i was reading on how to take a project off of the arduino board and build it into a permenant standalone and it gav a list of places to buy the pre loaded atmega168 chips, but some of the sites are no longer valid or out of stock (idk how long they have been out of stock or when they will get back in stock)where can i buy these chips??????
Why do you want to but an ATMega168? The ATMega328 is about the same price, has the exact same footprint and pin numbering, and has twice the memory.
ill be compleately honest here. i was a total idiot. i was going by the page on the arduino site that talks about building a stand alone arduino and it kept saying atmega168. i havent bought the arduino yet (waiting on tax return) but ive been teaching myself as much as possible including building a stand alone. i didnt know that the new unos use the 328 and was worried that arduino was falling out of use cause i couldnt find the 168. literally just as i get a reply to this post i found out about the 328 being in use 
When you add xtal and space for connecions.. How do they comapre? I'd go for the pro mini
ill be compleately honest here.
That's refreshing. Thank you.