Hi Woody....you will know immediatly whether you have a MALE or FEMALE machine......As soon as you start using it and it purrs along quite happily...it is most likely to be a she....the real test will be if you want it to do something that it is unhappy with....if a message comes up asking you for instructions then it is definetly a FEMALE....if however it just goes on and gets threads knotted ....and doesn't stop to ask....it is certainly MALE !!!!...............I hope you really enjoy it.....big move to go from a Bernina to Janome.....but I think you will like the change. I have the 6600...and love it. Let us know when you get it.