Is the Mini-DVI port for input or output?

the mini-dvi port is output.

 

That is for sure an output, but I can definitely understand wanting to hook up a gaming console to your laptop. That's definitely something I keeping wanting to do, but can't do it with that mini-DVI port.

I believe there is some hardware you can buy to do it through USB, but know them off-hand.

 

You want either the EyeTV Hybrid or the EyeTV 250.

The Hybrid has no hardware encoding which means no latency in displaying video (ideal for gaming). Recording TV is a little more taxing on the computer as the raw signal comes straight into it, but nothing a C2D can't handle (even the MB).

The 250 has the ability to do hardware encoding so if you record a lot of TV shows, it might work better. Additionally, however, you can turn off the hardware encoding to play games (again no latency).

Both products are highly recommended on MR.