Cricut Create...?

I am going to order my Cricut Create from Amazon this weekend. They have it for $149, which is about $80 cheaper than retail. Gotta love that, right?

My questions-

Do I need to order anything else to go with it, like cutting mats, or will it be fully operational as is?

With the SCAL (??) software, will I need to have it hooked up to the computer when I want to design from the computer, or is there a way to transfer images/words/etc to the machine in my craft room?

What are your favorite resources for vinyl?

Educate me, before I order!