I think the option that Frank
is currently using, being a desktop tower, is
an excellent one. One can get a reliable and
inexpensive PCI audio interface to use with it,
as well as, one of the new flat monitors
and a PC keyboard.
There is yet another option where instead
of the separate monitor and keyboard, a networked laptop computer via ethernet cable can be used.
I've seen such an arrangement with
a Mac computer, and know it can also be
done with a PC.