This stands for Random Access Memory, but what it really represents is workspace. The bigger it is, the more work you can do. You can still buy some computers with 32 MB of RAM, but any new purchase today should include at least 64 and I would recommend 128 to 256. The hard drive is where your programs and files are stored. There is a saying that we fill the available space.
Price follows as features increase, but the variance is small.
I recommend at least a CD-RW since there are multiple uses for it and adding it later costs more than including it in the original purchase. Getting a machine with a CD-RW and a regular CD or DVD player makes copying a CD easier than if you only have a single drive. Another drive which has not gained wide popularity is the Super Disk. It works like a floppy and will read regular floppies, but will also accept a Super Floppy that holds 120 MB or the equal of about 83 floppies. I have one computer with it and just got a panasonic digital camera that uses the Super Disks.