I agree with just about everything stated so far except Dan's point about an $800 laptop working as long as you want to use it.

That SHOULD be true, but in about 2007 or early 2008, I bought a 1000$+ Lenovo ThinkPad, thinking that the statement should be true.

Caps failed on MOBO, started about a year ago. Price to replace MOBO is more than a much more powerfully equipped modern lappy. The lappy is quite powerful, but not with a crapped out MOBO. Now it's a paperweight.

The lesson I learned: Think of the laptop as somewhat disposable - make backups, be ready to switch to another in a few years. With prices where they are, it really isn't that expensive of a proposition for the utility. Make backups (oh I said that already but it's true), learn how to swap contents of 2.5" drives - drive swaps on laptops using EASUS software to make copies, is ridiculously easy.

Be ready for the equipment to fail - bottom line.