Thanks for all the replies and advice.

I looked at two lap top options, both from Sony Vaio, the new small 4.5" UX series and the 11.1" TZ series.
I think I'll go for the 11" Vaio, as it has everything in a compact (sort of) package with DVD burner, wireless, 11hr battery life etc etc.
The 4.5" is very cute, but the screen a bit small for a $2000 piece of equipment, it also lacks a DVD drive, so you will have to carry with it an external drive and at the end of the day the complete package is the same as the 11", in size and price.

I will be spending 4-5 months in USA, Canada and Mexico, and heard from various people that internet access without your own device is a hassle. I will also set up the Microsoft Outlook on my laptop to send and recieve e-mails in a matter of minutes rather than spending hours at a internet cafe. On the long run, I will save a little bit of money this way too.
It is not that I need it, it is that I would like to have it, especially to manage my photos and movie-clips. I also did budget for it, so I might as well go all the way. Hopefully it will last the entire journey and beyond. I have home made Ally paniers on the GS and will slide the slimm Vaio in the side pannier inside the Sony poach.

I will be buying it here in Dubai, where I am currently staying untill May this year.

Mike S, I enjoyed your trip report and photos, thanks for sharing them on the web.

I will keep you informed. I will also looking at getting a battery charger for it from my 12V socket on the GS, instead of the supplied 220V. I know USA uses 110V, what does the rest of North and South America use?

Johan

See our first leg (Africa) of our RTW default . . . . . . . Soon on the road again for leg nr 2!