In the wikipedia article about [vector space](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_space) I do not understand this sentence

> 
> Roughly, affine spaces are vector spaces whose origin is not specified.
> 
> 
> 

A vector space does not need an origin. When one writes:

$\vec{v} = \pmatrix{v\_x\\v\_y\\v\_z} = \pmatrix{1\\-4\\7}$

it only needs a basis, not an origin. Am I wrong, or what am I misunderstanding ?