Originally posted by: Rottie
Originally posted by: TheStu
In the 13" realm, I am going to go ahead and suggest the white plastic MacBook, $999 order before the end of summer you get it for $949 and you get a free iPod Touch 8GB (after rebate).
You can dual boot with Windows, but depending on your major, OS X may prove to be a more appropriate OS anyway (Unix based, so unless you are doing VB coding, it is better IMO for programming work).
Hate to disappoint you but Apple Macbook Pro is not a gaming notebook and there are not many games for Apple. OP is lookin for gaming notebook so Apple is out. Dell XPS notebook is good enough for you. You didnt say what kind of game? Most budget notebook can play some decent games such as Civ4 but Crysis? You need to buy a Voodoo notebook
If you noticed his previous post, TheStu recommended using a desktop as the primary gaming machine and the laptop as his mobile work platform.
I totally realize space could be a concern, but I took my desktop and CRT to the dorm during my first year. I replaced the CRT as soon as I got my first LCD after black friday ($80 for a 17" 5:4 LCD, incredibly awesome deal considering this was over two years ago).
As long as you have the tower on the floor, space shouldn't be too big of a deal.
Obviously, there are tradeoffs when you consider difference laptops. Larger laptops, especially gaming laptops, you'll typically find lower battery life. Not very useful if you need to run off a battery basically.
But if you consider smaller laptops, you get better battery life, but the smaller screen not quite as awesome for movies.
If you have a desktop, you'll probably bring a decent screen for movies, games and whatnot. Plus, people won't steal it. It would suck if someone stole your godly expensive and awesome $2000 gaming laptop. It happens. Laptops are too easy to steal. So, that's another thing to consider.