Hi:
I"m new, but wanted to add that Kenmore is made by the same company that makes Janome, as is the New Home brand. In fact, some of the parts - like feet and bobbins - are interchangeable between the machines. I have a Janome for quilting and other special projects but my Kenmore, bought for far less money, is a workhorse and I can do things on it I cannot do on the Janome comfortably, such as sewing on denim and corduroy and other heavy fabrics. I paid about $350 for my Kenmore and another $170 for the cabinet, which they delivered to my home address; I got my Janome QC4800 from a lady who bought it and then decided she didn't want to take the time to learn all about it - she paid $1400, and I got it for $700. While there are features on the Janome I really like, such as the needle up/needle down button and the locking stitch button, the Kenmore does a basic interlock stitch better than the Jaonme does, and, like I said, it handles heavier fabrics much more graciously.
Thanks, Trisha in MO