Transfering to laptop (machine-independent replication)

Question

Is it possible, without a reinstall, to merely transfer the install from a desktop to a laptop?
For example, transfering an installed, configured and customized MOSXS (Mac OS X Server) 10.3 from a G4 350 to a much more powerful Macbook or Dual G5?
The alternative of reinstalling, then reconfiguring, then repopulating with content and user's data, simply seems ridicilous!
Essentially the concept of machine-independent replication.

Answer 1

I disagree with the naive part. While there are aspects that may be hard-coded to specific IP addresses, basic regexp can update every IP dependecy in an entire system with proper system administration methodologies. Thus if a firewall rule, IP-based virtual host, a hosts file, a round-robin DNS setup, and an smtp junk table all refer to a given IP, they can all be replaced with a variable and/or a regexp tool at the time of migration.
In fact, it makes little sense to edit each individual file manually with an IP address - makes far more sense to simply utilise a system-wide IP address tool that updates all the variables on the administrator's behalf.
I think it silly, naive, and a waste of time, to hard-code manually IP addresses, such they can change, should change, and are rarely in control of a given organization to whom they may be allocated to - and far too often are upstream dependant. Unless you own your own /8, in that case, please hire me!