Thanks for the info P4man. 

Not too sure that I have a use for installing a client, but it might be worth it just to see what it's like.  It's still a very abstract thing in my mind right now.  Until I see what the client interface and "silk road" network look like all I can think of is a web browser on the internet.  I get that the internet is what's used and different clients can have different looks to them (I assume so anyway), but I wonder things like... is there a way to search for stuff and can you link in and out of normal network sites...?