build my own for desktop and IBM for laptop.. those IBM's last a long time... untill recently my fiancee adam's IBM LT from 97 croaked. batteries for that thing are now 250+ and I could only find them at apcc.com
you dont wanna go the dell way cause their systems overheat so much (my finacee works there and he literally used one for a heater!) plus they are cheaply built and designed and they dotn last very long.
HPs are ok for some people but thier printers are oddballed.
Sony Vaios are expensive.
Gateways are... hrrmmm havent used one in a long time. havent even been on thier site in years.
Alienware is expensive and i dont know how good they are.