashioned Singer 201 or 301. I did it for many years until a year ago I decided that it was time to get computerized. I "stepped up" to a Husqvarna Viking Lily that I found on Ebay for under $500. To me that was a good price for being computerized, and a lot of my friends had Vikings and I was somewhat familiar with them. They are very user friendly and I am thrilled with my Lily. I have really gotten into machine quilting with it. But I still jump on my 301 for quick straight stitching. I have my eye on now upgrading to the Husqvarna Sapphire. But I will never buy new. Too many deals out there in the used market for these pricey computerized machines. Just my 2 cents!