I am self employed using deluxe. where can I place cost of a laptop using section 179 ? The expense form only allows for equipment rental not purchase

When you enter the asset and the cost of the asset the system will offer you the option to have accelerated depreciation if you are qualified to take it.  

However, a lot of laptops are considered semi-disposable equipment these days with a shorter shelf life than the 5 years for computer equipment.  If your laptop is less than $2500 you may just want to expense it.

@RICHARD1001 

sounds good. Thank You - but in looking at the "profit or loss Schedule C form, which catagory in Part II would I use to include the laptop cost. I don't think I can use #18 "Office Expense" since I don't have a home office as it' defined

You can put it in office expense - you don't have to claim a home office deduction to claim office expenses.