Starting to look intently at the iRobot Create

I am starting to look at the iRobot Create for the basic platform to use for the robot.  I have also been looking at other sites dealing with robot operating systems and it would seem that the Create, along with a camera, and an arm would be a good first attempt at getting ready for whatever may happen in January for the KIPR Open.  We will not know what the problem space is until January or February of 2011.  That is about the same time that the BotBall challenge will be released for the students to work on.  Until then, I should probably get an iRobot Create and get familiar with programming it, via the Chumby.