Here is an update on my new home PC (aka "Zion") that I custom made and ordered via NewEgg. 

I had some challenges getting Windows XP installed because I decided incorrectly that SATA drives (HD and CDROM/DVD) are supported completely in the BIOS and in Windows install.  They aren’t … booting and configuring the system really required access to an IDE CDROM and a floppy drive (which I didn’t even bother to purchase).

Anyway … the system is up and running now fine.

I am trying not to install any significant commercial software on the unit, only freeware and maybe some select key shareware. So far, my only purchases for it were Windows XP Pro, and Nero (for burning DVDs and other multimedia stuff).  I would have had to also purchase a copy of an anti-virus solution I think, but my work has a site license that covers home users, so I didn’t have to spend anything additional for that.

I have installed OpenOffice.org and so far I am pretty happy with it.  And I am using Firefox to do email with Gmail.