Okay I have spoken with him and he says that desktops are a last resort because (as I suspected), he has no monitor, and also the size of desktop keyboards hurts his hands. Space is also a concern, and he doesn't have the money for the peripherals. (If we are able to raise enough money for a monitor plus other things I suspect he would prefer it to go to a cheap mobile laptop instead, knowing him as I do.)

But thank you, and we will keep it in mind if things don't pan out. :)