amd64 laptop recommendations

[Rob]

Michael W. Oliver wrote:

>On 2004-12-06T11:42:50-0500, Michael W. Oliver wrote:
>  
>
>>I am in the market for an AMD64-based laptop, and am currently leaning
>>toward the Acer Ferrari 3400, but would like to borrow a few minutes of
>>your time to ask for suggestions on something better.
>>    
>>
>
>OK, following up to myself here, and to supplement the below information
>on the Ferrari with what I found on another site, once again to get your
>input/advice before buying.
>
>I found a new machine at abscomputer.com called the 'Mayhem G3', which
>has a few notable differences from the Acer Ferrari 3400, such as:
>
>  
>
>>o CPU - AMD64 3200+ (2.0 Ghz)
>>    
>>
>
>This is actually a AMD64 3000+ (2.0GHz) CPU, with 512k L2 cache, on the
>Ferrari.  On the Mayhem, I have the option of a AMD64 3700+ CPU (2.4
>GHz) with 1MB L2 cache.
>
>  
>
>>o LAN - Broadcom BCM5788M
>>    
>>
>
>The Mayhem has a RTL8201CL, which doesn't look to be supported by either
>the re(4) or rl(4) drivers :(
>
>  
>
>>o Wireless - Broadcom BCM4306KFB (mini-PCI, maybe replaceable with
>>  atheros-based a/b/g card????)
>>    
>>
>
>The Mayhem comes with an Engenius-branded Atheros card, 802.11 b/g,
>model NI-3054MP (Aries2).  The Mini-PCI card actually has the model
>number "NL-5354MP+ARIES2(F)-1.00" on it.  Noting Sam's posts to current@
>today about the updated ath hal and such, this is tempting.
>
>  
>
>>o bluetooth / modem - CSR BC212615BEN-E4 (agere scorpio)
>>    
>>
>
>no integrated bluetooth on the Mayhem :-/
>
>  
>
>>o Via K8T800 chipset, Via VT8235CE
>>    
>>
>
>SiS 755 + SiS SB 963L on the Mayhem.  Ho hum, don't know enough about
>either to care one way or the other.
>
>  
>
>>o Phoenix BIOS (hoping for hw.acpi.s4bios=1)
>>    
>>
>
>Nobody could tell me about the BIOS of the Mayhem.
>
>Both laptops have the ATI Radeon 9700 w/128MB.  The Ferrari comes with
>512MB DRAM, while the Mayhem comes with 1GB.  The Ferrari has 4 USB
>ports, while the Mayhem has 3.
>
>With the above noted options for the Mayhem, the price is within a few
>dollars of the Ferrari, so price is only significant in that I will get
>(mostly) more for my money from an off-brand manufacturer.
>
>If you have an opinion, I would very much like to hear it.  Indecision
>sucks.
>
>Thanks.
>
>  
>
Oh jeez, you guys got my mouth watering with this discussion.  I have an 
AMD64 + 3800 on an Abit AV8,  (socket 939)
The idea of a AMD64 laptop being available has gotten my attention.   
However, I have had big problems trying to load a Windoze application 
that I really love, IVisit, which is a video chat application.  I found 
that no 32 bit Windoze video driver would load on AMD64.   For Windoze, 
I'm using the XP-64 bit beta.  So I guess I'll need to wait.  But FBSD 
works fine.

Rob.