I use a dedicated multitrack unit for recording in the field, where most of my work is done. I then import the files to my DAW in my small project studio, where I have more tools to do post production work on them.
One difficulty with computerized DAWs, at least PCs, is their tendency to crash. I don't have an Apple setup, so cannot speak to that. But I've had all kinds of niggly headaches working with firewire interfaces and my PC laptop - so much so that when I do recording I practice redundancy with a dedicated unit too.
The irony is that the dedicated unit I use is an old AKAI DPS16 - introduced about fifteen years ago just as the USB standard was beginning to get recognized. The DPS16 was intended to do the post production work internally, so its I/O is primitive. However, I still use it (and prefer it to other dedicated units now on the market) because of two reasons: First, the sound. The AKAI preamps are stunning and, particularly when capturing 8 tracks at a time in 24/48, are joyous to work with. Second - the unit takes a pounding and has never crashed on me. Not once. Never.
I'm held up at the moment from post production of a hot a capella choir project because my hot rod PC DAW - an ASUS / 64 bit Athlon chipped monster with a couple terabytes of storage - blew its motherboard. They don't make it any more, and it was in high demand as a powerful motherboard when in production - so the market is pricey. It uses a 939 socket CPU and has DDR1 memory.... neither of which are generally compatible with new motherboards. I can get a replacement motherboard that will use my chips for about $ 450, or I can build a new 4 gig AMD DAW using my case, software and drives for about $400. It'll take a few days to get the DAW built. But when it's done... it will cook.
My old AKAI unit works fine though... So which is better? Beats the hell out of me. I certainly know which one I can depend on.