Check out the
WC laptop buyers guide. While the main article is 1.5 years old, several of the "best of" links have been updated within the last few months. As with most things, you get what you pay for. A $2,000 laptop will generally be built better than a sub $1,000: better screen, more durable (metal vs. plastic), and better quality components. I've been buying and supporting systems (desktops/laptops/servers) for 20+ years. Most of the stuff we purchase is Dell and I'm a big fan of their laptops. There are options at every price point and you can usually configure it to exactly what you want. I can't remember any "falling apart" even after several years but we take very good care of our equipment (store them in carrying cases when not in use, don't expose them to extreme temperatures, etc.)
Re: resetting Windows, yes, similar to a phone,
another WC article with details
.