Interesting.... I don't know where they are getting 500 GB drives. Could it be there are two in that case? Maybe they have a deal where they get them before general release. I don't know, but if it has to be 500 GB right now then I guess you will have to get that external.

To answer your other question, yes, the configuration is just as easy with a bare drive and external case that you put together yourself. (Well, maybe you'll have to format the drive.)