I have a Janome Magnolia 7318 which is mechanical and I love it. It was $250 when I bought it, and it's still doing a great job for me. I do everything on it - piecing, quilting, binding. It was the only sewing machine I've ever owned until recently when I bought a cheap computerized Singer to use downstairs while taking care of the baby and toddler, but I returned the first one because it randomly skipped stitches every 20 stitches or so, and jammed. Bought another, hoping the first was just a lemon, but on the second day of using it, it also randomly skips a stitch when I use the needle down function. Sad, because I'm learning that I really love the needle down!