When I boot my notebook from battery OX boots to login screen (as usual), but as soon as I type my password and press enter the screen does not change anymore (i.e. its still on login window). Still, OSX seem to boot, I can toy with my dvd using F12 or reboot it via ctrl+f12. Any hints? I'm seriously considering OSX as my main platform, but this is the showstopper.

PS: also considering some cheap macbook :)

Which image are u using and on which hardware? Have you installed the laptop power management software? Try to boot in safe mode (option -x at boot).

P.S.: What is cheap for you? ;)

9.2.0 sleep kernel on AMD Turion X2 (SSE3), nforce4, gf7600go. Laptop PM seems to be there, it reacts on AC presence later on after boot.

Affordable price for me is somewhere around $1500. Still, new macbooks are starting from $1400 in local apple store, and I don't like the idea of buying less powerful h/w than I have now.

Wow. In Germany a Macbook Pro is up to 2700 EUR (about 4200 USD). But I'm not sure if I would buy a real Macbook. I'd buy a nice laptop with full keyboard, intel Core 2 Duo and 2 GB RAM. They have no problems to run OSx86. But you'll get these things about 1000 Euro here with more HD space than a Macbook. It's easier to replace components, and on all products in Germany you have 2 years warranty from the dealer itself and often more from the manufacturer (Asus 3 years). Apple has only 1 year warranty, for more you have to pay.