If you are not a serious graphics guy, or a programmer or a data base manager who handles giga byes of data every hour, you can easily do with a laptop. My use for computers is only to work with different web browsers while I write my blogs and check emails and watch a movie or two every day. I do download low scale videos and upscale it to watch with better uality, but this I do only because my computer has power to spare and not because I would watch only higher resolution movies.
Except for the comfort of a keyboard that i can move anywhere I want without moving the monitor, I find a laptop more useful for me. It would accompany me where ever I go and help me do what ever I want to do.
Well, if you think laptops are highly priced, think about the samll hard disk that you get, it certainly is expensive, and think about the light weight components that are put in it. Just search around for great laptop deals and you will find one that is suitable for you.