I'm looking at a HP Laptop w/ a AMD processor. The only choices I see are:
HP
Compaq
E-Machines
Avertec (sp?)
I REALLY don't want a Wintel model UNLESS someone can come up with a very valid reason(s) that the mobile AMD's are either problem prone or something along those lines. I don't want to get into a AMD vs Wintel discussion here.

Office Depot has a HP zv5000z series with $300 in rebates for the next couple of days that you configure at the store and they ship it to you (you pay shipping).

Input? Thanks...............

I tend to choose AMD for desktops, but am perfectly happy with Intel for laptops. The centrino core has some useful featuers, including built in wireless networking - and they do use a lot less power than some others.
I can't give you a direct comparison with the mobile AMDs, but HP/Compaq would worry me - they can be quirky in their set up, and I would choose Acer, IBM or Toshiba over them any day of the week, whatever processor they ran on.

I can't comment on your other choice, or on the prices (I'm in the UK).
Bear in mind that laptops are different beasts to desktops - you don't use them for gaming etc, so monstrous graphics cards and the 3d support isn't a major concern. Machines such as Acer have the ability to swap out hard disks, cd/dvd drives and add extra batteries.
Once you realise that a laptop is something which is effectively 'disposable' (i.e. you haven't got a great deal to uprade) then you need to check out reliability, the ability to swap drives etc, and not worry too much about amd-intel.

For me it's basiclly principles. I don't like Intel (or M$, but unfortunately use their O/S). All I was concerned was for the fact AMD is a somewhat new player in the Laptop market compared to Intel and anything 'new' tends to have growing pains.