G'mornin'

I'm in the market for one of those spiffy self-contained portable digital workstations, and my eyes have glazed over trying research the many brands and models. I currently run an ADAT system that I'm pretty happy with, but would like to have a unit I can haul around and use remotely.

...Are all these different machines pretty much the same? I'm a total ignernt when it comes to anything without some kind of magnetic tape coursing through the works. The Yamaha AW1600 sounds interesting, but then there's Tascam, Korg, Zoom, Boss, etc., etc., ad infinitum...Although price is an issue (trying to spend less than $1500), I'm looking for quality, durability, and maybe upgradeability in a 16 to 24 track package. I've looked for a website that will give me some comparisons, but most are selling what they're reviewing...

Thanks for any input.