I agree that the machine having a USB capability is a must. If it is coming from a QS and includes lessons I would prefer it to a online shop. I have two stand alone embroidery machines. The first is a Bernina Deco 650. It uses the PES format and the little embrodidery cards. It is at least 20 years old. I purchased it new and over the years bought it every present I could. Additional hoops, an extension table and designs galore. I purchased the Brother PE780D last year as it also uses the PES format and accepts the design cards I have. It also has the USB port. Years ago I purchased the Magic Box so that I could transfer designs from CDs or my computer to the blank design card that fits the Bernina. Alas when I had to get a new desktop computer there was no place to plug my Magic Box into. Since I have invested in more than two thousand dollars worth of designs and now had no way to convert them for use in my machine. I took the less expesive way out and purchased a the Brother embroidery machine which not only allows me to use my little embroidery cards but accepts the USB stick. It also has a bigger hoop capacity. Ironically it cost about a third what I paid for my original machine. Unfortuneatley because of everything being set up in reverse from my original machine I can not use the same hoops or the slide on extension table I purchased for the first machine. While I may go months without using either machine I have more than gotten my money's worth out of both of them.