There are four major power points in any computer/Mac: 1. Processor 2. RAM 3. Hard Drive 4. Graphics. -::- CPU -::- Since Apple moved over from PPC to Intel processors, they have gained alot of performance. In a processor, the main number to look for is the Clock Speed (this is the number shown when ordering an Apple, for example, it might say Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz). To be adequately equipped for the future, I would say that you should have a minimum of 2GHz. If you don't plan on doing serious, intensive gaming or (HD/High Quality) video editing, you won't need a blazing CPU; however, I would get the best CPU I could afford. All of the other components (excluding graphics in laptops) can be upgraded, but Apple CPUs are much more complex to upgrade. -::- RAM -::- RAM (Random Access Memory) is one of the most crucial components in any system. The bare-minimum amount of RAM should be 1GB (gigabyte); I always try to go with 2GB or more. RAM is used by every application that you have open. Applications store data on the RAM so that it is available instantly when you need it. For example, if you are running a Keynote, all of the slides are stored in RAM so that when you click on that slide, you don't have to wait for the hard drive to load it; it is there ready to be displayed. If you are a casual user who doesn't do any advanced video editing or gaming, 2GB should be able to get you through in a breeze. If you plan on having more than six applications open at once, it may benefit you to get a little more RAM. - If anyone wants a RAM upgrade, I can upgrade your Mac laptop to 4GB for $225 (plus shipping your laptop). -::- Hard Drive -::- Laptop hard drives have hit a speed bump recently. For space and power constraints, almost all laptops are only using SATA 1, thus limiting the speed to (1.5Gb/s - gigabits per second). Therefore, the only real configuration option in going to be drive size. The way applications are expanding, I would recommend a bare-minimum of 80GB. I shoot for a minimum of 120GB. The speed of the drive (as in RPMs of the spindle) is not significant if you do not plan on doing advanced video editing of large files. If you have large files (whether music or video) or are buying a server, try to get a drive with a minimum of 7.2k RPM. Most of the laptop drives are going to be 5.4k RPM, which does not noticeably hinder the notebooks performance. The two largest notebook drives that Apple ships are 5.4k RPM due to power/size constraints; I am not positive about the speed of the others, though I believe that they are all 5.4k as well. - If anyone wants a Hard Drive upgrade, I can upgrade your Mac laptop to 250GB for $245 (plus shipping your laptop). -::- Graphics -::- Laptop graphics are almost impossible to change once the laptop has left the factory; though I have done it before, it is extremely dangerous and can easily render the system useless (and your warranty void). MacBooks ship with 64MB of shared graphics memory built into the computer. Shared means that part of your RAM is used for your graphics chip. As a general rule of thumb, the integrated graphics chip should be enough for most users. If you plan on watching HD videos or intense gaming/video editing, you should probably step up to a MacBook Pro for the enhanced graphics capabilities. -::- Optical Drive (e.g. DVD) -::- Optical drives offer little as far as customization goes. Your DVD drive can be upgraded to a SuperDrive by a professional. I try to get DVD burners on all of my computers just in case the need for a backup besides my external hard drive arises. If you don't foresee a need for a DVD burner, I would advise getting one anyway. At-least you would have a built-in toaster, if only it would dispense jam! - If anyone wants a SuperDrive in their laptop, I can upgrade your computer to a DVD +RW for $100 (plus shipping your laptop).