How to build a mobile workhorse for ~$1200.
Find the cheapest Dell M6700 you can on eBay. <$600.
You now have a 17" laptop that has DisplayPort, HDMI and VGA, Firewire, 5x USB, 1 eSATA, Gigabit Ethernet maxes out at 32GB of RAM and has room for 3x2.5" hard drives + 1 mSATA drive. Also has room for 2 wifi cards (or WWAN) and Bluetooth.
It's a bit more. But it does perform that much better.
Edit: I like how you kids take any comment that disagrees with OP as someone saying "OMG OP IS WRONG!". Happens without fail. I posted an alternative option for a bit more horse power and still on a 'budget' compared to what a new one cost. Keep it up, you'll go far in industry.