I highly recommend a MacBook. It comes with a 1 year warrantee and you can buy an extended warrantee (an additional 2 years, so 3 years total). They're reasonably priced and Apple offers a payment plan if that's easier for you.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...acbook/macbook
You'd probably want (and need) to add more RAM. It's much cheeper to buy RAM from an online store and install it yourself, and its really easy to install.

Quote Originally Posted by catnapper
Oh, and one last question: would it be tax deductible since I need it for work purposes?
Yes- BUT if you use also use it for personal use then it won't be 100% deductible.

EDIT- I forgot about the programs you'll be running. Check to see if they're Mac compatible before looking into a Mac. MacBooks can run Windows through Boot Camp. Both Justin and I have used Boot Camp though (Justin more than I) and neither of us like it at all.