so check this out, I went to the feedback link for the .net problem, it's here;haven't tested the memory and I haven't read the dumpfile but the logs show that microsoft recognizes the problem and is working on it
something with .net
[edit]
just ran the vista performance app, my memory is rated 5.1 which is pretty high on a laptop, the application tests operations per second, I have no idea how valid or the depth of scope these results indicate
I diabled the media center from start up, at least that should speed boot time