kevler,
It doesn't seem to me that gotdamsg has a budget constraint like most of us do... 

workstation = macpro.

dude just compare the macpro tech specs with any other existing pc. it will blow your mind...imagine rendering those 3d in meer minutes instead of hours. i use adobe progs like illus, ps, pm, ae, premiere; the only diff for the shortcut keys is the ctrl button for pc. since ur not a gamer, now is the perfect time to get macpro :] if ur a gamer, might as wait for macpro to equip with a dx10 card [:

Novatel Wireless Merlin XU870 3G HSDPA 3.6/7.2 Mbps ExpressCard
http://www.mobileplanet.com/p.aspx?i=141035

For Hard disk, which one should I go? 5400 RPM or 7200 ?

OSX Leopard - when do you think Apple going to release the beast?

so far i hadn't noticed the difference between the 7.2k rpm drive and the 5.4k rpm drive, like you I work on a lot of illustrator work, doing my coursework u see for school (like college la), I'm using a 15.4" Macbook Pro, never had any complaints from it. It is much faster than macbook and the shortcuts and everything are so much easier to use. Whenever I go into school and try and use the PCs with Illustrator on I always do the mac shortcuts by mistake! lol, they are so much more intuititive than the pc ones. some software is a bit more difficult to find la, im still waiting for CS3 and final cut express (cant afford ori... need *cough cough choke choke*  version)