Mary got fed up with the noises coming out of the study (aka converted bedroom) as I cursed under my breath and let me buy a new machine, so down to my local computer shop.

Got there at 4:30 and the sign on the door said they close at 4 on a Saturday – we were just turning to go when one of the staff opened the door and explained that, yes they were closed but as he was still there, come on in – that’s what I call service (or he was on commission)

I decided it was time to go 64 bit so I bought their EVO Sempron 64 3000 at £250 and added another 512MB of Ram – it’s a nice machine.

OK thought I – 64bit machine – 64bit OS, so I loaded up Microsoft XP Professional 64bit – smooth install, no hitches.

Now before I hook up to The Internet I want protection so in goes my Norton Internet Security disk – oh no you don’t – it is not supported on the 64bit OS – following a link to Symantec tells me that I can only use the corporate version on a 64bit OS.

I happen to have the corporate addition for the other machines I run, although I would have to up my licence count, so on it goes – but why did I have to?.

Now for the rest of my installs –

Printer driver for my HP5500 – not supported

Microsoft IntelliMouse and keyboard – not supported – it’s a Microsoft OS for Pete’s sake.

Now I understand that it’s a business and you put your development costs into mainstream and the 64bit OS has only just hit the streets but come on – I went through this with Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP and Vista when in Beta but I expect it then.

When you can pick up a 64bit machine at £250 in the UK they are mainstream and should be supported.

So, in the unlikely event that anyone from Microsoft or HP read this – please get up to date; in the mean time it’s back to the 32bit version until you do.