Upgrading my OS to run Aperture 3 - Snow Leopard or Lion?

I have a late 2008 unibody Macbook. Specs are 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, and running Leopard version 10.5.8. 160 GB hard drive with about 60 gigs free.

I never upgraded my OS because there wasn't a need to. I use my computer for general purposes (internet, iWork, iLife). I also use it for storing and editing photos, but I have outgrown iPhoto and I want to get Aperture 3 and Pixelmator. So now I need to upgrade my OS so I can run Aperture 3. I plan on upgrading my RAM to 4 GB as well.

Apple recommends Lion 10.7.2 for Aperture, but is my computer too old to handle Lion? Should I stick with Snow Leopard? The extra $29 doesn't matter to me either way. I just want the best performance from my 3 year old Macbook.

I'm already set on using Aperture 3. Lightroom is too expensive and I don't like Photoshop Elements as an external editor (too tedious).

I'd appreciate any advice you can give me, especially from Aperture 3 users with either operating system! Thanks!

You should be able to run Aperture 3 just fine and whether you go with Snow Leopard or Lion is up to you. In either case I would upgrade my RAM, 2 MBs isn't going to give you the performance you want.

Lion is really an optional update for running Aperture 3. Buy SL, test it out and see how you like it. If you don't feel the "need" to upgrade to Lion, then don't. It entirely up to you.

Aperture is a resource hog to begin with. Install another 2 gigs first. I'd honestly recommend using Snow Leopard over Lion though, as it handles memory a bit differently.

Doug

Thanks for the responses! I just ordered new RAM and I'm going to run the trial versions of Aperture and Pixelmator with Snow Leopard to see how they are.