Laptop for brother?

Hi /comp/

I'd like to surprise my brother by buying him the laptop he's got his heart set on, but I'm worried it might be too grand a gesture and set him down the wrong attitude path.

I'm asking you guys specifically because I'd like to know how you'd react to someone buying you something you really want but can't afford.

He's 16, I'm 25. He's not a douchebag, we get along like best friends, which in itself is rare according to some people I know. He works hard in school and is doing really well, he has lots of good friends and a nice gf he's had for over a year. He's good with computers and web design and the laptop he wants is a high spec model which will really, really help him in his studies for years to come.

Enough of that, here's my problem - I'm worried it could somehow make him spoiled/damage his sense of financial worth somehow.

He doesn't have a job yet - he wants one though, but since we live in a rubbish village there's nowhere local taking new recruits. He is saving for this laptop himself with chore /Christmas/birthday money but he's got so far to go it's unrealistic for him to get it without help. I do buy him lunch and dinner practically every week but I always refuse his offers to pay.

My parents think I'm being over generous and disapprove, but they're both fucking skinflints and I've always been a impulsive type. Right now my brother and I spend weekends together and it's awesome, but I'm worried he might change somehow if I do this for him. He's never showed any sign of having such a personality flaw but then again no-ones ever spoiled him so much.

The laptop is £1500. The make and model is irrelevant; you only need to know it's a months wages for me and I already have £900 set aside comfortably.

Thanks for reading, what's your input?

i would buy it for him... but also i would make sure he understands that he should be in your "debt" (like help you out more times and so on, not owing you money)
i don't know how exactly to put it but i hope you know what i mean...

i would buy it for him... but also i would make sure he understands that he should be in your "debt" (like help you out more times and so on, not owing you money)
i don't know how exactly to put it but i hope you know what i mean...

wow there is some incest going on in your family if you want to spend that much money on your brother.

Well at least there was a few decent posts put in before the /b/ bullshit that >>4 brought to the table here.

a) Having a 'high spec model' probably won't be any particular help with studies, unless he's doing CAD or 3D graphics or something.  Most students are fine (school-wise) with something that can browse the internet and run MS Office.  He'll probably just use the power for gaming.

b) You don't need to buy the whole thing for him.  You want to give him a decent gift, without worrying about spoiling him, just offer to match whatever he's saved up.  If he's gathered up more than a few hundred dollars already, just double that and you can shop around for a pretty decent system.