My laptop is a standard 15″ and around 6 pounds – too awkward to easily carry around all the time. I love the mobility at home and prefer it to a desktop, but for travel it is NOT the solution. Nor is my smartphone, the screen is just too small for anything other than some basic net surfing. I love it for checking my email and Twitter, but can’t actually get work done on it!
So a netbook seems the perfect compromise – small, lightweight and easily portable, but a reasonable sized screen and true keyboard. I want an AcerOne or the MSI wind personally! And just to be clear, it must be cheap for a back-up/travel option, so things like macbook air and other high end lightweight computers aren’t in the running.

I have always been an advocate of having two systems, a main PC and a side, portable one for travel. For me, I’ve always liked using a desktop due to the extra screen space and proper keyboard/mouse and for gaming, and thus the AAO made for a great and practical second computer for when I’m traveling/flying. Having a “main” laptop and netbook for travel is really just an extension of this.

As a side note, I’ve written a review of the AAO that you may be interested in checking out.

I use it as my daily PC – the major caveat (the screen and keyboard size) are easily rectified at my desktop and its perfect for demo’s on the go. Its the best -traveler PC iIve ever had. I’d recommend it (but would recommend the 6 cell if pressed.)

er… holy Deja Vu!!

If the ‘really small/thin but still fully functional’ didn’t really catch on before Smart Phones really took off, it’s hard to see it doing so now.

That said I see two ‘uses’ for this kind of platform…
1. For mobile work forces who require a screen larger than a smart phone’s … for whatever reason.
2. As a ‘ruggedized’ field pc. If it’s starting out small and light it will be ‘normal’ in size/weight if ruggedized.