Steve B wrote:

I'm taking so much flak on this, take a look at these pics and just
tell me what you think.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/deserttraveler/

It looks like industrial construction. Not what I'd want attached to my
house. But if that's what you need to do if you live in a desert...

If there's a poured concrete pad under this patio, then I would think
you could have just as well put in an anchor plate with bolts under the
pad before the pour, and connect your posts to the bolts. Throw in some
rebar around / over the anchor plate just to give the concrete more
strength in that area.