PCP (not a drug)

[XCVG]

While I do have a large chunk of plastic available for machining the case, I have not purchases have been made yet; I'm working on another project - should be done (to my satisfaction) soon, 80% of the wiring is done and the case is complete.
@ that keyboard: That could save me tons of headaches, though it's a shame it is not PS/2, so that's one less USB port

For a portable, you really only need 1 anyway, and that's for flash drives.

Are you kidding? You need MORE for a portable! At least 2; 3 or 4 is better.

[jjhammerstein]

For what? Keyboard? If you're at a desk, you can have a hub.

[XCVG]

I suppose. I would still have at least 2 though.

[tom61]

While I do have a large chunk of plastic available for machining the case, I have not purchases have been made yet; I'm working on another project - should be done (to my satisfaction) soon, 80% of the wiring is done and the case is complete.
@ that keyboard: That could save me tons of headaches, though it's a shame it is not PS/2, so that's one less USB port

There's always the option of integrating a hub internally. This technique is used in a fair number EEE PC and other netbook hacks to have multiple devices inside without tying up external USB ports. There's a hub type with leads coming off for each port, which is fairly popular to internalize, as you can easily desolder any leads going to internal stuff to save space.