[mousepod]

Sorry to chime in so late (the move and all). Heather's advice on the subject:

A well-made new machine will cost more than your new computer. It's true that the less expensive models today are mostly made of plastic, have cheap wiring and aren't made to last. If you have one of the older Singers, chances are it wasn't made in China and it's absolutely worth getting the "tune-up". I still have my great-grandmother's Singer and it still works (yes, I also have a Husqvarna - but those are major commitments price-wise).