I think you have to be serious embroidery person for the 990 which is quite amazing and quite expensive. It also is very big and heavy. But you can pair with your Iphone and screen acts like an ipad is my understanding. I was watching some of the you tubes and it is amazing and has laser stuff too but definitely not for beginners or people who want to simple machine to stitch on. yes, there are machines that don't come with embroidery. Of my three recently bought Bernina's, only one has embroidery (590). The 215 and the 475 don't. I use the 475 for my piecing and I love it with the 5.5 feed dogs, it is very easy to get a 1/4 inch seam with no fussing. If you don't want a fancy machine, look at the lower lines of machines. The 475 has enough of the bells and whistles like a needle threader, needle up/down, thread cutter, large bobbin, and knee lifter as well as I can use the BSR while quilting although that doesn't come with it.