Testing the waters

Can I have you as my hubby? Mine is flat out remembering my birthday let alone getting me something. And as for being called "Awesome" WOW wanna come here to Aussieland and teach mine how to say nice things?

By the way have you looked at the Janome machines? WW

Hi. The difference between the PE-150 and the PE-400 is that the 150 is only an embroidery machine, whereas the PE-400 is a full feature sewing and embroidery machine. I myself have the PE-400 and the embroidery aspects are great, however as a sewing machine it's kind of noisy, clunky and doesn't sew as beautifully as lots of other machines. If your wife already has an ordinary sewing machine that she is happy with and just needs an embroidery machine, then it is worth saving the money and getting a PE-150. Alternatively, if she requires a combination sewing/embroidery machine, I would go with a Baby Lock or a Bernina, if they are in your price range.

By the way, I got my PE-400 off eBay for $500.00 US. It was formerly a store demo and I've had no problems with it at all. You can find a lot of good deals on embroidery machines secondhand. I have PE-Basic as well and it suits me fine, however it doesn't take long once you get into embroidery to hunger for digitizing software. Perhaps you might want to look into getting PE Design instead? With Version 5 out on the market now, you can find good deals on version 4.

Hope all my rattling on helps!

What about HER choice? There are significant differences between brands

- both for embroidery and general sewing. She may have some major requirements/wishes/reasons that you're not aware of.

Unless your wife has expressed a particular interest in this brand, I wouldn't just surprise her unless the dealer has a 100% RETURN (NOT CREDIT OR EXCHANGE) policy! You could present her with a miniature (toy or model) machine with a note saying that you will be taking her on Tuesday for her to pick out the full-scale working machine she likes.

We went through much the same recently, and ended up with a BabyLock equivalent. The BabyLock line is IDENTICAL to the Brother, at lower cost. None of the BabyLocks include Disney designs, which, as you've found, adds substantially to the price.

A morning's comparison isn't likely to show up whatever other differences exist - and I'm sure they do!

Current version is 5.5 Other software can also be used, such as Embird - significantly less $ and more capability.

Some other brands or models don't use those proprietary cards. Some use

3.5" floppies, some have a PC-slot that can use generic compact flash cards.

- Herb

Model for model, the Babylocks are the lower cost (that's why we bought one!) And, at least at the upper end, they are so identical that even the software updates can be used with either.

You of course have to compare equivalent models - you can't compare a $2000 A with a $500 B -- we found the sounds identical for the equivalent models (both a lot noiser than other brands, but other factors than the noise sold us)

- Herb

Sugarcookie wrote: