First off, some of the really inexpensive "desktops" are actually laptops in a metal box (and ports for the display and you plug the external keyboard into a USB slot). These have many of the limitations of a laptop.
I have a 2-year-old laptop that does everything I need; I think of it as my main computer. I do have a spare desktop that's around 4 years old.
If you get a laptop, make sure it has all the ports and devices you need. Some don't have a DVD/Blueray drive. Some don't have an Ethernet port, so you have to use WiFi. If you want to connect it to a projector, large screen TV, or second display, see what kind of connector your external device has and what kind the laptop has.
If there is a working display model in the store, pay particular attention to the touchpad. I hate mine. Whenever possible I use a wireless mouse and disable the touchpad. |