This is where "free" comes in; the X memory usage is almost certainly not correct, for instance, although I could easily believe JVM and Eclipse using 400MB. You want to find out your total memory usage, so run "free" from the command line. This is on my overstuffed desktop at work:
Take "used" (422556) and subtract "buffers" and "cached" (which will expand with file usage to fill much of any memory you have at all) to get 196740 actually used.
I would agree overall with Abe's statement that a cheaper laptop generally does fine as far as most tasks go. Obviously, a nice screen, warranty plan, and sufficient RAM, etc. will cost you a bit more. I don't really have a sense for going rates these days but over $2000 seems definitely on the high side.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-11-23 12:53 am (UTC)total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 906816 422556 484260 0 37412 188404 -/+ buffers/cache: 196740 710076 Swap: 1542200 0 1542200Take "used" (422556) and subtract "buffers" and "cached" (which will expand with file usage to fill much of any memory you have at all) to get 196740 actually used.
I would agree overall with Abe's statement that a cheaper laptop generally does fine as far as most tasks go. Obviously, a nice screen, warranty plan, and sufficient RAM, etc. will cost you a bit more. I don't really have a sense for going rates these days but over $2000 seems definitely on the high side.