I bought a decent laptop about 6 months ago i5 / GTX560, and though I can't really utilize any Dx11 features, I can run most games on their higher settings. As an example, I just got Max Payne 3 through the Steam Summer Sale and I can run it with all settings maxed, 1080p, HDSAO, and it runs super smooth, probably getting around 50-55fps. But a game like Witcher 2, I can only run at 1600x900 with most of the settings turned off.
For me, I am very happy with the decision to get a gaming alternative to the consoles. But there is a trade off, console games are specifically optimized for the PS3 and 360, in other words, 9 out of 10 times the games are simply plug and play. PC games are just generally optimized for a wide range of specs and configurations, so many times it requires a little leg work of your own to get a game to work properly or even be playable. When Quantum Conundrum came out, the game would barely run on my system and there was no in-game settings to adjust, so I had to go into the .ini files to make adjustments in order to make the game playable. And often times you will not be able to make changes yourself, you will just have to pray that someone else is having the same problem you are having and comes up with a fix. PC gaming has little bit of a wild west aspect to it. As long as your prepared for stuff like this and actually interested in messing with the nuts and bolts of some games, then you should definitely get a good PC rig. But I have found that having both a console and a PC is the way to go.
