I am in the market to purchase a new laptop as my laptop is currently on its last leg. I am wanting to purchase something soon (call me impatient). Here is where I stand now.

AMD 64 vs Intel P4
I currently prefer having the option to run 64bit applications (including WinXP 64) . Especially considering games will be coming out with 64bit versions from what I have been reading. Too bad there is no EM64T for a laptop yet.

9700/9800/PCIe
Here is one I am stomped on. I play games on the laptop, currently Sims, SimCity and EQ. The laptop will be used to play EQ2 and Sims2 for sure. I am not real picky on performance, as I dont really care if I have 50FPS versus 60FPS. However, I do want to have the ability to play any game out there now and in the future (1yr and if possilbe 2yr). I know VRAM is important as more games will require at least 128mb RAM (I believe EQ2 has this requirement) With DELL having 9800 exclusive right now, that either limits me to buying a DELL (which they do not have a AMD 64 XPS) or going with another brand like the Ferrarri or Sager and using the 9700 instead. The 256mb RAM might help on being able to play games that come out in say Oct 2005. The other item in question is the upcoming PCIe graphic cards, like the X600. I understand the X600 is basically the same as the 9700. The question is, if I wait for a laptop with the X600, will it have the ability to upgrade or is this an option that the manufactor will decide on. And if I wait, are we talking about 2-3 weeks or 2-3 months.

So to sum that up, I am not real concern with FPS but with the ability to play games through the next year if not longer. Of course, that does not mean I will be fine with 10FPS Which card would be better?

4200/5400/7200
I am guessing that this would help on performance, but loss battery life. At this point, does not really matter unless there is a major gain without much loss

The rest is pretty much basic stuff. Unless I am missing something that should be important.

Thanks for any suggestions.

If you want AMD64...get it, it dents to run cooler and longer (of bat) than the P4. The HHD question, get the 7k60 and dont settle for anything less, in gaming and in regular computing you will feel the diffrance. the loss of battery life is actualy minimal when going from 4200--->7200 (a few minutes). you COULD buy a dell but it is not much of a favorite. PCIe will be comming SOON but not yet, and if you must buy now get the 9700. 9600 is older tech and is about 20% slower.

"If you want AMD64..." Is there a reason why I won't want an AMD64?

for normal people looking for power, regardless of battery life, no.