If you are new to sewing, I'd consider the dealer just as much as the brand. Does the same dealer sell both brands? Does the dealer offer classes? What kind of sewing do you want to do? (Garments, quilting, embroidery, home dec, other?) Do you have specific projects in mind that you want to complete?

While the convenience of automatic threading is attractive, sooner or later you will need to know how to thread. When you have problems, threading is the first thing you check. (Kind of like being able to drive only an automatic).

Are both machines sewing/embroidery machines? I don't own either, so can't offer an opinion, but both have good reputations