Advice for a Brit. Looking for a new DAW - laptop or desktop

For the money, you'll definitely get more (hardware specswise) with a PC than a laptop and it's very easy to switch out parts on a PC. I haven't partitioned my PC, but do make monthly backups of my OS drive, and do highly recommend in doing this. It'll save you the headache/time of re-installig everything from scratch (if something does happen to go south with your DAW).
 
If you're comfortable doing your own build, that's a fantastic way get each & every component that suits your needs and you'll have control of what goes on in your machine..........generally, buying PC's off the shelf will get you a inferior/cheapest components and you'll get a lot of bloatware preinstalled. I personally think that building your own PC is the best way to do things on a tight budget.......I built mine and I'm just an amateur/hobbyist.....so anyone can do this.
 
If you prefer to have someone build it for you, then I'd contact the two Pro builders in here: Scott at ADK or Jim Roesebrry at Studiocat........they're both in the States, but are the DAW guru's in here. 
 
My drive confiugaration is:
 
C: OS/all software (250 GB SSD)
D: Sonar projects (1 TB HDD)
E: Synth Samples (3TB HDD)
 
If you're not going to be using a lot of soft synths that usually require big sample libraries, then you may not need a 3rd HD, but possibly someone with more expertise might chime in on having 1 HDD for Sonar projects and samples.
 
Once you decide which way to go, you can always post the projected specs for your DAW as there's a lot of knowledgeable/helpful people in here willing to help you with your build.

Sounds like they would be an excellent way to go for you in GB. The prices seem reasonable. Best is you'll have support. If you build your own your out in the cold. I build my own just because I enjoy the challenge and the hobby. I save a bit of money too but I'd buy from a DAW builder to get the support if building is not your thing. Off the self computers are way over priced for the junk components they use. 
 
I agree with Mesh about laptops. Unless your going on the road or doing remote recording Laptops are a waste of cash. 
Go with a desktop. 
Pick up a Tablet for Email when traveling. or
Once you get your new desktop DAW  fix up the old laptop for your office machine. Putting a SSD drive in an old laptop might give it a few more years of good service.  
My office laptop is from 2004. New hard drives and a fresh OS perks them up like new. 
 
Partitioning your DAW if your using it for an office computer is an option. But as long as you don't use it for adventurous browsing it's not totally necessary. Use a wired LAN connection, avoid wireless. 
Partitioning requires two copies of Windows. 
 
 

I purchased my last two DAW PC's from these guys http://www.inta-audio.com/ whom have proved in the main to quite helpful.
 
They are a UK Based company

thanks all.  going to take the plunge in the new year.  all the advice on here is very useful.