My mum and I went halves in a Bernina for my birthday a couple of years ago, haven't had time to use it for a while so should probably drag it out soon! But I love it. Mum wouldn't get anything other than a Bernina, she had terrible trouble with a Janome machine. We got it on sale, I think it was a mother's day sale they had, for $1200, it's nothing too flashy, but it works and is so easy to use, also has a heap of stitch patterns. When you go looking for a machine, the store should have some set up as demo models so give them a whirl and see what you think.