Janome is much less expensive, and they come in different price ranges. The machine dealer near me sells some wonderful used machines which are all refurbished and in great shape for as low as $50.00. She sells used Janomes and wonderful prices. Check your local quilt stores that sell machines, or better yet check the machine dealers that repair and resell good machines. You could get an older machine that was once sold at the cost of a thousand dollars or more and only pay a fraction of that.