It is also a question of performance, central control and security not just 
cost.

First off, I offer a smile when a statement such as the following is 
formulated:  "(who really needs more
than 128 MB)"  I have seen this déjà vu many times before.

Performance:
The e-PC runs Windows 2000 and as such can really use as much memory as it can 
get.  I am currently running Windows 2000 with 256MB on my laptop and I am 
considering cranking it up to 576MB.  When I have about 20 or 30 windows 
opened, the system gets sluggish.  It is not a function of the CPU or the 
memory, but rather the disk drive.  It is not very fast.  I would rather have 
more in memory and swap less and on a portable, if the disk drive is used less, 
the battery lasts longer.  But for a small desktop like the e-PC, which is 
obviously not aimed at power users, 128MB is a very good amount for Windows 9X 
and Windows 2000.  Also, too many organizations skimp on memory.  They will buy 
fast systems and saddle them with 32MB or 64MB.  It really is 
counter-productive.  Memory is very cheap and it should be used in abundance.

Central control:
With a standard, locked memory size, everyone in an organization would get the 
same system with the same innards, regardless.  HP was just smart enough to 
make the disk drive easily swappable.  After all, the e-PC comes with a rather 
small disk drive.  So, since you can't change the memory size and you can't add 
other components, the support issues are lessened.

Security:
Making the memory inaccessible prevents office pilfering.  This way, no one can 
go into someone else's computer and abstract (the real usage of definition 5 
here, Bruce,) some memory modules for home usage.

Kind regards,

Denys. . .

Denys Beauchemin
HICOMP
(800) 323-8863  (281) 288-7438         Fax: (281) 355-6879
denys at hicomp.com                             www.hicomp.com


-----Original Message-----
From:   Nick Demos [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Tuesday, October 10, 2000 9:58 AM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: OT: hp pc's

Glenn, the manufacturers reduce costs by standardizing, i. e. it is
less expensive to put in a large amount of memory  than to make mqke memory 
expandable.  I assume that with
three models, you will get some choice of speed with the higher speed
one getting more disk, etc.?

Nick D.

"COLE,GLENN (Non-HP-SantaClara,ex2)" wrote:
>
> NEWS.COM has a story on HP (hp? ;) combining e-Vectras and e-Brios
> into e-PCs.  (It seems using an 'e-' prefix doesn't make something
> an automatic hit.)
>
> The part the drives me crazy is:
>
>   "HP's e-Vectra, for instance, comes in a sealed case; memory can't
>    be added.  The only part that can be changed with ease is the
>    hard drive, and that accommodation was made only because the
>    hard drive breaks down more than other components, HP executives
>    said earlier this year."
>
> MEMORY cannot be added???  In today's PC market, that's ludicrous.
> This definitely is not your father's (e-)Vectra.
>
> The full story is at:
>
>    http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-3144023.html
>
> --Glenn, who might be missing some e-detail