Over the last couple of years I've discovered a new number 1!

This has to be my Asus Eee Netbook.

At £160 it was not prohibitively expensive and has a multitude of uses:

Writing the diary
Back up storage for photos
Email contact
Music (mines a bit slow for smooth video)
Etc etc

But its most obvious and useful benefit is its access to the web (its pretty easy to get wireless in a lot of places now). I've used it on two trips now where its been invaluable. You can pre book accomodation before you get there, check reviews of that accom, check weather forecasts, ski reports (did a 'trans-alpine' trip from slovenia to France last year - just followed the snow reports, prebooking hotels the night before - utterly brilliant hassle free trip and we got amazing skiing - largely because of the netbook). It allows you to pre-plan your trip and avoid all the hassles of searching for accomodation etc.

The down-side is that you lose the feeling of the unkown - its sometimes quite nice not to know where you are sleeping that night - and I wouldn't take it on all my trips. Some I'd rather just head off and see what happens. But for a skiing trip (where conditions are critical) or a holiday where you just want to relax, see the best stuff, stay and eat in the best places etc. the netbook is one of the best pieces of kit I've ever bought - and its so light you barely notice you are carrying it.

Matt

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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!