The home/family PC and gaming mix - what to do?

[marurun]

Updated response to the actual OP:

Did you end up settling on something for a Mac Mini/Laptop configuration, maru?

No, I didn't. This year is apparently the year of having to throw money into the money pit (home maintenance). Still not sure what the plan is, but I imagine we'll have to buy a Windows laptop before October just to ensure we have a machine capable of receiving security updates, and at some point I'll convert my Windows desktop to either Steam OS or some other Linux variant. The Mac Mini can wait until I navigate this year's gauntlet of home repair nonsense.

[pierrot]

Aw, bummer. Maintenance's gotta be top three worst things about owning a home, for sure.

[marurun]

Well, as much as I'd love to have a true family PC on the main floor of the house somewhere, it's just not a priority. My wife typically wants to use her older laptop in the kitchen to help with cooking, and so having something that can move around the house where computing is needed most is probably the most flexible initial compromise. And my kid hasn't had anything he needs to do at home, yet, on a computer. They have Chromebooks at school, but those stay at school. It isn't until like middle school or something that they start to bring them home for homework.