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okay, can i get the low end 24 imac, with standard config (the 1 gig takes one memory slot) and the 2 gig which is 1x2gb? will that work? also, is there a difference on how many slots are fill like will 2x1 be more powerfull than 1x2?
Yes, that will work, but most ppl here will suggest (as CanadaRAM did) that you check out 3rd party memory. You can take you iMac to 4 GB with 3rd party RAM for less than it would take it to 3 GB at the Apple Store.
 
I get away with one gig. I wish I had an extra 512 megs when I run Parallels. I wish I had an extra gig when I try running 15 programs at once.
Usually it's just iCal, Safari, iTunes, Adium, Mail, and maybe word, fetch, Photoshop, Poisoned, or iMovie 08 with 1 gig.
 
im getting the highest end imac with 2.8 core 2 extreme, alot of people on here have that, except they all upped the ram to 4gb, is the 4gb worth it for web design, sum photo editing, movie editing with final cut maybe, listening to music, surfing the net, and playing fsx on bootcamp running vista, im planning on getting my imac with leopard, will leopards app recommend at least for 4gb??? please tell me!!! thanx alot in advance

When I first got mine I played around with Photoshop working on some pics with the stock 2GB. Then I added more to up it to 4GB. I did notice a difference playing around with the same photos. I didn't have a way to actually measure it and it's just my perception but it does seem to be snappier. Surfing the net, I didn't notice any change.
 
Reboot to reclaim memory? Why? Even if Safari did have the bug (It doesn't) you would only have to quit safari, not re-boot.
No, quitting does not reclaim the memory. You must reboot. That's the nature of memory leakage -- you don't get the memory back after you quit the application.
 
I get away with one gig. I wish I had an extra 512 megs when I run Parallels. I wish I had an extra gig when I try running 15 programs at once.
Usually it's just iCal, Safari, iTunes, Adium, Mail, and maybe word, fetch, Photoshop, Poisoned, or iMovie 08 with 1 gig.

I will be buying my first Mac ( iMac ) as soon as Leopard comes out . I am no computer geek . I use the computer mainly for internet , email , iTunes , Photoshop , Skype ...you know , basic stuff . No games . Can I get away with 1 GB ? Or would you guys recommend that I spring for 2 ?
 
what is 2GB capable of, what extras do u get with 4GB, like tell me how many mid size apps i can run at once, how many professional type apps, and what kind of load, and again, tell me what more i can get with 4GB, thanx!!!

The bottom line is to look at newegg.com. Their price for RAM is cheap enough you may as well just buy 4GB. You only save something like about $80 by going with 2GB.

But you want a more technical answer?
You can run everythign all at once with only 1GB of RAM. The question is "How fast?" The way you can tell if more RAM will make something go faster is to first do that "something" while keeping an eye on the Activity Monitor. Watch the number of page outs. Ideally you want this to be zero but if it trails page ins by a 10:1 ratio it is "good enough" Once you reach the good enough point. Adding more RAM does not help much.

But you have to evaluate this for each usage case and it's always easy to find a case were even more RAM helps. For example try opening four VMware Fusion virtual machines while running Aperture. For that you'd need a lot more than 4GB.

You ask "How many professional apps?" Is this reasonable? Are you really planing on running FCP to edit some video footage while at the same in another window you are designing a new condo complex with a 3D CAD system? People just never do this except in tests.

I will be buying my first Mac ( iMac ) as soon as Leopard comes out . I am no computer geek . I use the computer mainly for internet , email , iTunes , Photoshop , Skype ...you know , basic stuff . No games . Can I get away with 1 GB ? Or would you guys recommend that I spring for 2 ?

I have 1GB in an iMac. I can do what you describe. It would be nice to have 2GB. What I add VMware Fusion into the mix it really is a drag on performance due to the limited RAM. I need more.

Do you really use Photoshop CS3? You say "I am no computer geek" but CS3 implies that you are rather serious. The new CS3 runs well enough in 1GB but itend not to do much else when I'm working on a photo in PS. Older versions of PS are PPC-only, not universal. and took up more memory due to Rosetta but CS3 runs OK but then I'm working with 6MP images at most.
 
There is no reason to get 4gb just for web browsing, email, photo editing, ext. I have 2gb in my c2d macbook, and I do more then the average consumer in terms of usage and apps open, and it never hangs or has any problems. 1gb should be fine unless you are using pro apps like final cut or photoshop, where then you should get the 4gb, although if you only use them occasionally, it is not worth the money.

I've even used a Macbook on 512 before, and it was fine for web browsing, email and iTunes. Only get the 4gb if you are doing pro work.
 
There is no reason to get 4gb just for web browsing, email, photo editing, ext. I have 2gb in my c2d macbook, and I do more then the average consumer in terms of usage and apps open, and it never hangs or has any problems. 1gb should be fine unless you are using pro apps like final cut or photoshop, where then you should get the 4gb, although if you only use them occasionally, it is not worth the money.

I've even used a Macbook on 512 before, and it was fine for web browsing, email and iTunes. Only get the 4gb if you are doing pro work.

I use Photoshop occasionally at most . No pro work and no plans to do any . I'm just sick to death of Windows and Microsoft and even though the Mac is going to cost me more dough than a comparable PC I am GO for an iMac .

Thing is , one of my buddies , who has been a Mac guy for years and has a Mac Pro is saying I should get at least 2 GB or I'll be booting myself in the butt sometime down the road . Of course , he is a geek and does lots of pro work on his Mac so really needs a ton of RAM .
 
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