How much RAM do you need, Nervous Nellie?

She is back, with a follow-up report:

During the course of a One to One session at the Apple Store, my tutor said my new MacBook was not working well. He explained that I had too many programs running—Finder, Safari, Mail, iCal, Address Book, and Pages or Word. “But I like to have a lot of apps open at once,” I protested.

Sometimes I add to that list Dictionary, Grab, my scanner. I may even increase the load by syncing my iPhone or listening to Pandora while I’m working. The tutor said, “Well, you’ve only got 2GB of RAM. You need more if you want to use that many apps at the same time.”

What?! When I bought the MacBook in November, I carefully described my needs to the salesperson and told him that I like to use a lot of apps at the same time. I specifically asked whether I should upgrade to 4GB. Both the salesperson and one of the Geniuses told me that I didn’t need 4GB because I don’t use RAM intensive graphics programs or PowerPoint.

I told the tutor, “If you’re right, I’m furious because I’ve lost my two-week window of opportunity to upgrade at a lower cost.”

“I’ll talk to my manager,” he replied, but returned immediately to say he would upgrade my machine at the new computer price. I suspect that he didn’t really talk to the manager; probably everyone in the store has authorization to upgrade at that price under circumstances like mine. Regardless, my tutor switched the RAM for me himself in about 15 minutes. Two days have passed; I must tell you that I noticed the difference instantly and am a much happier camper with 4GB.

Apple’s RAM modules are, perhaps, overpriced. I paid $100 for the two 2MB modules plus installation, but I got them installed immediately, so I was satisfied. Being a nervous nellie, I wouldn’t try installing them myself.

Because I bought the RAM outright, the tutor gave me back the two one MB modules and said I could sell them, but, as far as I know, they’re limited to late 2009 MacBooks and I can’t think why any new MacBook owner would want two 1MB modules. Also, except for Craigslist, which I’ve never used, I don’t know where I could sell them, and I figure they wouldn’t be worth much. The best thing for me to do is to donate the modules to a local charity that sends computer hardware and software to developing countries and get a tax receipt.

Two additional experts on whom I rely for Mac guidance also told me that, given the sorts of things I do with my MacBook, I did not need to spend the additional $100 for extra power. Why are people—even the Apple Store itself, which stands to make extra profit—saying this when the difference in speed is substantial?

It’s hard to say, but I have a theory. I suspect that all those experts are power users who run souped up computers themselves. They probably don’t have extensive experience actually computing on bottom of the line machines. Probably tutors working with owners of bottom of the line Macs usually close all apps except the one they’re working with at the time, so they don’t realize how much several apps open at once will sap the juice. But, once again, the Apple Store did right by me, so I have no complaints.