The more I think about it the more I am leaning straight towards a laptop setup, and correct me if I am misreading this..but I would then need to connect a USB cable AND a S/PDIF digi cable to the laptop in order to record.
It almost seems that I could setup a computer for the cost of the additional mods.
Well, when I looked into it, I figured that the real difference is in the accessories. YMMV, but here's how I saw it:
--- Laptop Setup ---
The UA-5 fills the phantom/preamp/converter role, so you're plugging your mics into the UA-5 and the UA-5 directly into the computer via USB. (The UA-5 sends audio over USB, the NJB3 just doesn't receive audio over USB. Make sense? You have a device driver on the laptop to translate the audio over the USB.)
BUT, you now have to make arrangements to run your laptop and the UA-5 on batteries for the length of the show. I don't know about you, but my laptop won't run 2-3 hours on internal battery. I used to have one that let you replace the CD drive with another battery, but I'm not even sure I'd get 2-3 hours out of that. There are some slick devices out there to do the job, but you're looking at $200-$500 for one.
I'm not an expert, but everyone seems to say that you can put together a DIY power supply for the UA-5 for $50-$100. (Remember, you have to have a battery AND charger.)
So, total cost *by the time you can use it*: $350+$200+$50 = $600 at the low end.
--- NJB3 ---
NJB3 costs about $200 (some higher, some lower), which added to your UA-5 comes to about $550. Add in your UA-5 DIY PS and it's a wash.
BUT, you don't have to carry your high $$ laptop to shows then be pissed off when it comes back smelling like a well-used ashtray (like everything I take to a show) or worry about someone stepping on it and putting you out $1500 or not being able to do your work on it. Doh!
Also, I ended up choosing the AD-20 over the UA-5 because for $325 (or less used) it gave me the same basic functionality as the UA-5 without the cost of a DIY battery as it runs for WAY longer than a show on a singly 9v. That get's you down to $525 or so.
Of course, you might want to be able to use the UA-5 at home for recording (which it was really meant for). I have a Digidesign 002R for that (8 track 24/96), so that's not really high on my list.
Transfers w/Firewire from the NJB3 are a dream, too. 1.2 gig show in just a minute or two.
Chuck