I went ahead and ordered this Toshiba:
Newegg
Massive screen - 18.4 inches. And a big-assed HD. Sorry, Thor, I just don't want to lug around a separate external hard drive. It's already bad enough with all the sound gear I have to drag around.
This machine ought to serve us for quite some time to come.
Edited to credit Thor with finding that particular laptop. Thanks, bud. HEY! Where's my beer?!?