TITLE:  Is residual finiteness a profinite property?
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: Let $G,H$ be infinite finitely generated groups such that $F(G)=F(H)$. Where $F(G)$ denotes the isomorphism classes of finite quotients of $G$. Let $G$ be residually finite. can we say that $H$ is residually finite too?

REPLY [10 votes]: As Steve D observes, the answer is 'no'. This is a very general phenomenon.  Let $G$ be any finitely generated residually finite group, and let $S$ be any finitely generated group with no finite quotients (Higman gave an example, or use an infinite simple group). Then $F(G)=F(G\times S)$, but $G\times S$ is certainly not residually finite.