My Janome Platinum has been a real workhorse. I have four Janomes and bought my granddaughter one for Christmas--so you can tell i'm a big fan! I take my Platinum with me everywhere, especially to my bee friends' homes. it has lots of neat stitches and an easy buttonhole, but, more important, some good features (like needle-down) that the Jem doesn't. I've had mine a few years so maybe you can find a good used one. (I keep the Jem for occasions when a bee member at my house needs to borrow one for whatever reason. It is really good small machine.)