Gateway (thought they disappeared) partnered with Best Buy to put out an amazing gaming laptop.
Here is a review on it: http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=3373

It's 17" instead of 15.4" so a little hefty at 9 lbs, but has 4Gig RAM DDR3, dual core 2.26Ghz processor at 1066 FSB, 200Gig 7200 rpm HD, and 9800M GTS video card.

This rig scores 8686 on 3dmark06.

To give you a comparison, my current laptop scores 3303.
It's a dual core 1.6Ghz processor, 3Gig DDR2 RAM, 800 FSB, 5400 rpm HD, and 8600M GT video.
My PC desktop scores 8300 and is dual core 2.2Ghz, 2Gig DDR1 RAM, 8800 GTS 320MB video

At the low price it's being mass produced so there have been issues reported:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5

However you can literally walk into a Best Buy and pick it up, and as a major retailer if you have an issue can easily return it for another one. Be sure to read the fine print on return policy. A laptop with all these parts usually costs double $2400. They are also throwing in a free game right now.

Azzi

Having carried around a 17" laptop the last year, i have to say that they're not particularly portable. Finding a place to put it is a pain in the ass.

It's more of a desktop replacement/luggable. I'm not advising against it, but be warned that you WILL get tired of lugging it around.

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World of Warcraft: Kallaystra, Gweila, Steakumn, Tarathia [ Feathermoon/Horde ]

If you find 9 pounds heavy.

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Marauder Harabakc Goat

It's not that it's heavy, it's that it's an awkward size to carry around.

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World of Warcraft: Kallaystra, Gweila, Steakumn, Tarathia [ Feathermoon/Horde ]

9lbs is pretty heavy

Well, it's moderate, but it really starts to wear on your shoulder if you carry it around a lot.

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World of Warcraft: Kallaystra, Gweila, Steakumn, Tarathia [ Feathermoon/Horde ]

Yeah, I use my laptop for school primarily and this last year I've pretty much said fuck it and not bring it anymore because that in combination with my books = a severely heavy backpack. ASU is a huge campus, we have 66,000 students, so I do a lot of walking.

I'd prefer a 15.4" at 6-7 lbs, but most gaming laptops with a strong video card are for the 17" form factor.

Alienware has a 15.4" with an 8800M GTX/S, but it's $2400.

I only lug my laptop from dining room to bedroom to downstairs.
If you're carrying out of the house a lot, yah you want something lighter.