Like many PC users, performance is up there on my list of priorities and one feature in Windows Vista that is all about performance is Windows SuperFetch, a new memory management technology that uses memory more efficiently. SuperFetch manages memory using an algorithm that prioritises user applications over background tasks. In a nutshell SuperFetch learns which applications you tend to use the most and then preloads them into the memory – great for reducing paging and load times.

To further enhance performance, you can use Windows ReadyBoost – where you use high performance USB flash and SD card drives to extend memory and improve performance without having to add any memory permanently to the hard drive. This works extremely well with SuperFetch and improves the speed of the PC. Windows ReadyBoost technology is both reliable and secure. You can remove the memory device at any time while using ReadyBoost without any loss of data or negative impact to the system; however, when the storage device is removed, performance returns to the level experienced without the device.

While on the subject of performance there is also a new power state in Vista titled Sleep. In XP the Shut Down functionality causes the system to start up and shut down slowly. In Windows Vista, Sleep saves documents, applications and data to both the hard drive and memory, so users can get up and running in less time.