DHC, it probably all boils down to how important having a portable machine would be to you.

If you think you'd regret not having a machine that you can just pick up and take with you, or be able to use basically anywhere in your house - while watching TV, or relaxing in bed, for example - then go with a laptop.

If the portability factor isn't really important to you, though, go with the desktop, which is the better choice in every other respect, as Vicc outlined early in the thread.