Should I get a laptop or a PS2 for playing recent games?

I'm planning to buy either a laptop or a PS2, and I want to know which one is better for playing games released between 2005 and 2010.

If I buy a laptop, I will use it mainly for playing games, and a little for browsing.

I do not have a television, but I can afford a computer monitor for a PS2.

From gaming Onnesh

• This depends entirely of what you like more. I don't like console, so for me a Laptop works best. Furthermore you can do "more" things with a LapTop (writing, surfing, emails...).

  Additionally to Browsergames you can also play classic games on a laptop (assuming you buy one that is equally cheap as a PS2 + Monitor).

  Thus I'd start with a Laptop.

  As already stated somewhere else, a desktop computer usually gives better performance for an equal amount of money and can be upgraded easier.

  Especially the last point is what makes a desktop interesting. Depending on the money you have, you can upgrade parts of it whenever you can afford it. This is not answering your question, but I think worth an advice.

  From StampedeXV

• My subjective answer is a laptop as you can do more than game with it. Especially if you dont have a TV.

  From ccook

• You haven't mentioned what games you would like to play nor a budget. A PS2 is what, like $40 now? A gaming laptop (a very bad combination of PC hardware IMO for value/performance/experience reasons) is like $700+ at the minimum?

  Looks to me you would prefer a current-gen console. They're right in the middle of of that price range and they totally play games of that era you mentioned with less hassle than the lap-burning, fan churning laptop and the graphics you expect to see of games from 2005-2010.

  StampedeXV : I guess he wants a laptop in the 200-300$ range. Which would be in the same range as a PS2 + monitor. Result: Playing only old games (but that's the same on PS2)
  From crazysim

• A good laptop might be able to emulate a PS2 (I don't know if there are good emulators, though), plus you can play PC games and do other stuff with it. However, I recommend buying a Dekstop PC + Monitor instead, you'll usually get something more reliable and probably even with better performance for the same money. (Just to note why I say this, my notebook's GPU-RAM is broken and now I can't play without lots of Pixel errors. The graphics card of a notebook can't be replaced so I have to replace the whole thing, while a Desktop PC can easily be fixed and upgraded for a while)

  ccook : Which laptop do you have? This is certainly not true for all laptops.

  Tobias Kienzler : @ccook: You are right, there are exceptions, but aren't notebook GPUs on-board usually?

  ccook : Yes, but I was referring to the series of technical problems. Gaming laptops generally don't though? And most would be warrantied?

  Tobias Kienzler : @ccook: Warranty is only 2 years which are over faster than one likes
  From Tobias Kienzler

• One major pitfall to your question is that the games available on a laptop (PC) are in some ways significantly different to those available on a PS2. Consoles offer a different gaming experience as well as different games.

  In the end the decision is yours, but I am torn between my laptop and my little brother's XBox. A console is a significant investment for me, since I need to have a laptop for college in any case. A console requires me to buy a TV/Monitor, which is several hundred dollars that I wouldn't have to spend otherwise. The positive of a console is that I can turn it on and off very quickly and I can use my laptop simultaneously. PC games also tend to be a bit cheaper.

  Really, it comes down to preference, but I prefer a PC because I can't afford the $300-$500 it would cost to get into consoles, given that I have and need a PC.

  From Mechko