will ubuntu recognize 2 Gb ram in my acer netbook?

Yes, Ubuntu WILL recognize your 2GB RAM.

Best choice, format and remove windows and replace it with Ubuntu. Use unetbootin to install Ubuntu's image to a flash drive and install it on your Aspire One.

*Google for tutorials on how to use unetbootin to create a bootable Ubuntu flash drive*

HTH.

I've been running only ubuntu, first 11.4, and now 10.04 and have been enjoying experimenting with it, but when I try to replace the 1 gb stick with the 2 it will not boot up from the HD or from a boot cd.

Check in BIOS if memory is recognized. Looks more like hardware issue.

Thanks! When I boot with the standard 1gb stick, the bios shows that amount as recognized; however when I change to the 2 gb stick I can't even get to the bios screen. It starts to power on, I hear the hard drive spin, and then it goes quiet with no video at all.

System Memory1, 3, Single-channel DDR3 SDRAM support with one soDIMM module4 (for model with Intel® Atom™ processor N455/N475/N550 only)
Up to 1 GB of DDR3 system memory (for Windows® 7 Starter for small notebook PCs)
Up to 2 GB of DDR3 system memory (for other operating systems)
Single-channel DDR2 SDRAM support with one soDIMM module (for model with Intel® Atom™ processor N450 only)
Up to 1 GB of DDR2 system memory (for Windows® 7 Starter for small notebook PCs)
Up to 2 GB of DDR2 system memory (for other operating systems)

This is from the acer site: Mine is the N455. I'm afraid by "other operating systems" they mean other windows 'full" versions.
Thnx, JR

I think it's more a compatibility issue between memory chip and chipset.
Check which kind of memory can be installed on netbook.
Boot on old memory chip, increase latency times in BIOS for memory, and check new one.