Portable, High Performance, Computing Options?

Mostly a lurker asks: "I am a consultant with a need for a high performance machine (fast I/O and minimum 1GB RAM, perhaps more) with which I sometimes travel. I am willing to accept anything up to a 20lb traveling weight, but it must be compact enough to take by air. I would obviously welcome something that does not break the bank. Right now, the best I can come up with is something built around the Shuttle SB51G XPC with a separate LCD monitor and keyboard. It is really frustrating at the apparent lack of good alternatives. If I could wait six months then, the best desknotes would probably fit the bill (with the new IBM 7200 RPM drives). Today's desknotes fall short on I/O performance, and I would not be able to push RAM past 1GB. The lunchbox computers that qualify for air travel are mostly expensive rubbish, unless one's main concern is ruggedization. All-in-one computers like the IBM NetVista, Gateway Profile and ECS Aio's also seem to fall short. So, am I totally missing another great option? Have I mis-evaluated one of the options above? If I go the Shuttle XPC route, is there a really good light (and, equally important, compact) LCD monitor out there that someone wants to recommend [15" minimum, 17" would be nice, 30ms refresh or better, XGA acceptable, SXGA nice]? Thanks."

Comments

I/O: 10,000rpm is achievable with RISC based....

[tgrotvedt]

My name you see,
Well it is Willabee,
And I've been reluctant,
To run KDE.

I'm over weight (now that's phat!),
I need Jeff Bates (that dirty rat!),
To coreograph my cousins,
Palastinian skipping routine.

No, seriously. With RISC, you are liable for kipple, but I wouldn't recomend eating Bob Saget, cause he's an exotic young virile bitch. Phew, seems I've eaten enough Luxembourgian staplers for one afternoon, it's time to build an exruciating gumnut and assault my friend Rocko.