Hey ladies
Our desktop is on it's last legs and the good lady is pushing for a laptop. I'd prefer a desktop for gaming, but truth be told, I'm too busy to play more than about once a or twice a month, but I still want the capability - mainly for Il2, Total War (I have about 6 weeks off coming up so thought I might risk the addiction that inevitably ensues - could never do it while I'm working or I'd be fired). Obviously I'm still finishing Tunisia (honestly! -so much is done!).
However, for space and aesthetic reasons, it looks like a laptop is where we're headed. The games I play are all pretty ancient so I don't need absolute bleeding edge specs, but does anyone have any recommendations for a laptop or components that would handle games pretty well. I'd like to potentially be able to fly Rise of Flight, maybe some ArmaII. (Hah - in my dreams - I'll never have time or energy to do that!).

I believe that the best gaming laptops are Alienware, but they don't come cheap ...

Here is a test and also a link to other tests:

http://www.digitalversus.com/laptop/alienware-m17x-r3-p12080/test.html

http://www.digitalversus.com/laptop/laptop-reviews-compare-pc-mac-laptops-netbooks-a449.html

The only laptop I use on a regular basis is a little (12" screen) HP Elitebook 2740. It's nice (the touch screen works great with Win8), though it lacks a DVD drive. And a big screen. Can't stress the screen enough. It also only has the integrated Intel graphics, so that's another minus for any sort of gaming. I have IL2 on it and it does run, but it's a slide show compared to my desktop PC.

I would suggest the following specs for a light gaming laptop:
Minimum 14" screen, though 17" would be better
Discrete graphics
Minimum 4GB memory
i3 or i5 CPU should be OK, even for gaming

You might want to check with the store about an upgrade coupon/voucher for Windows 8. I've read that these are supposed to be available starting 6/2/2012 and will allow upgrading to Windows 8 for about $15 US once it's released later this year. Not sure if that's for the US/North American market or worldwide...

Thanks Mick and Jim. Yeah, the screen size would be a pity after the 23 (or 27??) inch one I have now. Good to hear that the i3 or i5 CPUs might be okay. I was thinking to get an i7, 8 - 12Gb RAM and hopefully an nvidia 600-and-something or other, whatever I can get for under roughly $1,000.
My needs are pretty modest really - run Il2 as well as now, and run RoF well on reasonable settings. The smaller screen should help that. When I went up to this newer monitor my graphics card just about crapped itself and never really got over the shock.
for now I'm sticking with the current set up, but soon, according to my wife's house rearranging vision, a laptop will be more likely.

... you also have Asus :

http://www.asus.com/Notebooks/Gaming_Powerhouse/G75VW/

There are different versions, with diffferant GC etc .., prices, not necessarily 3D ...

Here in France the first model (Asus - G75VW-T2018V) sells for around 1100 ?, but may be in Japan it is even cheaper ...

You know, you could keep the 23" monitor and connect it up to the laptop when needed. You know, like when you're out in the garage.