Lol my desktop PC I can't even see where I am going. I shouldn't need a 'gaming laptop' Planeshift should just make their setting more optional if you want Shaders or not, if you want good lighting, or not so good lighting, if you want weather enabled or weather disabled.
I wouldn't have a clue what the laptop is. It's a fairly good one, but probably won't be able to handle anymore ups in the requirements.
I have more information, about your computer priceing problem, If you go to a company that makes computers, you can get a computer custom made, ranging from 200-1200 dollors,
When you get a PC custom made you can get it to work specifically for what you want, my dad got his computer custom made for both work and games, he got the best graphics card, best dvd drive and things as that, he paid 1200$ for it, my mom got her computer custom made as well, some parts in it are older then others but it runs planeshift almost as perfectly as my dads, she only paid 200$ she didnt even get the computer made for games, it was just luckily compatible XD
point is, if you get your computer custom made, instead of buying the cheapest one yuou see on the shelf, you get a lot more out of it, for a decently low price.