Firstly, let me give you some background on the kinda usage that I have. Apart from the Usual Browsing/Email/Office Stuff, I require Visual Studio Express Web Developer, Visual Studio Express Windows Developer, Sql Server Express, Oracle Express to be installed on my system. While working I need to have two or more these software open at a time. I am planning to puchase a Laptop for Mobility sake. Do I need 1 Gig RAM on the machine?

P.S: The Processor is AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-50 1.6 GHz Dual Core, 2 X 256 KB Cache, uptp 1600 MHz FSB. Currently the machine has 512Mb RAM.

More RAM the better....it clearly will make the laptop more faster and run more smoothly so you really can't go wrong with that.

I would say 1 gig is pretty standard these days. The processor doesn't matter when buying memory, it's the motherboard that you need to look at.

512 would get you by, and if you don't want to upgrade to a gig now, see if you can upgrade to 1 512 stick instead of getting 2 256 sticks which is typical, that way you can upgrade later by just buying one stick instead of buying 2 new 512 sticks and throwing out the 256 sticks.

yes the more the better, for instance i have an older laptop just for games, saves my best one from the grandkids lol. howevre i did try to install a voice prog on it it said not enough memory so yes mores the better.