Step 1, get a laptop. Step 2, realize your laptop cannot handle the great 3-D programs and only the good ones. Step 3 cry to sleep XD

Question, what would be the easiest and potentially best looking software out there?

It depends from what you want to do.
As example sculpting programs as Z-brush and Mudbox demands powerful laptop (not necessary gaming laptop) but I know 3d coat using little different system for that ( I heard that it using voxels) which can handle much easier with this process. And I don't know about sculptris...
Actually even weak laptops can work good with most common 3d programs such as 3DsMax, Maya, Modo, Cinema4d... It can easily handle with standard modeling process with low/middle polycount range. You can meet problems only with long time of render and simulation processes.
There is another, little easier programs such as Poser, and Blender, but I can't advise about it - just know that it's not too professional progs.
I'm worked in 3dsMax on systems with 512ram 128video.

Thanks. I use Sketchup for all my modeling and can then export it to blender. However I don't use blender at all, and if I do it's only to poke around at a feature here or there. With Sketchup you can make the model and that's pretty much it. No animation, no rigging, no nothing.

I have a friend that uses maya and it looks neat, and along with that I have seen 3ds max in action, and both are amazing and powerful, but I can't get anything with a price tag on it... yet.

In that case Blender is good enough I think. There is no big difference in what program make 3d mesh - the principles is the same. Such professional progs like Max and Maya can be overloaded by useless function for you.
SKetchup is a good for further overpainting but not very good for exporting - too many artifacts, flipped normals, double verticles... at least for game developing.
If you'll know, how to make model with right and clean topology and right UV, you can easily change program and master it in 2-3 weeks.

FWIW, I have never used blender. but from what I can see and heard, it can handle everything which you are likely to want to cover... such as animation and rigging and texturing and such.

The actual software you use isn't that big a deal, to be honest. Learning stuff in 3D is mainly bout learning principles and techniques, which will ultimately transcend software packages. There can be a learning curve between applications, particularly when dealing with more technical elements like rigging and scripting, but again this is minor details compared with actually learning the skills.

I myself have used XSI, max and Maya in different studios in my career so far (damned economy :p). It's not that daunting a prospect to 'cross program'. In fact, nowadays there's a lot of specialist programs out there which studios are employing, so being able to pick up new programs can actually be a benefit (though i don't know if that's relevant to you, as you may not be aiming for a career).

So in short, if you are unable or unwilling to get yourself an 'industry' standard package, then don't stress about it. It's seriously nothing to get hung up about. Do a little more than 'poke around' Blender, get you skills up, have fun making some mad shit that impress your friends, and in the future you are willing and able to give the big programs a go, then you will find that the transition is a lot easier than you might think.