By the time T:V comes out...

Will I be able to buy a computer that will run it nicely for around 500 bucks? (minus the monitor)

yes

You can get a machine that will run it now at the price I'm sure.

Might not be able to get latest and greatest vid card, but I'm positive their projected "nice running smoothly" specs are far under God computers.

the upgrades i was looking at (just about everything new except for monitor and HD) to run it were costing me about 600$ canadian NOW, by the time it comes out that will have dropped (or spend the same and get nicer computer)

I got a raidmax case, an antec true gold 480w psu, athlon xp 3200, kingston hyperx dual channel kit 2x512ddr 433mhz, saphire radeon 9600xt 128mb ddr, maxtor 40 gig HD, one mouse, one keyboard for about 800 US and thats + shipping, handling and outside taxes and shazbot. I think you'll be fine :D