Your computer die.Well that sucks. I remember once having to spend a few weeks playing on a friend's computer.My new one was being build by someone i know.First it was this part that was bad go back to the shop to replace it.Then go back home with new part ,place it in.Try to start it up fail once again.It was a bad part once again.Which lead to a few trips there and back.Then at long last my computer was build.I forget how old it is now 4 maybe 5 years?
edit:my last computer befor that only worked for 2 years.Got it from a store.If one thing didn't go wrong some other thing did.
Skip a few years ahead to now. My computer is crazy or just needs a new part.It will play gothic 2 find.evil genius after 10-20 minutes plays find then goes black screen and message pop up saying input not supported.I think i know which part needs to be replace. so should be find with in a week once the new part gets here.
Any way.If you or someone you know can build a computer go with that.In my case i found it to be cheaper , work longer,and better then any computer i get from store.

Definitely get a desktop. More to the point, build it yourself. That way not only do you get the parts you want, but also when you want. As you can always add more/upgrade later on. For instance you could get a cheap graphics card now then replace it with something more capable later on.

hmm. my laptop melted a few months back. It might have been the GPU, but i think it was the motherboard. I messed around with it, picking up a cheap replacement CPU, but couldn't fix it.
So i had to buy a new one. Sigh. But it's nice and shiny!! But i got it with vista about 2 weeks before the win7 upgrade deal. sigh.

What you want, when you want... sounds like a VISA ad.

If they're bought with a credit card, they could be.

There really is nothing better about mac hardware compared to PC hardware thats made by decent companies, the problem in my case is that HP appear to have done the cheapo and picked whatever components would last the warranty period and used shitty solder. Also I want to play modern games as well as GOGs and I'm also a LONG way from being rich so thats 2 strikes against a mac right away...
In fact the solder issue is the same thing that gave the 360s the red ring of death and one of the community suggested solutions for my series of laptops is the good old towel trick to trap the maximum amount of heat until the machine shuts down in the hopes of reliquifying the solder and have it form a connection again. Don.t think I want to go that route though, sounds way too uncontrolled to have good results

You a student somewhere? They're doing good deals on Win7 upgrades for students or employees of a school/uni. Thats how I got my copy
My copy I can't use because my one and only 64 bit system has just melted...

Shit happens... then you get hit by a truck hauling it...

Then you have to pay a fine for messing up the truck and the driver sues you for emotional stress

There's the magic expression right there: "decent companies". I opted for a Thinkpad R500. Not a powerhouse as far as graphics go (Radeon HD3xxx-something with 128MB dedicated) but at least it's not some integrated Intel crap, and I don't trust anything other than Apple and Thinkpad for quality (no, not other Lenovo machines either, at least not before I actually get my hands on one). The Thinkpad won the race as they're one of the few brands that still uses this pointing device, it would have been a closer race if Apple hadn't gone complete brainfart and decided to put a physical mouse button under the touchpad ("yo dawg, I herd u liekd mousing so we put a button in ur button so u can click while u click").

I build custom computers. I wouldnt buy a stock computer under any circumstances, especially if you're a gamer. Besides, you could now spend $800 now to get an OK computer that will at the very least run GOG's catalog. I'm probably going to spend $1500-$2000 on my next rig, because I want EVERYTHING. lol
And don't EVER buy a Mac. I guarantee you can find a Windows-based computer with identical hardware or better for the same price as a Mac. You're only paying for the software and the name. Thats it.

Heh no chance of a mac, as I mentioned Im not rich, even if I save really well I likely won't have a new PC until the middle of next year. Also if I wanted to do anything fun on a mac I'd have to dualboot with windows which means I'm running a PC with overpriced hardware

Well all of the HP workstations and other equipment I've used in the past have been of a decent level of quality wich was why I opted for them in the first place. Realistically speaking its given me some bloody good service over the years but I was hoping for it to be obsolete before it died
Woah, never thought I'd see anyone who actually liked the pointer stick
Hahaha I just realised something, the amount I still owe on the loan I took to buy the laptop in the first place could actually buy me a pretty kick arse gaming PC

The main thing is Macs aren't for gaming but having solid and reliable IT experiences as well as the best platform for creative minds. I only use Windows to play actually.
Also, you're not wrong when you say you could probably get similar or best hardware on the PC for less money IF you make it yourself and still the whole point of the Mac is having the best and most advanced OS there is: Mac OS X. If I was a gamer I'd never buy a Mac, if I want to enjoy my computer, be carefree about viruses, worms and trojans, antiviruses, defragmentation, etc I'd buy a Mac. In fact I just expent 1300€ (US$ 1.930,18) on my 27" iMac and I'm not rich either :) I'm a student and translator working hard to pay bills and graduate. Good thing we have amazing state-subsidised credit plans at 0% interest here in Spain.

Haha!
If heavy breathing could be translated into written form, that would be my rebuttal letter.
Well, to be fair, I still use a Motorola Razr V3xx... I revoke my unabomber status.

People take loans on computers?