How much RAM should I get in my FIRST Macbook Pro?

Finally ready to pick up my first Macbook. I've been a Windows junkie until now. I have iPads, iPhones, iPods, etc and now it's time to go all in. My question is RAM. I've already decided to go with the Macbook Pro with the Retina display but I'm still undecided on which one. If I'm going to invest thousands I want to make sure it will last and not be obsolete after a few years. So far, I've nailed down the processor (i7) and the hard drive (512GB SSD). Should I bite the bullet at go with the 16gb of RAM or is that overkill? Bare minimum I would go with 8GB of RAM.
My planned usage is as follows:
-Word and spreadsheet processing
-Develop presentations
-Web surfing
-movie watching
-photo editing (I'm a novice now but would like the step it up a notch)
I may also get into minor HD video editing at some point in the future.
I want the ability to grow in the future and not be limited by my laptop while not breaking the bank!
Thanks for you help and recommendations!

As they are no-longer user upgrade able, I would advise getting the most you can reasonably afford to future proof your machine. 8Gb is fine with Mavericks today with all bit very heavy video editing work. In most cases heavy video editors probably have a desktop pro for that anyway. Mine is probably over spec'ed with 16Gb currently, but I've never had a machine that I have not needed up maxing out the Ram in its later life.
I've already read posts of people selling their Retina laptops to get another as they only went with the standard amount of Ram.

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In the link Alvin Ray posted it shows the different configurations that can be used in RAM. Officially Apple states that the MacBook supports 2 GB Ram. It can hold 4 GB but only uses 3 GB. The 4 GB would only benefit the matched pair use for optimum graphics. Unless you do a lot of very graphic intensive work 3 GB should be fine.

For a new imac how much ram should i get?

If I buy a new iMac, I see that one can get it with 16GB or even 32GB RAM. dMy 2007 iMac has 4 GB now after I upgraded? What would the difference be?

My 10 cents worth:
The minimum configurable amount of memory of a new iMac is 8Gb But...
If you are looking at a new upgradable iMac, absolute do NOT buy the Apple RAM upgrades at the time of purchase. It is grossly overpriced, and although good quality and reliable (I've been led to believe) you can buy just as good, if not better for a lot less. I wouldn't look further than OWC (http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/apple/memory/) or Crucial (http://www.crucial.com/). Both offer matched pairs and kits that are guaranteed to work with your iMac and as you will see, cost a lot less than Apple. Don't be fooled by the price, they supply good quality, fast memory.
Secondly, in terms of how much RAM, the question is, what is your budget? I always believe that if you can afford it (and memory nowadays isn't that expensive) max out your system and then forget about it because:
a) There's a fair chance that you'll be upgrading it again at some point if you don't max it out.
b) You are releasing the maximum potential of your iMac (in terms of memory performance, although the jump from 16Gb to 32Gb will not be as significant as the jump from 8Gb to 16Gb))
c) If you sell it, the extra RAM will be an attractive option for any buyer.

How much RAM should I get?

Okay -- I have been using an iBook g.4 1.33 GHZ since mid-2005. I think it's time I got a new Apple product, and I have settled on the MacBook Pro 13 Inch 2.26 GHZ that would come with 2 GB of RAM.
I am wondering two things.
1) Since Apple charges too much for RAM upgrades, would if it void my warranty if I bought 2 extra gigs from Crucial and installed it myself (and is self installation even possible with the unibody design?)?
2) Do I even NEED 4 GB? I do a lot of internet surfing, and minimal video editing. I've been told by someone that even if you get a lot of RAM, that doesn't mean your computer will even utilize it. Is this true?
I want the new Macbook I purchase to be fast as **. Will 2 GB do the job?

The newer models are not as easy to upgrade but you still can upgrade yourself. Now you have to remove the whole back rather than press a lever to easily access the hard drive etc. Infact come to think of it you would have had to remove the whole back from older models for RAM upgrades anyway.
Snow Leopard is on it's way which is 64bit and would utilise more of the of the RAM. I would gor the 2GB and later if you feel the need upgrade yousrself. So long as you are careful and treat your computer with "kid gloves" you will be fine.
Hope this helps.

How much RAM can I put in my new MacBook Pro 313 2.4 Ghz I5 13.1"? I'm getting conflicting answers on Google search.

I just bought my first Mac after years of deliberation, and even working for Apple for over seven years since moving to the Bay Area. I can't believe I waited this long!!! I love it!
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Yes, it is a little confusing. If your MacBook Pro is brand new, the limit is 16GB.
jgelements wrote:
8GB as designed by Apple: http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/specs-13inch.html
Yes, but that is only because 8GB was the chip set available when they designed it. But there have been many times in Mac history when the Mac worked perfectly well with bigger chips released after the product launch. In the case of the MacBook Pro, 16GB RAM has been verified by pro users who have upgraded to 16GB without problems.
mhollman, here is the link to the actual memory. The company selling them has an excellent reputation as a supplier of Mac upgrades, I buy mine there.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_MacBook_MacBook_Pro/Upgrade/DDR3_133 3MHz_SDRAM
Here is a reputable Mac blogger reporting the advantages of 16GB RAM, if your jobs are big enough to benefit.
http://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2011/20110309_3-Photoshop-MBP-16GB--news.htm l
The first time I went beyond Apple spec was with the PowerBook G3, 12 years ago. Apple specced 512MB RAM, but months later it was found that the PowerBook worked fine with the new 1GB RAM kits and I ran it that way for years.
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http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=957BE069A5CA7304
Though New Egg has these here, and the 8 GB chips are $53 each. I believe these are compatible with my Macbook Pro Late 2011 (2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144555&Tpk=GeIL%208GB%2 0204-Pin%20DDR3%20SO-DIMM%20DDR3%201333%20%28PC3%2010660
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Hello,
Sounds like an odd question and maybe it is, so apologies i am utterly Newbie here.
I am running a i7 5930 with 64 gig's of DDR4, typically i am using 70% CPU but the RAM is seldom reaching over 30% usage? Is this odd, am i not applying the software setting correctly?
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I've been searching for and reading web pages and white papers put out by Adobe all afternoon and can't find anything suggesting that large amounts of RAM specifically benefits Premiere users.
System requirements | Adobe Premiere Pro
4 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended)
How much Ram do I need? (getting a new laptop, help me please!)
Todd Kopriva, Adobe staff, says "16GB is plenty" for Premiere.
http://www.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/products/aftereffects/cc/pdfs/Configuring_Your_S ystem_20140312.pdf
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I recently purchased a 13" MacBook Pro. It is a mid-2012 model. It currently has 4 GB. I connect it to an external monitor which makes it easier for me to use while editing. I always have the application sit and load with the spinning ball icon. I use FCPX, Photoshop, and After Effects on a daily basis. I was wondering if the RAM increase would help me create my videos more efficently. Thanks for all the comments and help ahead of time!

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About OS X Memory Management and Usage
Using Activity Monitor to read System Memory & determine how much RAM is used
Memory Management in Mac OS X
Performance Guidelines- Memory Management in Mac OS X
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Understanding top output in the Terminal
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