Personally I'd agree with Roamingyak.com - if you want a compact, fully functioning laptop to run all the major/popular software such as photoshop (remember photoshop was developed for Mac architecture in the first place x) - go for an Apple Macbook - and if you're worried about damaging the hard-drive in transit, the Macbook Air has a solid state drive, although admittedly pretty expensive...

You can get Mac versions of all popular PC programmes (Word/Excel etc), and Macs will open pretty much any file created on another system anyway. Their own browser and mail programs work faultlessly, and you can always use Firefox if you want. WiFi hook up is painless too...

For running PC specific programs like Garmin Mapsource, you can always install VMWare Fusion (or similar, although VM is considered the best) on your Macbook and run Windows in parallel - and that's proper parallel too not either/or - the Windows 'window' opens on the desktop and you don't have to partition off the hard drive etc - it's just like another application to run your PC specific programs.

That said, I've not found the need to take any laptop on the road (but that's mainly because I ride a motorbike when traveling) - in a four-wheeled vehicle I can certainly see the benefits of being able to log on for email/internet, update a website, do various 'work' tasks etc.

Don't get me wrong, I like the concept of the eeepc machines, but as others have said, you'd soon get tired of trying to do any real work on a small screen, and to get a larger screen you're talking about a lot more money... I considered an eeepc running windows XP for my latest trip (primarily for mapsource and wifi browsing), but dismissed it as ultimately a liability...

xxx

ps. without sounding like the old mac vs. pc debate, WillCalderwood is concerned about lack of support on the road for a Mac and theft...

Personally I've found (and it is common knowledge) that a Mac needs far less (if any) 'support' - as the programs all work far more reliably together than they do on a PC/Windows based system, and the machines themselves are far better put together physically than all but the most high-end PC laptops. If you really needed to contact Apple etc, the internet (or the quaint old telephone) makes the world a small place these days...

As for theft - I don't think an opportunistic thief is really concerned about which brand it is - they'll steal anything if they can sell it - best keep it out of sight and locked up regardless?

Hope that helps...

If you want to try linux, go to Distrowatch.com and download Mepis or Antix (mepis for old pc's). Ubuntu is changed considerably when a new version comes out and a reinstall may be neccessary. Mepis is solid, dependable, reliable and easier to use. If you use XP then Mepis is a doddle.
Download and burn to a cd (iso file) and change your bios to boot for cd-rom and you can try it without installing or affecting your hard drive.
I've been using it since 2004 and whilst I have windows available (dual boot system) its not been used for over 2 years, and the Mepislovers forum is one of the friendliest helpful forums around.

Have a Happy New Year.

Regards, Richard.

loads of info after i'd already splashed out! ta muchly

hooli, do you mean plugged into the mains? what voltage does it run off?

currently pootling north thru the uk and even here internet connection isn't that reliable!

i need a lightsupwhenunsecurednetworkavailable light thingy

yes normally mains voltages. i was thinking if you run the UPS off you inverter it'll be happy as its just a battery charger. the output from the UPS is from the battery with surge & spike protection etc so as far as im aware it'll clean up dirty input currents to make them safe for the PC.
probably worth looking into it more though as i'm not sure it'd work.