Mak213, here are the specs for each system.
1. Vista 64-bit System, HP e9120f:
AMD Phenom II X4 910, 2.6 GHz quad-core processor
NVIDIA GeForce 9100 Chipset
Pegatron M2N78-LA Motherboard
8GB DDR3 PC3-8500 RAM
1 TB hard drive, 5400 RPM, SATA 3G
ATI Radeon 4350, 512 MB video RAM
DVD+/-RW 16X, +/- DL 12 X SATA drive
Blue-Ray read-only drive
801.11 b/g/n wireless PCI express x1 card
8-channel high-def audio
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium, 64-bit
software includes: HP Advisor, HP MediaSmart, Norton Anti-Virus, HP Games
2. Windows 7 64-bit System, HP e9220f (brand new system):
AMD Phenom II X4 910, 2.6 GHz quad-core processor
AMD 785G Chipset
Foxconn H-RS780-uATX Motherboard
8GB DDR3 PC3-8500 RAM
1 TB hard drive, 5400 RPM, SATA 3G
ATI Radeon 4350, 512 MB video RAM
DVD+/-RW 16X, +/- DL 12 X SATA drive
801.11 b/g/n wireless PCI express x1 card
8-channel high-def audio
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-bit
software includes: HP Advisor, HP MediaSmart, HP Games, Norton Anti-Virus, Norton Online Backup
So the specs are the same, except that the new Windows 7 machine has: no Blu-Ray, a different chipset and motherboard, and Norton Online Backup (which I can't find in the start menu or in the "Uninstall Programs" list of the Control Panel -- but I know it's there 'cause I got a pop-message asking if I wanted to use it).
And, as mentioned, it's the new, Windows 7 machine that is slower to sleep and wake -- and also slower to boot up cold and load basic programs, like Firefox.
I've installed the following on both systems:
--Office XP (though I noticed the slower sleep and wake time on the new Windows 7 system *before* installing Office XP)
--Firefox
--iTunes
--WinRar
Aside from that, nothing else. Also, the VIsta machine (which is faster to boot, sleep, etc.) has been in the house for 32 days, but I will say that it was quick to sleep, wake, and cold boot from the very beginning.
At this point, I'm not sure if I'll reinstall Vista fresh, but I'll keep an eye on things and see if the Windows 7 machine starts running some of its basic tasks more quickly.