In my opinion, there is little reason these days to run your computer with less than 2GB of memory. It shouldn't cost much more than $50.00, less if you're only adding more memory.

I'd say it depends on how easy/expensive it is to have more memory and how big the files you work with are.

I'd estimate you can get by on 512MB of memory. 1GB would be better if it isn't too hard or expensive to upgrade. 2GB would be best if you are working with big files or have lots of applications open at the same time, otherwise it will have diminishing returns over 1GB.

Turn off background programs, like anti-virus stuff, indexing software, scheduling software, etc.., and XP will soldier on with 256MB of memory, it's good that way. That gets pretty sluggish though.

Oh- I should say what I need it for.

I have Indesign at work on a computer that is dying. I have another computer that according tio IT needs more memory. (it is 2.80 Ghz, 530mb of RAM). My boss won't approve the additional memory because I am getting a new computer in a couple of months. We have 2 other laptops that might work, but I don't know how to tell if I have enough memory to install.

So I guess my question would be, what is the minimum memory I could have so I can run this program until I get my new computer, which hopefully will have 2G (IT chooses)

If you are talking about a new or recent computer, Tom is dead on. Memory is cheap.

Thank you guys- I think I can get one of the laptops here to work for now. I wish I could be involved in choosing the computer I use, but I am not at all. The one I have currently as a desktop is 512 and can't run the Creative Suite at all. I feel like it can barely run Access and iTunes at the same time! I am supposed to be getting a schmancy new one, though!

I feel like it can barely run Access and iTunes at the same time!

Hmmm... I could run all kinds of stuff on my home computer when it had 512MB. My daughter's computer still has 512MB and can run a bunch of stuff at the same time. I keep background stuff really pared down though.

I've done a fair amount of rebuilding old computers with parts from other old computers to give away, and helping people who can't invest any money in their hardware. This tends to make think in terms making the software get by without spending money, rather than what is optimal.

My apologies if this isn't quite the right thread to ask this in, but: I'm kind of new to the world of MP3s -- yes, I'm slow to adapt to new technology, so sue me -- and I'm still in the process of getting everything onto my MP3 player. I just came across this website, Free Music Downloads, that has a lot of music on it and claims that they are free MP3 downloads. The text talks mostly about lyrics, and claims that the lyrics belong to the authors and so on, but once you search out the albums and artists, the songs are there to download.

So.... my question is, if I actually download any of these, am I doing something illegal? Will the federal government be coming after me a year or two from now and fining me some ungodly amount of money? Does anyone know? Thanks.

on my brand new MacBook for work, I know have Win98 and WinXP installed. It's just bizarre! Gotta love legacy products that require old OS's!

So.... my question is, if I actually download any of these, am I doing something illegal?

Short answer? Yes, it's illegal.

Longer questions: Did you actually get to a point where there's an actual link to an actual mp3? It looks like they make you install some sort of P2P software before you can download any music. Did you do that? I would never install any P2P software that hadn't been recommended to me by someone whose technological expertise I trust.