My MIL was kind enough to let me borrow her Babylock Ellageo for a few months. I fell in love with with M/E and then found an upgraded Janome 10000 at my Janome dealer with LOTS of extras for $1500. The problem is, the Babylock was so easy. My MIL taught me how to use it in about 15 minutes. I'm really struggling with the Janome. The shop offers lessons, but the gal who gave all the lessons quit, and now the new gal is learning as I learn. Really frustrating. She ordered a CF card and reader from Janome for me, but the card doesn't work. I can download designs, but then need to transfer them to the machine's hard-drive in order to stitch them. It's a little cumbersome, and I find myself not using it because of the trouble.
I also have the giga hoop, but haven't figured out how to use it. I've read on some forums that it's almost impossible to get a design lined up well using a split design.- not that I know how to split a design- anyway.
One thing I really do love about the Janome is that it stitches out designs just beautifully. The few designs I have done are so much fuller and more substantial than any design from the Babylock. I have 1 year to trade up at my Janome dealer, but really don't want to put more money into an embroidery machine at this time. I'd rather invest in embroidery thread.