Okay, so I'm kicking myself that I didn't go ahead and buy a netbook last summer whilst I was in the US - at $2/Ł1 it would have been a steal, instead I thought they would only come down in price so I waited until Christmas but by then the exchange rate was $1.4/Ł1....

I'm currently considering a Acer Aspire One 1GB RAM 120GB Hard drive 8.9" screen Linux for Ł210 delivered.

I'm also thinking about a US purchase of Acer Aspire One 1GB RAM 160GB Hard drive 10.1" screen XP for $349 delivered (~Ł240)

Obviously the for the extra Ł30 the new Acer seems a no-brainer, but the US keyboard will frustrate my fingers (especially the @), if there is a problem I'll have to ship it back to the states, and I'll need to get a UK power brick.

I'm not worried about:
Linux vs. XP - I'm happy to try Linux, and will install XP if it's a PITA
Location of track pad buttons - I'm an index clicker
8.9 vs 10.1 screen size.
Prolonged battery use
Watching movies in HD

I do want:
Portability - both at home and whilst travelling (8-10 times per year)
E-mail and Internet
Can handle .avi/.mov files (preferably connected to a 32" LCD)

I was hoping that the original acer's would drop in price when the 10" model was released, but in the UK they are priced at Ł349 ($500)

So what would you do?

1) The power brick is compatible with 220V. If the power cord (from brick to wall) is removable, you can get a UK version.

2) the keyboard can be configured (via Windows or whichever OS you use) to have the UK "footprint". The keys obviously won't have the UK characters but they will strike the right letters/characters.

For the rest... it's a personal choice.

Do verify that AVI/MOV can be played from that machine to a standard TV. I'm not sure that the resolution is appropriate for that. I'm sure someone will confirm or deny that.

HTSC

I'd be very surprised if the power brick were not compatible with worldwide voltages. People do tend to travel with these things after all.

And the keyboards aren't so different. " and @ are swapped. Shift-3 = # instead of Ł. The only problem is that there is no pound sign (Ł) on a US keyboard. If you can live without that (I copy-paste when absolutely necessary) then the US one will do you fine.

One last thing - check the warranties. You might find a European model has a longer one, maybe.

The pound is weak at the moment against the dollar, but the prices are still better in the US. A friend from the UK was just visiting we went to Microcenter together. He told me that the MSI (branded as the Advent in the UK) was about the same, but on the Asus was significantly cheaper in the US.

I'm pretty sure that the power brick is compatible. Just switch the cord at the end.

Of the two options you listed I'd pay the bit extra for the 160GB drive and the 6 cell battery. The 3 cell battery will be disappointing.