Mac users - how much memory?

Factual Questions
1

About eight years ago, work circumstances forced me to switch from Macintosh to Windows computers. I finally have the opportunity to switch back. I haven’t used a Mac in quite a while, and I want to make sure I don’t “underconfigure.”

The question: Is 512Mb of RAM adequate? Upgrading to 1Gb in a Mac Mini is an extra $300, which is quite a budget stretch at the moment.

I’ll be running OS X v10.3 (Panther). The majority of my work on the system will be done in Open Office and the iLife package that comes with the Mac. I’ll also be using the system for Web development and some ad design, which require graphic manipulation. I have some Perl programs I use regularly, but they don’t require a lot of system resources.

2

I can’t answer the question you ask but…

… 1GB of RAM from Crucial is $161.99. It must surely be possible to get an Apple approved engineer to install it for only a few $s more.

3

512MB should be fine. Of course 1GB would be better, but is not necessary.

You’ll save a fortune buying and installing the additional RAM yourself instead of having Apple do it. Also, It’s widely rumored that Apple will soon announce Tiger, the latest upgrade of their OS X operating system. It may be worth waiting to purchase your new computer so that it comes with Tiger pre-installed.

4

Except for the Mac Mini, installing RAM into Apple machines is a very easy, five minute, do-it-yourself project.

5

Local dealer told me that you’ll void your warantee putting memory in yourself. Jobs has done that before. Plus it’s yet another Mac with insanely wierd packaging. Rather than an extra long torx, you’ll need a putty knife to open it.
I went with 512 Megs. I expect it’ll be adequate.

6

You will NOT void you warrantee putting memory in yourself.

This is only true of the Mac Mini. Even then, installing RAM yourself will not void the warrantee unless you break something trying to open the case.

The RAM slots in Apple’s PowerBooks, PowerMacs, and iMacs are designed to be easily accessible.

7

I apologize. I just re-read your original post and realized that I skimmed over the part where you said you were looking at the Mac Mini specifically.

What I said still stands, though. Opening the Mac Mini yourself will not void the warrantee, but if you break anything in the process, Apple will not be responsible.

8

No sweat. The only reason I mentioned the dealer’s claim is that Apple has done things that way in the past. I’d want to get the word straight from Apple, or at least let a few months pass before ripping a mini open.

9

I read this the other day:

10

512 megs should be more than enough. I run a PowerBook with 768 megs, and do pretty heavy 2-D graphics full-time, and 768 is plenty.

11

Ditto what FlyingDragonFan said. I’ve done a ton of Photoshop work and Web design with 768MB in my G4.

12

Thanks for all the feedback, folks. I read a bunch of reviews that said 256MB was just not enough RAM for OSX 10.3, and I was hoping to hear that 512 would do it. I just placed my order, and I’m really looking forward to climbing back on the Mac wagon after all these years.

13

Well, too late now, but I would have told you to go for the gig.

14

Thanks anyway, Loopydude! It looks like I can buy a third-party 1GB DIMM a lot cheaper than the $300 Apple wanted for the upgrade, and then I have a 512 DIMM left to peddle somewhere. I’ll try it with the 512 and see how things go.

By the way, folks, please check out the other Mac thread I just started. I’m digging for more general advice that didn’t fit well in this memory thread.

Thanks again, everyone.

15

IGNORE THAT LINK. It just brings you back to this thread. I really need to pay more attention to what I’m cutting and pasting when I have eight tabs open at once.

I meant this other Mac thread!