I was reading the last issue of Smartphone & Pocket PC  Mag. and was reading up on the Experia X1 which I have decided to be my next device. as I was reading the specs on the X1 a sentence hit me like a ton of bricks!

The X1 currently has 128 MB of RAM and 256 of Flash ROM - then it went on to say that the next version of Windows Mobile (WM7) is rumored to require 256 MB of RAM. It may be impossible to upgrade devices without at least that much RAM.

I stopped dead in my tracks after reading this, and thought to myself....if I pay this much money for this device....I will never be able to get to WM7 with it. Soooo....I'm not sure what to do now, other than sit and look around and weight another year?? Or choose a device with 256 MB of RAM now....which is what I probably will do...but I just wonder if anyone can possibly confirm the rumor? Bill I know this is a LLLLLLLLLong shot! but hey thought I would at least ask....can anyone confirm or deny?

Interesting.

What current devices have 256MB RAM?

Just to name a few: I said the same thing.......

HTC Touch Pro - 288 RAM
HTC Touch HD - 288 RAM
HTC S740       -  256 RAM

Unfortunately, all, as the official site policy notes:

"Administrators, moderators, and other Connection staff members, as well as Microsoft contributors and MVPs, cannot confirm or deny the accuracy of any information found in discussions of rumors or speculation in this site."

However, what I will say is that I'm treating everything I hear about future developments with Windows Mobile - including 6.5 - with a huge grain of salt. Honestly, I know almost nothing about 6.5, let alone about the future beyond that. Sorry!

Thank you Bill, no need to be sorry...I too take most of it with a grain of salt..but I was curious about the comment made about WM7. Thanks for your response.....

If rumours are to be believed it'll be the back end of 2009 at the earliest before we see Windows Mobile 7. By that time you'll want a new device anyway won't you?

Dave Parker MVP:

If rumours are to be believed it'll be the back end of 2009 at the earliest before we see Windows Mobile 7. By that time you'll want a new device anyway won't you?

LOL well maybe....I purchased my Qtek 9000 in 06' and will put it against any device work wise......but I'm sooooo due for a new one!!!!

We'll get a hint if any rumors are true if we start seeing a jump in phones with 256MB plus of RAM.  Like yrless I'm due up on a new phone so I'm going to hold off just a little bit longer before making a committment.   

given the fact that very few devices / operators every deliver official upgrades.... I set expectations very low up upgradability of WM devices (as opposed to the iPhone and G1 devices which have demonstrated, like the Zune, that it can be done)

By the time WM7 ships I expect all devices will require VGA screens, graphics accelerators and a direct link to the Large Haydron Collider for power so it'll be a cold day in somewhere hotter than Vegas before anyone ships an update that will actually perform well ;)

I'd be surprised if any WM6 devices get WM7 upgrades. In order to do so the SP's would have to purchase an upgrade. It's not really in their interest to do so for a device that has a 12-18 month shelf life. Especially when you consider how most people automatically upgrade their devices at end of each cycle. If you bought a Vista PC from PC World you wouldn't expect to get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it's released. Why should mobile devices be any different?