I am looking to buy a new machine soon and have been looking at the Brother Laura Ashley NX-2000 and also the Bernina Aurora 440QE. Of course, the Bernina is quite a bit more money but I am wondering if anyone has either of these machines and what you can tell me about them - good and bad.

I just did a search and came up with this: http://www.quiltingboard.com/search....ina+440&u=&s=0

I have a Brother PC-420 and just LOVE it, in fact ordered another one today from Amazon....don't know anything about Bernina

I was very seriously looking at the Brother NX 2000! It is a wonderful quilting machine, and I LOVE Brother. I have the Brother 900D and have just purchased the 4000D instead of the NX2000 ONLY because I found the 4000D which also has the embroidery used for less than the new NX 2000.
I would definitely go for the NX 2000...sooo easy to use!

I think the question is WHAT you are looking for in a machine? Are you looking to sew, embroider, etc.? Are you going to FMQ with this machine?

Every machine has good points and bad. I would test drive as many as possible and don't feel you have to buy a machine in one day. Is this a good dealer? Are there new owner classes (these can be a goldmine of information and help with your machine)? What is the warranty like? Where are repairs done? These can be really important and make me really think.

I specifically chose my machine for reasons other than quilting but it is the perfect "piecer". I refuse to buy any machine that requires me to attach a "walking foot" or buy the top of the line machine for that brand. If that brand makes machines with built in walking feet, why in the world would that feature only be available on the top of the line machine? I also think the throat space is important especially for FMQ but sewing other things as well. You might want to figure out the cost of accessory feet (and what is available).

Choosing a machine is complicated but so much fun. I wish you well.

Are you in a situation where you can "test drive" both machines? That may be all it takes for you to make up your mind. The first time I sat at a Bernina and sewed it was like driving a luxery car after years in an old rickeity jalopy. My Bernina is an older model but I know what my next machine will be. I am now totally brand loyal to Bernina.

Yes, I can try them both and did try the Bernina (and loved it) I especially liked the way the stitch regulator worked as I want to do FMQ but haven't. However, they also showed me that FMQ on the Brother wasn't that difficult - just takes more practice to learn.

I find that with the Brother (and I don't know if the Bernina has this feature) the start stop button is what makes FMQ so easy. I cannot FMQ with a foot pedal, I find it very hard to keep bothhands and throttle going the same speed. With my Brother, I set the speed, press start and just follow the speed with my hands.

I have the Brother NX-2000 and absolutely love it!! I also have a Janome 6600P (love it too). I had one of the first Janome Horizons for about 4 months. It had so many problems and caused great frustration. Most of the Horizons work fine, but many of the first ones were not OK. I did return the Horizon and got the Brother machine. It is night and day difference.

What I especially love about the Brother is being able to program it to leave the needle down, while raising the presser foot, when I take my foot off of the pedal. This is so helpful, as I do a lot of rounded corners on baby blankets. It cuts thread beautifully and is the easiest self-threading machine I have ever owned. The stitches are great, and it is quiet and solid. I have found the FMQ to be easy and even. I am actually glad that the Horizon was a lemon, because I never would have tried this machine.

I know that at my sewing machine store, all of the sales staff chose this machine (or the Brother 2800D which is the same machine, plus embroidery) for their own machines. I hope this helps. Good luck!

Ok, I have decided to buy the Brother NX2000 (Laura Ashley) machine - I went back to the store again today and tried both machines and asked lots more questions of the dealer (who is also the repair man) and one of the teachers who has this machine and decided that while I like the Bernina 440QE, I really don't have the extra $1000 it costs more than the Brother and that the Brother will do all (and more) than I want or need. I put down a deposit and plan to go back later this week and buy it.