i would always suggest one gig of ram just because on occasion you might need it but most likely you will never use it.
getting all that ram from apple is money and i would suggest you order it from newegg or crutchfield or wherever that is cheaper and reliable and has a lifetime warranty, have it ready for when you get your computer, and install it before you even start up for the first time
-chris
Josh, keep in mind it's much cheaper to add the memory yourself. Apple charges you quite a bit more than retail memory. Installing the RAM is simply a matter of removing the battery and using a pocket screwdriver to access the RAM cards.
I would order the unit with 512 MB and then replace a one of the 256 MB cards with a single 1 GB card. You may find the system runs just fine at 1.25 GB, and you'll save about a hundred dollars. If (in the future) the system begins to lag, you can replace the remaining 256 MB card with another 1 GB card. Plus, in the time you wait, the price of memory will certainly fall...
I was planning on running 2 GB, but I found 1.25 GB sufficient for everything I do. The system boots and responds very quickly and battery life is improved over just 512 MB.
If you are on a budget then yes, replacing just 1 stick with a 1gig stick will be the best solution.
If you want the best performance then you will want to use matching sticks to utilize the dual channel memory configuration. I understand the DC difference is minimal (5-6%) but its a difference and to some people every small increase leads to a much faster system.
If you plan on running programs like photoshop or video editing then I would highly recommend upgrading to 2gig.
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Black MacBook
Intel C2D
2gig DDR2-667
100gig 7200rpm HDD
Josh, keep in mind it's much cheaper to add the memory yourself. Apple charges you quite a bit more than retail memory. Installing the RAM is simply a matter of removing the battery and using a pocket screwdriver to access the RAM cards.
