I'm thinking about upgrading from my old Singer mechanical machine that's been solid for basic repairs and alterations. I keep seeing ads for these fancy computerized models with all the built-in stitches and automatic needle threading. Are they actually worth the extra money or is it just marketing hype? What's the real difference in day-to-day use?
The real question is what you actually sew, because that matters way more than the machine type. If you're just doing repairs and hemming like you've been doing, a computerized machine won't meaningfully improve your life - it's genuinely overkill and you'll be paying hundreds extra for features you won't use. The mechanical Singer you have does what it does well, and there's something to be said for simplicity and reliability.
That said, computerized machines do have some genuine practical advantages if you get into anything beyond basic mending. Automatic needle threading saves your eyes and sanity (especially as eyesight changes), and having 100+ stitch options built in means you're not limited to whatever your current machine offers. They're also usually more forgiving with tension settings since the machine handles some of that automatically. The downside is they're more expensive to fix when something breaks, they need power, and honestly some people find all the buttons intimidating rather than helpful.
If you're genuinely happy with what your current machine does, keep it. Upgrade only when you hit a wall - like if you want to try quilting or decorative work that needs stitches you don't have. But if you've been eyeing specific projects you can't do now, or you just want less fiddling with tension, then yeah, a computerized machine might make sense. Look at mid-range models though, not the absolute fanciest ones. You don't need an embroidery function if you're not embroidering.
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