Like Onebyone, I don't have expensive machines, except for my Tiara II for quilting. I haven't had any problems with any of them except the screen on the first Tiara kept freezing up. It was under warranty and was quickly replaced and haven't had a problem since. I don't require the newest and greatest features so am happy with my Bernina 1260 (gifted by a friend of my mom's), Singer Quantum 9940 (purchased new), Brother Innovis 900D (purchased new), Babylock Ellure Plus (purchased used as it had a bigger hoop than my Brother), my Featherweight, my grandma's Singer treadle, and my Tiara II (purchased new). We don't buy expensive cars or appliances either. IMHO the more features, the more likely something will go wrong and cause an expensive fix.

Thanks, Jaiade! I'll try that.
GEM- thanks to you too! I'll try that as well.

When I bought my Janome 14000, I really thought bigger was better. Don't get me wrong this machine works wonderfully and has endless potential, but it is BIG. It has all those fantastic 9mm width fancy stitches that made me ooh and ahh like a schoolgirl. What I didn't realize is that "going big" has its downside, too. This machine tends to drag delicate fabrics down the 9mm width hole in the throat plate. I have to use paper leaders when I work with delicate fabric or knit to prevent utter chaos. I have an Embroidery throat plate with a smaller hole, but it won't work with side-to-side stitching. Would I buy this machine if I had it to do over again? Probably not. I do love the machine in many ways, but I am no longer in love with the "bigger is better" philosophy of sewing machine manufacturers.

I have all Berninas and I think they're great machines. The 820 purchased was so I had more throat space, which is really wonderful. I remember reading a review that said this is a sewing computer not a sewing machine. And that really is true. It really thinks it's the boss of me, like it won't let me thread the top thread unless the bobbin is inserted and the door is closed. And if I thread the top without using the automatic threader, the tension isn't engaged. But the little annoyances are worth the good tension and large throat space. There was a definite learning curve though.

I probably should have tried to lift my new machine before I bought it but I would have got it anyway. Good thing my husband will carry it up and down the stairs when I have to take it to class.

I believe the non-longarm machines are rebadged Janome or Babylock machines.

Well that is disheartening! Angela Walters uses that machine for piecing and FMQ on her videos and it looks like a well performing machine!

Looking at the specs, the 710 is a rebadged Janome 8200.

I wish I had known the dealer was going to close the shop. No dealer near. Limited, limited training and no repair service for this machine. Wish I had never purchased this machine.

My only complaint on my Janome 8200 is that it beeps after every little thing. It beeps after every auto thread cut, when scrolling through stitch selections, when the bobbin is running low, when I turn it on, when anything is wrong. Having said that, I am glad for the warnings of low bobbin and something gone wrong while stitching. But I do get annoyed with the beeping, and especially when I sew while the rest of the house is asleep. They've never complained, but I am sensitive. I don't think a beep is necessary after so many functions.

I would design a different sound for low bobbin: like a whistle. I would make it go ding-ding-ding when something was wrong that could cause a bigger problem. I would not have any beeps with thread cutting (you can be assured of the cut by hearing it and seeing it).

But those are very minor. I'd buy this machine in a heartbeat. Or should I say "heart-beep" (which my daughter liked to say when she was snuggled against my chest when she was three).