I would do a bit of research and see when there will be a large quilt show in your area, with several long/mid arm vendors attending. They will have demo units set up for you to try. Even if you have to make an overnight trip to attend, it will be well worth your time and money to see the different options available. The next best thing is to research where the local dealers are and try the units out at their sites. Again, even if it's a road trip it's worthwhile. Nothing beats a hands-on demo. Even a mid arm is a big ticket item, so do as much research as you can!