The new 299 EUR Linux (XP support will also come) laptop from Asus could be the surprise of the year. While everyone is talking about the iPhone and GPhone (the latter not any more), the Taiwanese have brought out a new category of laptops. They are targeting families and first time PC users etc., but I think it could be good as a second laptop for business travelers who are on a one or two day trip. It is always a bit annoying to carry around my laptop as it is still big and heavy for just using the Internet to check on e-mails and write some docs while waiting at the airport. Not to mention the stress that you expose your 2-4k USD laptop to on such trips. To buy a super expensive very small Sony Vaio or similar did not appeal to me either so far. So when I started to consider buying this thing for the kids this Xmas, I also had in the back of my mind to go for one as well for myself for business trips. Another advantage is that it starts up within just 30 seconds since it is Linux based. All the typically required applications are pre-installed as well.

An external hard-drive I think I might need with it, though actually a USB stick would most likely do as well if you are just carrying around some files. One thing that annoyed me just recently was the steep mobile phone invoices that my dear Orange Switzerland service provider has been sending me for a few months. Unwarily, I have been using my Nokia 9300 excessively for reading e-mails on trips around the world, which has now resulted in massively inflated invoices. If I force myself to only use WLAN with the Asus Eee, I bet I will amortize two of them in just one month. Laptop Magazine has given it a great review, most comprehensive and detailed - also positive - review I found in The Register; and many others were covering it as well. Battery life is with 4 hours a bit short maybe, but this might be fixed in a next product release. Bottom line comment from The Register: "Cheaper than an iPhone, less gorgeous but a darn sight more useful. But it's a shame about the battery life..."