1. Small Size. My previous computer was a 17" Dell Latitude 9200. I carried that to and from work every day for 2 and a half years. I did get used to the bulk of it, but I always knew that when the time came to buy a new one, it would be much smaller. Now, 12" is where it's at!
2. Price. When I bought my last laptop, I spent something like $2200. While the value was really good (it's still a great machine and I have had no problems with it), I wanted to spend a bit less this time around. My method for establishing my budget was simple: whatever I received as an income tax refund would be my limit. This year I got around $1475, so that was the cap. I ended up getting this machine for $1280- even better!
3. Vista. Believe it or not, I was ready to move to Vista. Here's my thinking on this- in a couple of years, Vista is going to be the standard, so I should just get on board now. I didn't want to buy an XP machine and then have to buy Vista separately later on. So, I needed a computer that had the hardware to run Vista well, which was remarkably hard to find! (Shame on you, Dell, Lenovo, etc. for selling machines with Vista and lame graphics cards that everyone knows won't handle the Aero interface!) I might have to write up another small review of Vista itself, but for now, I would definitely say that is is a good improvement to XP in many ways.
   

Everything else to me was a bonus- the tablet functionality, Windows Media Center and remote, built in webcam and microphone, two headphone jacks- it's all great! My only complaint is that the smaller model machines should have DVI output standard. I am amazed that only the larger models have it. It's the small guys that you want to attach to an external monitor! For now, VGA will have to do.

So far, I am really enjoying this machine and would recommend it to anyone looking for a small, powerful, Vista-running, gleam-machine!