Need help choosing laptop!

Hi all, fro some background I use a dual G5 fro my post production , and I use a MacBook Pro fro all my N.I stuff, LP7, among other things. I have recently bought a crown XTi power amp and a RME fireface 400. they both have cool features that can only be used on a PC. SO I have been thinking abou tgetting a small laptop(PC) to use fo rMY VJ'ing, managment of my guitar and sound rig, and the cool tools for the RME 400, I cant really afford another 2grand laptop right now so I have been looking at some major name brand alptops like dell, HP,Sony,etc...I Just dont know too much about them so I kind of need your guys advice. I was looking at the Dell XPS1210 I think it is. I also have always been skeptical abou tPCs from major comapanies cause of all that pre bundled stuff. also I dont understand about the sound drivers on PCs that is built on the Motherboard for a laptop I see all kinds of codec numbers and stuff That I am confused. I mean a mac is pretty simple when it cpomes to stuff like that.
Anyway any help, comments, opinions or suggestions are appreciated . thanks