newbie looking for info

I'm a has-been geek who grew up on C64s and Amigas.  I have a
non-professinoal background in programming from the late 80's.   I'm
bored with the whole PC realm and am fascinated with robotics.  I
believe that robotics is at the stage that PCs were during the late
70's.  Only geeks at this point find them interesting.  I figure
within 20 years, we'll see a revolution in the industry just like we
saw with PCs in the 90's at which point consumer robots will have a
true use to mainstream society.

I'd like to get started as a hobbyist and am looking for advice on the
best kit that will offer me the ability to upgrade and add on to my
robot with cool stuff.  My programming/software abilities are better
than my hardware and engineering skillset.  I was looking toward the
Arrick Arobot.  Is this a good one?  I envision trying to develop
something of a security robot to which I can mount a camera and have
it roam the house and perhaps react upon motion.  

linusb@yahoo.com