I think you nailed it Tracy.
However, the spiraling absurdity of all this transcends the preposterous.
I'm supposed to spend $550.oo on a computer, so I can download some "free" software? Bear in mind, that's "free" as in "free speech", not "free" as in "a free hamburger".
I can save over 27% and get a more powerful computer, like this.

http://www.walmart.com/ip...m-Carrying-Case/13341716

I realize Windows gobbles up some of the overhead. But I suspect there'll still be more spare HDD space with the less expensive machine.
And since the primary, and nearly exclusive purpose of this machine will be to do broadband downloads at hot spots, more spare HDD space is a sensible consideration.
I haven't decided yet. But I suspect this Toshiba may be about the best deal for what I'm looking for.
That doesn't man I won't eventually leap to Linux. But that leap should probably be for Desktop, not laptop.

Tracy,
At your option, I welcome a reply to the loading the HDD and shipping it to me. Is that possible?

"when the bigots of this world have been privileged for as long as they have, to them equality feels like discrimination." shiftless2