Update...
OK firstly - Impressed with the delivery speed, ordered the Air I7 version with 256 gig SSD - & USB Ethernet, so pretty much top of the line, received it next day so first off - impressed, delivered in less than 24 hours.
Wife opened up the box, pretty easy to configure - pity no OS USB key, kids panicked when they tried to play some web games until I showed them they needed flash - this then re-ignited my problem with the ipad - my kids play flash games, not possible on ipad (well that's my understanding) so this pretty much rules out an ipad for them.
Computer itself wife adores has already played around with the iphoto app changing all the photo's on our server then uploading them to facebook. Also impressed that her purchases on the iphone automatically downloaded onto her laptop.
So over all so far a good experience, have installed imac office 2008. Now the kids fight over this laptop. Wife is now contemplating apple TV - should I be getting scared.