I played with one at the outdoor show a few months ago, and it seems pretty legit. My only concern would be about its durability (clumsy hands = broken toys), but I have not field tested it so I cannot say for sure.

here is the gear review that guy did on the stove:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nqOebP_zuI

here is the field test he did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSFNID_WzlI

That does look like a really good stove and I think the price is resonable for what you get.
As a backup I plan to pick up a Great Northern Camp Stove at Princess auto for $130.00 plus some pipe.
I can pack it with me and use it even if I had to set up a temp addition to the motorhome using cut down poles and tarps until I could get something more permanent built.
If I can go dirrectly to the BOL, it goes either on the same type of makeshift addition or in the teepee until the permanent shelter is built.
Also at Peavy Mart 12 X 20 insulated tarps sell for $70.00. I'll have four or five strapped to the roof of rolling house. A roll or two of Tuck tape and I'm out of the weather.

Thanks for the video links buggie. Honestly like this thing for the fact that is charges its own fan. if i needed to charge something else it is just a pure bonus. Saw a similar one a while back however you needed to use AA's to run the fan.

Quietman I might have to go check out these insulated tarps. We usually make shift a cooking shelter with tarps anyway but some extra heat retention instead of just rain protection could come in handy. Thanks for the lead.

gcmountainman & traveller recommended the jetboil stove for BOB I believe

Curious with the biolite. Does it have an internal battery that charges with the heat from the fire to operate the fan or is it like a direct drive... heat - power - fan?

JAB it doesn't need a battery it is a thermoelectric generator utilizing the Peltier effect.

Thanks for the info. Maybe it's my age and I'm getting crotchety but to me simple is best. The less a tool has happening the less there is to break. How well does the biolite work if the electric part ( fan) fails for some reason?

Sorry JAB I don't know as I do not have one. Do you mean how efficiently will it burn without the fan or will it produce electric current without the fan? I doubt that there would be much current without the fan because it depends on a temperature gradient to produce electricity.

it will run without the fan. Also there is an internal battery that will hold a charge. It can be charged through a usb charger just like a cellphone. However, it also charges itself while the copper element is exposed to a certain level of heat. To be practical, I would recommend charging the unit before hand if you can, just to save yourself the trouble.

However, if the battery is completley dead, simply start the fire, let it heat up, and it will charge itself. once the element is producing power, the fan will work on its own. The fan simply makes the fire starting easier, but without the fan it will function exactley the same. it would just take a little bit more tlc to get it going.

(PS: dont "redneck" it by covering your fuel with gasoline. Bad for business.)

If there is no fan for whatever reason... how efficiently will it work just as a stove? Or is it dependant on forced airflow. I hope that was clearer..LOL !!

the fan is there to protect the electronic elements from overheating, and to assist in the birth of the fire. however unless you plan on having a raging inferno, the vented firepot naturally directs the heat away from the electronics (which are protected by a heat shield).

Ok.... I did my due diligence. The biolite stove has an internal lithium battery which has to be conditioned at home by doing a first charge via a usb port. The term they use is "conditioning". The power generated by the thermocouple goes to run the fan, recharge the internal battery, THEN to charge external items. What is the lifespan of the rechargeable battery? Secondly the electronics of the unit are not waterproof.... water resistant yes.. waterproof no. The internal battery will have to be rechared after storage of 6 months or more. Warranty is 1 year so if the battery or fan fails after that you are on your own. Conclusion... A nice gimiky device that can certainly charge your ipod or iphone... would I stake my life on it..... NO. I personally would stick with a design that has been tried and true for years. Just my 2 cents.
(All information was taken from the biolite users manual which is accessable online)

I've tested many stoves over the years.

The MSR International wins hands down over anything on the market.

My opinion of course.

Nice choice. I have a Coleman Peak 1 Apex for a liquid fuel and a Kelly Kettle for biomass. Both work very well.