What are these machines like?

Hi All,

I consulted you - oh it must have been about 18 months ago - about what
type of machine I wanted and you gave helpful advicw. Well, a lot of water
has flown under the bridge since then but I'm now in a position to buy a
machine. Unfortunately the machine shops in my area seem to have got
smaller - no second hand machines and only a small selection of Brother
and
Singer available.

What I'm after is one which will do the following:
Straight sewing on a wide range of fabrics - nets to heavy curtains and
denim.
Blind hems
Hem trouser legs - I always have to shorten trousers.
Fit zips
Sew elastic or stretchy fabric.

I don't see myself as being creative so unlikely to use embroidery.
So I put this list to the shops and they came up with the following:

Brother XL2230 at £80
Brother XL5030 at £145
Brother XL 5012 at £99.99
and, at the Singer shop
Singer 9860 at £185

I'd be grateful for your opinions. Will they do what I want and be
reliable?

Thanks
Jane

-- 

Jane Gillett    :    j.gillett@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
    :    Totnes, Devon.