My goal here was to create a high accuracy 3D product Visualization.
Yah, Cycles isn't built into the official Blender package, but it will be in the 2.6 series. I think. So you have to get a build from graphicall.org that has it built in. Cycles is a new renderer that is a lot more powerful than the present blender renderer.
Jeff, you need to use a Cycles build check out graphicall.org to get the latest build. Let me know if you still have trouble.