I haven't looked up the recommended specifications for 2009. But my initial thought
is that your advanced system would be the more ideal one. Specifically, more ram
and more video.
Decision between laptop or desktop comes down to your usage and the need for
portability. I am using my laptop more and more and I would say within the next
year I will work solely from a laptop. At which point, I'll need something that runs
Autocad MEP or Revit MEP 2009/2010. As well as Navisworks Review or Manager.
I loosely looked at the best dell laptop (in June or 08) and clocked in near $5k
I have heard from others that HP has some beefier laptops then Dell.
Again, haven't researched it fully.
Pieter