Bought my other half a HP jobby for £500, it runs the current (ghosts,blops2 etc) games fine and probably will for the next 2 years or so.
A gaming laptop will be overpriced and still die just like all laptops do in a mist of smoke and tears
I would go for a docking station, cooler and a proper 24" screen if your going to do it + a good mouse and board (i use an xbox pad)
You could easily get a good set up for £750
My work laptop is a Dell precision and a bit of a beast, it runs solidworks and other design software with ease and does not over heat.
Cost in excess of £1800 and is starting to creak after 3 years, however it will never beat my desktop in feel and power
just make sure you get a good net card and connection so you are not a laggy noob
3 years!! :-( need it to last longer than that! Haha My current laptops 4-5 years old and runs solidworks - bit laggy as terrible renders but enough to do some smaller designs.
I have a work laptop for the boring stuff now but it's restricted as hell - Facebook, forums etc. So just need something to get my cod fix ;-) where did you get your hp?
Got it from PC world, normally steer clear of them for myself but for what she uses it for its fine.
I find laptops start to really go down hill after about two years, a new battery a wipe and a hoover out extends this a bit but they normally start to glitch out at this age.
look on scan or overclockers for a good buy any time but especially this time of year, they still offer W7 which is better than the shocking W8 imo
My work laptop is built for solidworks and rocks it good, has a magnesium case and just about everything else bolted on.
Weighs a ton mind and I have to hump it around everywhere, Easyjet count it as luggage