No mouse. Ickier keyboard.

That's basicly it, because if I buy an external mouse and keyboard, they are no longer portable, so I may as well get a much cheaper desktop.

So yeah guys, use your industry thought-powers to come up with a way to stick a (usable) gaming mouse into the laptop, preferably without me just buying one and sticking it in the USB port, and have a good keyboard, and I'm sold.
I also want to upgrade it later, without buying a new one. That's kinda a biggie.

I have a desktop that has been working fine for about 6 years. I also do all of my gaming on my 360.

The only reason I opted out of getting a notebook was because I could get a better all around system for less by just getting a desktop. If you're going to make a good gaming laptop it has to be the same price as a desktop with the same specs. That shit will sell.

Price is a big factor. I can't afford to buy something that will pretty much be useless in 3 or 4 years. With a desktop I can upgrade individual parts for an affordable price instead of having to buy something completely new and sell my first born.

A notebook would be nice though. Easier to game at friends places.

A large part of the reason I'm hesitant to make the jump from desktop to notebook is the fact that I'm constantly worrying about it breaking. Although I'm not the clumsiest of people, accidents do happen, and I don't want to be out of a ton of money for a tiny accident. With desktops, it's much more simple. You buy one, put it in a spot in a room, and connect it to the wall. The performance is better than that of a notebook, but at the end of the day, you're still bound by cables from the wall. The big reason I want to have a notebook is to be able to bring my computer with me, especially when I go to class, but that same reason why I want to bring it is the same reason thats holding me back: I'm too afraid that I'll break it and be out of a thousand dollar investment.

The swappable components is the biggest factor, but thorough testing is also crucial. I have an XPS 1530 and it's great except for a problem with sound stuttering due to issues with the integrated sound getting interference from the wifi card (it's not just me either, it's a big complaint on message boards). Something that could have been picked up and fixed by thorough testing, not just testing to see if the hardware works, but if it works correctly.

The reason I don't and never will is because for the same money, I bought a better, efficient, apple macbook pro. And it can play games better than most gaming notebooks anyway w/ bootcamp or Crossover Games

A gaming laptop will never be as good and as cheap as a gaming desktop. Miniaturization time and costs will ensure that's true for a long time, anyway. Plus, I like my desktop being my "base" in my bedroom-- I don't need it to be smaller or more mobile. I have two laptops, neither gaming-quality, and no urge to game on them. It's like asking why I don't have a portable DVD player-- because I want to go home and watch them on my couch, at my tv. It's a lifestyle choice, I guess.

Also, poor.

i used to have a sony notebook, but it was super slow. haven't really looked at newer models.

I would have to be in agreement that a gaming PC is going to come out a lot cheaper than a gaming notebook. Also, the fact that I can also upgrade my video card and such on a desktop appeals more to me and gives more longevity in the life of my pc.

No real need. I just built a new gaming PC in February that I can make incremental upgrades to along the way, don't have to worry about another company doing the assembly and just fits my needs better. I'm hardly ever on the road or going somewhere else for more than small periods of time.

Put me in the Battery Life Sucks Category.

Most gaming notebooks are huge and heavy, i.e. 15" or larger. I mean have you seen those multiple-gpu gaming laptop monstrosities? They're essentially desktop replacements, while also being more expensive, noisier, hotter, and less powerful than gaming desktops. If a gaming laptop is so cumbersome and large, and cannot last even 1 hour of gaming on batteries, it will inevitably be tethered to a desk and power outlet. In that case, why on earth wouldn't you just buy/build a gaming desktop instead?

It's gotten to a point where any laptop with a discrete graphics card can be considered a "gaming laptop", even if it can barely play any modern games at even medium settings. And even then, discrete mobile graphics processors don't always work properly (remember the NVidia mobile gpu overheating debacle?). My 13" Sony Vaio with an NVidia GeForce Go 7400 has an overheating problem where it will just power off if I play a game for more than 30 minutes (and I sent it to Sony twice for repairs). And the Geforce Go 7400 was pretty weak to begin with.

It's just disappointing to see that any "gaming" laptop that's 14" or smaller (and therefore at least somewhat portable) has extremely weak graphics options, and overheating problems as well. Until someone builds a 13" or smaller gaming laptop that has a genuinely powerful gpu, decent battery life for gaming, and does not overheat and roast my nuts, I will not buy a gaming laptop.

BTW Niero, I'm really glad you're pushing for user-swappable video cards and components. I've been wishing for that feature for years.

zgerhard said it before I could, but he's right. My 800$ desktop runs Crysis/Fallout 3 (I can't think of any other system breaking PC games) on max settings. So I just see notebooks as irrelevant since I enjoy having a desktop instead. Mostly because of my kick ass monitor/speakers along with having the keyboard/mouse. The controls just feel better in a looser, more traditional setting.

The big reason is that I really don't like most gaming on a laptop. I'd still want seperate speakers/headphones, monitor, keyboard and mouse. So, that just leaves the box itself, and it's MUCH cheaper to buy a gaming desktop than a laptop.

Another reason is yeah, the fact that all you can really change is the amount of memory. They don't necessarily have to be as flexible with upgrades, but at least the basic stuff like hard drives and video cards would be nice.

Oh, and is there any chance of that Snoopy patch being included with the prize game? Heck, I'm sure I'm not the only one who wouldn't be opposed to getting that instead of the prize game. ^_^

Seems like price is the top factor, by far

I definitely think price is a hurdle BUT say you have the money whatever.. I would NEVER consider a gaming laptop because its just TOO GOD DAMNED BIG to be carrying around. That and battery life is shit, if you were to play on the road WHERE THE HELL are you gonna put your mousepad ?!?!

And if you're gonna have to be connected to a power source, doesn't that already mean you're kicking "portable" gaming in the balls ?

Various reasons for me.

I don't want to spend the money on a new computer until I have to (same reason I still have the same $100 non-HD TV from 4-6 years ago).
I don't travel enough for it to be worthwhile.
My portables do everything I want, are lighter, easier to conceal, and the battery lasts longer for if I ever do travel.

Though I really do miss having a laptop. It's nice to be able to fire up a game in a room besides where my computer is.

I saw a good one for $800 but they sold out. Maybe I'll get one for Christmas.

aside from the fact that a despise laptops, i do not need crappier version of my desktop PC that can play games just fine. and i wanted to play games on the go, i would us my DS, since i normally only play short games when I'm out and about, and waiting for a laptop to boot, then launch the game would take entirely too long for me.

Don't got any dough

price is definitely the biggest factor for me. why should i spend $4000 on a gaming laptop if i can build my own desktop with better specs for a third or half of that price? especially when in 2 years i can make my desktop top of the line just by replacing the video card or the processor.

also, another reason would probably be that i stick to consoles for my gaming and am more of a mac person when it comes to computing.

Well, for me it's not really a cash factor...just seems that all the games I want to play are console games. Seriously, who'd want to play Rock Band on a PC?

Five reasons:
1. Price - Too damn expensive
2. Planned Obsolescence - Paperweight in 4 years as you say
3. Size - Too damn big for my preference in laptops
4. Weight - Too damn heavy for portability
5. Inferior to a cheaper gaming desktop that I build myself