A few reasons:
The first is that I have to start my first editing job immediately, and have no time to source the components and build a desktop system.
Second, I live in a small apartment, where my girlfriend and I both work. I have an office I use occasionally when things get claustrophobic, and a laptop will mean that I'm not tied to a single location.
Finally, I live in Berlin, where - most likely, given the market here - many of the productions I will work on will be relatively small affairs. And I'm predicting I will have to meet with clients wherever they like (usually a cafe or bar, or on set).
I might be wrong, but in the above ways choosing a laptop as my first system broadens my options, workwise. I want to build a desktop system too, eventually, but not before this venture gains momentum.
I know that a laptop will also limit me too, which is why I have to ensure that I get something that will perform well. It's quite scary to imagine that I might find myself with a machine that won't deliver, but I also have to consider the practical constraints I mentioned above.
I think, also, that a HP Elitebook with similar spec would be a better bet, but the cost is prohibitive right now (an initial outlay of approximately 1k more). So, I would really like to know if the Asus route is going to be worth the investment, especially if I will have to configure a RAID system to replace the SSD boot+app drive and HHDD media drive.
Any comments welcome at this point! I just need some 'fatherly' advice 