Thanks to all of you for some very helpful replies. I really think best to buy and setup in the states and then bring or ship here. All that being said, the wife is tired of me leaving her with nothing and we do have internet now in house, that is a whole 'nuther story

. I might bite the bullet and buy higher priced HP system with all factory (I hope) installed Win7 and HP software, some of which will immediately be deleted. About the same price by the time I paid for shipping, this trip stateside is last one and I don't want luggage full of computer when I come back in may.
Thanks again