Just as Apple launches its MacBook Air, I took delivery of what I feel is a better answer to the problems of lugging a computer around.

My £230-ish Asus eeePC is light and small, although not as outwardly sexy as Mr Jobs’ new child, costing around five times more.

There’s something really appealing to me about the eeePC’s mixture of yesterday’s innards, Open Source software and surprisingly high build quality. But, there’s something else that does it for me. You see, I am the proud owner of a Psion 7, bought in around 1999/2000.

I loved the P7, even with its very basic applications. But Windows 2000 Service Packs gradually killed its ability to sync with my desktop, so I reluctantly let it accumulate dust, I used to bemoan the fact that no-one had updated the P7 concept with better connectivity and software.

About a nanosecond after seeing the Asus, the penny dropped. Here it was! A real replacement for my beloved P7.

In the flesh, it’s even better than on paper. It’s a real sub-notebook at a fraction of the price of the small Sony VAIO and suchlike. The keyboard is really nice; the overall build is above average for a laptop. The screen, while small, is sharp and easy on the eye.

Earlier this week, I showed the eeePC to Paul Silver, my business partner, who feels much as I do. That the eeePC is a really exceptional piece of kit. ‘The ideal blogger’s machine’, was his thought. It’s something you can sling in your bag and always have something to write on.

It’s a real PC, with real software. Yes, Firefox, Thunderbird and Open Office. What else do I need when I’m on the move – or sitting in front of the TV, as I am now?