OK, it's 3.30am I'm wide awake and sitting at the computer. WHY! don't ask me I am definitely not in charge of my brain, if I was, I'd be fast asleep.

I guess it must be excitement, but if so I'm stuffed still three weeks to go so I'll be really buggered by the time I get on that plane at Sydney. I am looking forward to getting my new computer, I have just bought a Netbook, yes one of those tiny little computers, deliberately underpowered and small.

Ironically it was the announcement of the iPad that prompted it. The iPad looks like a great toy and while fun there are heaps of restrictions, such as max disk space of 64GB, no physical keyboard and apple's obsession with controlling what programs/functions you can and cant use. Then the kicker no webcam.

So back to my new computer which will hopefully arrive early next week.

10.1 inch screen same as or slightly bigger than iPad

full keyboard

wifi b/g/n

bluetooth including the ability I believe to stream A2DP

160 GB HDD upgradeable to 1TB

1GB Ram upgradeable to 2 GB

It will play any movies I want

Has built in card reader

3 USB ports for any extra bits (No USB ports on the iPad)

Back up digital photos straight to the laptop

it will be much easier to do this blog and add photos than using my iPhone

Only $400, 16GB iPad is USD$500, no brainer really

9.5hrs battery life

So I'll be able to skype my family and see them face to face from the other side of the world. I can skype from my iphone but not picture. The iPad would make a great skype machine if it had the webcam.

Still love the iPhone and will pack it everywhere I go but now can afford to chuck in my netbook at all of 1.45kg, I wont notice it's size or weight when traveling.

So what is the machine it is a Asus EEE PC 1000HE Netbook from oo.com.au I can't wait to get it.