I have only one question for Bill Gates. Does he recall a book he wrote, called Business@the Speed of Thought. Because the title is suggestive, and if that's what he indeed believes in, I would like to know whether or how Microsoft's latest operating system "Vista" subscribes to this vision.

I've been using Vista on a reasonably well-powered Sony laptop for a few months now. I am quite impressed by some of its features, notably in the graphical domain. As well as look and feel. For instance, you can view all the screens in 3D format, also the ability to view the activity in or on a screen on the toolbar itself. There are many more features that the experts and geeks have written reams about, so I will skip the nitty gritty.

My fundamental (and only) point is - it is too slow. I am, what you could call, a business user. My use mostly spans Outlook mail, documents, occasional spreadsheets and some Internet surfing. I did not put it through a test bench so do excuse if my timings are a little off...but since the average time to shut down or start up is in minutes, what are a few seconds here and there.

First, I scoured around the Internet to see what the experts were saying. Some Microsoft sympathizers took great pains to establish that Vista could indeed run faster on some systems, compared to a Microsoft XP.

Now I'm not a professional tester or lab technician, so I would tend to compare my previous computer's XP to my current computer's Vista. Wouldn't you as well? And let me assure you, I have a pretty powerful machine.

Now some tests reveal that XP took 61 seconds to load and Vista takes 72 seconds. In other system combos, Vista would emerge faster but in most cases Vista seemed to be anything between 22 per cent and 44 per cent slower. I am not getting into who did the tests and all that because it's not so relevant.

What is perhaps relevant is that between the time taken to hit the power button - and actually reach the point from where I can begin to scan my mail - I could finish half my coffee and minor office chores. Conversely, on my way out, I save the visit to the rest room to between clicking on shut down and returning to fold the cover.

Operationally, it's even slower. A tiny ring keeps circling whenever I click on any function or programme. Open a message on outlook, see ring, close, see ring, initiate Windows Explorer, see ring (for long sometimes), start Windows Media Player, see ring, shut it down, again. And so on. My fear is that I will start seeing rings in my dreams,so much is the time spent in this activity.

I am not even getting into what it costs because it's such a productivity drainer. Which is not to say Vista will never get it right. It will - maybe in a year or two. That's how XP evolved is my sense. And yes, if you are tempted to buy and install the Vista, my advice is to wait. Particularly, if you are a business user.