you know alraedy you can go out and buy win xp 64 bit.
if you don't have 64 bit programs I don't think they'd use the memory anyway even if you installed them on the new PC and you are using your apps now.
Ok, I have problems with w2k where progs run out of memory when I've got too many images open and things like that. I close some and works OK. That was with only 1.25 g and I've now upgraded to 4g (3.5 usable).
And even tho you sound like you are just complaining, you are right, PCs today are pretty sorry lot:
They have huge cases that are mostly empty space.
Huge power supplies when excess capacity in these are not needed for stability anymore.
The modules are not self testing as they could be. It should be instant to identify bad or flaky modules via in-chip techniques that have been known a long time such as LSSB.
The OS is not bullet proof.
The OS (Win) tends to be hoggy and slow
The computation envt changes every year or two so old progs don't run.
Devices don't install themselves even with PnP.
You are limited to one processor (or dual or quad but only if on same chip) unless you get special expensive hardware.
memory is limited as you mentioned when, at least dift programs, and dift processors, should be able to use a new memory space with the full amount, and you should be able to slap on 4, 8, 16g, (to infinity and beyond :) etc in modular form that could be used by add'l processors.
So besides a total redo into modular hardware - add a second or third PS if you add more modules - format, the OS needs to be modular and be able to run on multiple processors, and parcel out tasks to additional processors.
This will not only increase speed but increase reliability as like IBM has done for years, any component can fail and rest of system keeps running due to large # of central and auxiliary processors. Ok, sorry but the PC hardware revolution is not here yet, just ignore the nutcase ranting in the corner..
