Thanks to all for the info.
@ Ravyne I agree the trackpads are awesome. It's the primary reason I haven't been able to go back to PC since I converted to Mac! However, in bootcamp the trackpad doesn't seem as responsive. I've read lots of forums where people complained about the same things like clicking and dragging when you don't mean to. I don't know if it's because I have Windows 7 or because I have OS X 10.6.8 (even though I got my computer less than a year before Lion came out, I haven't upgraded because I don't want my Macbook Pro to be a giant iPhone...lemme know if I'm wrong on that assumption), but even though the motions are perfect in OS X, they do cause a headache when they don't work in Windows. Maybe I have the trackpad configured wrong on the Windows side, I don't know.
@ Aeramor Congrats on the new acquisition. The retinas look nice from what I've seen at stores, but I've gathered that MacBooks weren't ideal for game development. Also, thank you for the tips on the PC specs as well what to do on my mac. I am wondering if the latter is applicable to me since all I have is the integrated graphics. My 13 inch doesn't have a dedicated card like the 15 inch books do. I really do want to invest in a proper machine, but in the meantime, I think I'll follow the mac advice you gave because I am only starting up and trying to do stuff in my spare time while I go to school. The stuff I am going to be doing probably won't tax a Super Nintendo. That is until I get enough experience to jump into more advanced game development (I'm level 0 at the moment and going to school for Computer Science).
Also, I do have a legitimate copy of Windows 7. I bought it thinking my classes would have lots of programming based on Windows tools (like Visual Studio) but they don't. I'm still early in my degree, but it looks like anything my peers can do on a PC for class, I can do on my Mac. Still, I felt like I was ripped off paying 300ish dollars for Windows and not having any suite included. On the flipside, it's like I got 2 computers in one, so the price isn't too outrageous with that consideration. My school offers licenses for certain things like Office for cheap so I guess I should get myself to IT soon.