[link|http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-2393.html|Activity Monitor] shows the same info, but takes up more display room either in 1+ windows or as dock icons.

I keep my dock hidden so I would use them in a window whenever I was interested in the info.

The menu bar applet works good for me - the Mac's menu bar is there pretty much all the time, and it's got quite a bit of vacant space on a 20" widescreen display.