Debating on a Gaming Laptop

[seongjun3300]

Hey, first time posting here

So, forgive me if somethings are do not just jump at me.

This is the specs of the one I am thinking of buying:

Area-51® m15x

Design & Display: Silver Ripley Design
Display: 15.4" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD (720p) with Clearview Technology
AlienFX®: Alienware® AlienFX® System Lighting - Aqua
Video/Graphics Card: 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800M GT
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme X9000 2.8GHz (6MB Cache 800MHz FSB)
Operating System (Office software not included): Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1
Notebook Tuners and Remotes: Without Media Center Remote Control or TV Tuner
Memory: 4GB« Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 2048MB
System Drive: 500GB 7,200RPM (16MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection -
Smart Bay: 500GB 5,400RPM (8MB Cache) Smart Bay
Optical Drives : 8x Dual Layer Burner (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Wireless: Internal Intel® Wireless 4965 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card
Sound Card : Internal High-Definition Audio with surround sound
Keyboard Options: Non-Illuminated Keyboard – Exclusive Design
Mobile Essentials: XBrand Lap Lounge with USB cooling fan - notebook stand
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Onsite Service and 24/7 Toll-Free Phone Support
Power: Additional Battery – 6-cell Smart Bay Battery

I wanted to ask if anyone could tell me or heck show me a comparable gaming laptop that is hopefully cheaper. Mostly, because I'm a college student at the moment and moving around alot is one of things that is annoying, so a desktop is kinda out of the question since the states isn't even my home country (from south korea)

Anyways, anyone got any suggestions? I am willing to pay to about $2000- $2800
I am also asking because to the best of my knowledge I remember alienware now being headed by Dell, one that I do not hear a lot of good stuff about so... yeah....

Oh and does anyone think i should wait for windows 7?

[GroundZero3]

Are you planning to be mobile with this thing (taking it to class to class)

How much does that thing weigh?

[SeanC]

That has to be in the 7 to 9 pound range. Not something I'd want to be lugging class to class, unless my name was Hercules.

I was reading of ZDNet the other day that if you buy a system with Vista, you can get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out. Don't know how that would work but its an option if you want to buy now.

When do you need the laptop for though? If it's not until the fall, I'd wait until then and get great "back to school" discounts on a laptop.