I have had my Bernette 20 for two years now. I mostly sew cottons and blends (quilt tops, pillowcases, simple garments... nothing slippery or very thick). I also have a fairly basic Janome machine that I've had for many years, and a Viking Emerald 118 given to me by my sister, so I will use those for comparison.If I understand correctly, the Bernette was designed by students... the idea was to innovate, and it's a good attempt. They did some things differently. Sometimes different is good, sometimes not. Where do I start? Hmm...First of all, I like the look of it. Yes, I may be shallow. LOL I just love the contemporary design... young, energetic, sophisticated. Makes me feel like a fashion designer! Now, for sewing: Compared to the Viking, the Bernette is quieter, and has a smoother feel to it while sewing. (The Viking sews ok, but feels clunky and I have trouble getting the stitch tension right). The light is better on the Bernette, too. The Bernette makes nicer, more even stitches and is easy to adjust. Sews like a dream, honestly. Love that part. Very similar to my Janome in the way it feels when sewing (which is a good thing). However, the Viking and Janome are easier to thread. I actually have to stand up to thread the Bernette, because you're threading it from above, basically. I can thread the Viking and Janome while sitting.I like how the lid flips up on the Bernette and you can see all the different stitches instantly. Very smart. Of the three machines, I would say the Bernette is my favorite, with the Janome a close second, and the Viking comes in third.For the kind of sewing I do, I have ended up usually keeping neutral thread in the Bernette so I can piece quilts and sew seams that don't show. Then I go to my Janome to do any top-stitching, because I need to change the color of the thread more when top-stitching. And as I said, threading the Bernette is not as easy as the other machines. Don't get me wrong, it's not terrible or anything, but it would be easier if I didn't have to stand to do it. That's all I can think of right now. Overall, I do like the machine a lot.