Yeah, they're about as big as a 12" iBook. Nice and tough, too. The keyboard is sealed (or something like that) so that even if you spill liquid on it, it won't ruin the internals.
I got mine as a complete set, which included the cables, an AC adapter, install CD(s), instruction manuals and the unit itself.
It's not as fast as the MessagePad 2000 or 2100, it's still got the same 20Mhz processor that the previous Newtons had. Once you get used to the keyboard though, it can be quite nice to type on, and I
think it comes with NewtWorks, which is a small Office program. If not, you can download it.
If you do decide to get an eMate,
CHECK THE DISPLAY HINGES!!!
Some eMate could develop serious problems with their display hinges. On some models, you'd open the lid, hear a snap, and pretty soon your display would die. This was caused the display cable being squeezed and sometimes cut by the clips inside the hinge. Repairing it can be a major headache, but there are some preventative measures you can take. Here is an excellent website with lots of information:
pda-soft.de
Hope that helps