[sangaya]

I personally love having both a desktop and a laptop. To me the advantages of the desktop are that it is in a fixed location within my house, with multiple large monitors and is part of psychologically getting into "work mode". The laptop is great for a change of pace at coffee shops, client sites, and the general goodness that comes with mobility. There are a variety of ways to keep pertinent information sync'd (google drive, github, evernote, etc.)

Also, the personal pleasure of looking at your desktop and saying "I built this" is nice. As others mentioned, there are some one time purchases like case, power supply, etc. Otherwise, you can piecemeal upgrade. I've been doing that for 10 years now. The case is the same black aluminum, just as shiny, but the innards have changed over time.

Remember, the fun can be lost in striving always for "the best". Strive instead for knowledge gained and personal goals. Good luck!