Computerised, first machine
Which computerised machine earns the step up from mechanical?
Both are computerised machines aimed at someone leaving a basic mechanical behind. They are close on paper. The practical differences are in how each handles buttonholes, how the needle-stop behaves, and one point that catches European buyers out: availability differs sharply by country.
| Compared on | Innov-is A16 | 230DC |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Computerised | Computerised |
| Needle up/down control | Yes | Yes |
| Buttonhole | One-step, button-measured | One-step, button-measured |
| Bobbin | Drop-in, clear cover | Drop-in, clear cover |
| Availability in FR/ES | Sold across the EU | Not listed on amazon.fr or .es |
| Service network | Very wide | Wide, uneven by country |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these machines answer different questions.
Buy the Brother if you want the safe answer. It is available and serviceable across the whole of Europe, which matters more than any single specification when the machine needs a part in four years.
Buy the Janome if you are in a country where it is properly distributed and you have a local dealer. It is a genuinely good machine — but we measured its listing as absent from the French and Spanish catalogues, and a machine you cannot get parts for locally is a false economy.
For buttonholes and needle positioning, yes. A one-step buttonhole that measures your button removes the single most error-prone operation in garment sewing. The three hundred decorative stitches are not the reason to upgrade.
Janome distributes through different importers in different countries, and the 230DC is not part of the French or Spanish Amazon catalogue. We checked this rather than assumed it. If you are in those countries, the practical choice is between models that are actually stocked.
Computerised · LCD · Europe-wide
Brother's computerised beginner machine, available under one reference across the whole of Europe including the UK. Absent from the US catalogue.
Best for: A first machine in Europe, bought without worrying about which country you are in
≈ 450 €
Computerised · DE, IT, GB only
Janome's computerised mid-range machine, and the first of three Janome models we found absent from the French and Spanish catalogues.
Best for: German, Italian and British readers who want a Janome computerised machine
≈ £350 / 430 €
