In order to expound on the contribution of Karl Vogel:It gives me two big monitors (I regret that there is no space for a third one)
a ergonomic mouse and a trackballand my keyboard(G19) I think is roughly 10 years old, one of the best investments into computer gear ever.
A normal size notebook or even a netbook is very good if you have to aktually carry it a lot which you would not like to do with a 17" monitor notebook.
Rolf Blum