How exciting - you got a new machine. Doesn't that feel like birthday and christmas and all the other holidays wrapped into one?
Sorry I can't offer any help on the thread. I'd suggest that you try different threads and see what your machine likes. Mine are perfectly happy with the Coats and Clark STAR thread and the Essentials from Connecting threads. She also does well with Guetermann and YLI. A lot depends on how you set the thread in the uptake. If they are criss-crossed, they need to be stored horizontally. If they are wound evenly, they need to stand upright.
I just took a class last night and one of the gals had the same machine as I did and she broke 3 needles during class. So I would say that the needle is just as important as the thread - or better yet, the thread and the needle have to go together.
Enjoy and don't allow anyone to kill your joy.