We have had some time now to get accustomed to Microsoft's latest incarnation of Windows with its release of Vista. And one man's opinion would have to be to wait. Wait for the hardware to catch up.

I have purchased three new laptops in the last month for my daughter to take to college. All have had one flaw, they are all 512k memory. Now, memory is one of the cheapest components you are going to find in a computer (laptop or desktop) for the incremental increase you will get for that purchase.

But here is my point, why should I have to go out and buy more memory just to be able to run a spreadsheet and watch the latest episode of 30 Rock without my brand new machine slogging along as if it has been subjected to a years worth of unprotected malware attacks.

Sure there are some great security features built into Vista that pretty much prevent you from doing anything to your machine with the screen all of a sudden going dark and being asked to approve even the simplest of tasks.

Vista takes 350k of memory for itself just to run. WOW! Nothing like streamlining your software Bill since you have only delayed the launch four times.

So, as I try and find all the materials that need to go back into the box so I can take the latest victim back to CompUSA tomorrow and try this again. I know what you are all saying, why not just step up and by a machine with more memory?

It's principle people. I have been buying computers for twenty years and I have never NOT been able to buy the entry level unit for lack of performance. It seems as if Microsoft and the hardware guys need to get together and come up with a decent performance standard that would be acceptable for everyone.

I can't help but think that most consumers are going to only get by with the one gig memory option as well. So, if you are like me and trying to prepare your offspring for going away to college this fall dig a bit deeper in your pocket and opt for the 2 gig of memory.

I will say that it is going to seem strange shelling out more money before you have even been able to set the screen saver but unless you want to be doing mid semester triage you are better off paying now.

Just tell them the memory upgrade is going to cut into their beer money!

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Author: Andrew Mccann
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