Should I buy a laptop? What to look in for one?

I'm in grade 11 and this Christmas I was thinking of asking my parents (if it isn't too much) to get me just a laptop for christmas. But should I wait until next Christmas, because I'd like the laptop to last me through college as well and I'm not sure if it's too early to get one or not.

I'd like one decent but not too expensive… Preferably able to run Minecraft well and maybe the Sims?

Added (1). Not interested in Apple computers… To expensive for what I'd use it for.

Added (2). Also, the laptop I'm using now CAN run both games but lags like hell. I meant with good FPS:')

Guest

Any laptop can run Minecraft or the Sims…
What is the budget on the laptop? If you want it to last you through college, you might just want to get a Macbook Pro like pretty much every other college student in the world ever…
If you want to keep your budget a bit more restricted, this might be a good option for you http://www.amazon.com/...00NGK7S1A/

EDIT: Ok, what is your budget? If an Apple laptop is too pricey, what about the laptop I recommended in that link above.

Aura

Main things to look for when buying a laptop is the RAM, Graphics card if you're into gaming, and it's processor. For the RAM, I'd suggest an 8GB. The processor may vary. If you're planning to use it for college, then I'd also suggest looking at the battery life. That's usually what I look for in a laptop.

John