computer set up - where to store files & samples?

Hi, long question... I'm not new but certainly there are gaps in my understanding. I use Sonar on a laptop with 1 terabyte hard drive. I use the same computer for all of the rest of my needs, ie all of my files are installed in the same HD. It works fine so far but Sonar is getting slower. And 15 years of wav files add up. 

My question - when I finally get a new computer, what is the best set up, especially if I go to a tablet? I know some people have an outboard HD for audio but some vsti's install their samples in different places on the computer and that's always been confusing to me. Even the switch from XP to Win 7 that has a different file tree dispersed some audio files into different folders.

I would rather not have a second computer just for audio - I'm just an amateur - but I've never understood what the best solution is and was afraid I would get confused. And now tablets are quite common for recording but their storage is limited - what do people do?

Is there a link or old post to explain? Thanks!!

Paresh

USB3.0 and a HD that uses it will improve your transfer rates.  It would be pretty straightforward to have an external drive for your music work and leave it behind when you exit the studio.  
 
I use a USB port expander (hub) in my studio that not only supports USB3 devices and is USB2 compatible, but under Win8.1 and now WinX, I can plug additional monitors (I use two external to my laptop) and everything works well.  That's all with a single USB port on my laptop.  Very convenient. 
 
Let me know if you would like a link to the port I mentioned.
 
Good luck.