Here some updates about the non operating wireless nic (IRQ issues ...)
After having tried to enable ACPIC, I got an AML break point and the 
dmesg.boot showed a cpu1 not configured.
I recompiled GENERIC with MP support and now, my IRQ issues are gone and 
following wireless pcmcia cards do work correctly:

    - Lucent mc-11 (vianect)    rev 1.0
    - Zyxel b100

My hardware is of type: i386 - Amilo Laptop - P4
I will test power managements (apm | acpi) when I get time ... Right now 
it is disabled !

cgoetz