What kind of hardware do I buy to add more disk space?

Hi Makeda here:
I like to know how can I increase my disk space on my Mac OSX 10.3.9? What is the name of the product I need to buy? I made a mistake and thought I needed more memory to get more disk space. The tech told me that purchasing more memory using a memory chip will give me more disk space. I found out this is not true. Please advise. Thanks in advance.

Makeda:
First, let us get some info on your computer. Boot up your computer in Panther. Then go to Apple Menu > About this Mac. Click the button More Info. This opens up the System Profiler. The top item in the sidebar is Hardware. Click on this if it not already selected. On the right side under the title Hardware Overview is a list of specs. Copy this and paste it in your response to this post. That will give me the basic information about your computer.
Now to some of your questions. Your computer has two kinds of memory: 1. RAM memory, is like your brain. It holds things in your mind while you process information. When you stop thinking about it the information is not there anymore. 2. Your Hard Disk Drive, is like a notebook in which you write down the stuff you think about. It keeps a permanent record. If the notebook is not big enough it soon fills up and you can't store information anymore.
That is about where you are. You need to increase disk space. There are two basic ways to do that. 1. Remove stuff from your Hard Disk Drive (HDD). That increases the amount of free space, but it does not increase the capacity of the HDD. The leads us to the second way. 2. Replace the HDD. You cannot make it bigger, you have to buy a bigger drive and install it in your computer. That will give you more disk space. The System Profiler will tell you how big your drive is. Just under Hardware in the sidebar is ATA. That is your hard drive. Click on it. On the right side it gives you all the information. Note particularly under Macintosh HD the heading Capacity. It tells you how much your drive can hold. Note, too Available, which tells you how much empty space you have on your drive.
When I upgraded to Panther I thought I was also increasing my "disk" space capacity? True? Or am I confusing myself more?
Panther is an Operating System. It is what makes your computer function. It makes your computer able to run applications. It is installed on your HDD, and adds power to your computer, but it does not add disk space. Only a Hard Drive does that.
OK, that's enough for now. Post back with further questions and I will try to answer in the best way I can.
Good luck.
cornelius
Message was edited by: cornelius

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