Elektron Musical Instruments

To all you wonderful monomachine users out there,

my problem is this.  I was about to order a monomachine last week, 
but the "horror stories" Ive read of problems with midi, sound etc 
etc have put me off :-(  So, can I ask if:-

a) In your opinion do you find the keyboard version or the laptop 
version more reliable

b) do the latest units ship with the new o/s?

c) Does the new o/s cause problems? what has it supposedly fixed?

d) does it make better sense to order it from a nearby distributor , 
rather than elektron themselves?

Please remember that your answers will finally sway me with regard 
to "taking the plunge " or not, as it were ;-)

regards