Get a cheap 30k Vostro. Skip the netbook. Woefully underpowered for regular MBA use.
@party: All the above points aside, I HAVE seen the Mini. Looks arent everything here. Its got a small battery for one. + the performance of a netbook with a heavy office apps + browsing load pretty much kills it.
Not to mention my college will install their own copy of OS and required Apps on the Unit, so Windows 7 is out.