I highly recommend taking a class at Boersma's. They have a class that is perfect for someone interested in buying a longarm and wondering what is involved with loading, threading, adjusting the tension, actually quilting something, checking out the different sizes of machines and all the features, etc. Capri is very patient, encouraging, and the best part is nobody will pressure you into buying anything!
Having this information is well worth the cost of the class and your travel time, believe me.