Asus has been struggling to keep up with demand for the Eee PC ultramobile, which costs just £199 (2GB model) or £219 (4GB). Your reporter ordered one in early December from Go Education, which it turns out is run by industry old hand Kirit Shah, formerly head of North London system builder Dotlink.

He ordered 3000 of the machines in November and had to turn away business because they did not arrive soon enough for Christmas. He reckons the Eee PC is going to be very big in the education market.

PC World is taking orders but, according to its site, there are none left at any of its London stores.

Meanwhile Datawind claims its £179.99 Pocketsurfer handheld sold out in its e-tail channels over Christmas. The device comes with 20 free hours a month of accelerated 2g mobile access. It is pocketable, but my money's with the Eee PC, which is more of a working platform. Kirit reckons a 3g dongle will be available for it this year.