Sounds like the exact opposite of the typical biomed situation, then.
It's easy to be jolly when things are going well. But it takes real strength of character to "keep the faith" and prevail (endure) when dragging on year after year in (what I usually refer to as) "less than ideal conditions"!
Regarding laptops ... just get the best you can afford. Or two, if you're really in clover! Although, having said that, even the best kit in the world isn't a whole lot of good when it gets misplaced, lost (or whatever the preferred word out there is for "stolen")!
