text: which would you rather buy, a desktop or a laptop?   you shouldn't ask that to anyone. it suits your needs.  if you want a fast system, but willing to sit in a chair for a while, then a desktop should be what you get.  if you want a general-use system that offers mobility, but can't be as fast (without more money of course) and possibly a low battery life, then a laptop is for you.  don't let other decide. you will regret it.  if you're like me, though, you'll choose a desktop (even though i have both). they are generally faster (and for me, really fast because i play a lot of games... my video card alone is $600), and you won't get as annoyed of the screen as you probably would with the crappy lcd that even high-end laptops have today.