I would like to purchase a netbook in the next few weeks. I don't mind running XP on it for awhile but would want to upgrade to 7 when it launches or sometime soon. Given that, is there a list of netbooks that would be better candidates for me?

Currently in the market, there's a range of netbook out there which is pre install with xp or linux. And it comes in the form of SSD or HD. You could find brand and model like Dell mini 10 or 12, Acer aspire one, Hp Mini 1000 series, Asus eeepc 1000H, 1002A, 1005HA, Msi wind U100, U123 U200, Lenovo S10, S10-2, S12So far the feed back for asus eeepc 1000 and Lenovo S10 rangehas been positive but then it still boil down to individual need and requirementAs for upgrading to win 7, you could alway choose to install win 7 starter edition which is specially design for netbook aka umpc