What kind of laptop do you get? If you are hard on them, a manufacturer’s warranty (emphasis on MANUFACTURER’s, not store brand) comes in handy. A Panasonic Toughbook could take any kind of abuse you heap on it. Typically, I have found that the screen is NOT the problem in laptops, but problems releated to heat buildup in the case (hard drive failure, bad memory,etc.), although inverter boards (which help make the screen work) are sometimes a problem.
A Mac mini would be a good choice if it rtuns your software (and you don’t get a laptop). I have not tried Acer’s Windows version.
I got a Fujitsu. I’ve had it for 2 years and 19 days.
Three Months of that were in the shop.