The Mellotron Group

I am planning to get into sampling and know next to nothing about it, looking at the net would I be right in thinking that hardware samplers are on the way out and that software progams  such as Kontakt are the way to go?

I quite like the look of the Kurzweil K series but I don't really need another keyboard, did I really write that!?

I do need a new computer, my laptop is 8 years old so I wonder if I would be better off upgrading my computer and buying some better software. I'm using Audacity, FL Studio and a free vst sample player at present.

Any ideas?

Mark