MacBook Pro RAM upgrading..

[Endeffect]

I just got my new MacBook Pro. I ordered only 512mb of RAM, as I ordered 2gb separately from Crucial.

Question #1:

Should I wait to install applications (Adobe Suite, Macromedia Suite, etc..) until I upgrade the RAM? In other words, do the programs configure themselves during installation with whatever RAM is currently present? Maybe a bit retarded question, I just want to be sure.

Question #2:

I read Anand's MacBook Pro review and saw how he had the cover off to replace the RAM. Has anyone actually done this here? If so, do I just unscrew those 3 screws on each side, lift the top up and replace the RAM? I"ve built PC's for several years, but never messed with a Mac nor a laptop, so I just want to be sure before I make any mistakes.

 

[dclive]

1. Install RAM anytime.
2. Really? Apple calls it user-serviceable - I thought it was just a little RAM port you had to unscrew. Anyway, should be easy to do - Apple's "user-serviceable" bits are usually pretty straightforward.

Enjoy your nice laptop! Do you have Boot Camp or Parallels Workstation on there yet?

 

[dclive]

Yeah - per Apple's techspec, you remove the battery, then there's a little cover you unscrew to then be able to add RAM.

 

[Tu13erhead]

Yep, dclive's got it right.

/jealous of MBP

 

[Endeffect]

Yep, you guys are right about the RAM installation. I just had to read further into the manual. (doh!). Good to know I don't have to wait to install any apps. Besides a delayed DNS look-up issue (since resolved, mainly..) this is so killer. Switched from a DELL Inspiron to MBP, what a difference. ;-).

 

[halfadder]

You'll want to upgrade the RAM before you install the Adobe and Macromedia software.

Why? Because Adobe and Macromedia haven't yet released Intel or "Universal Intel/PPC" versions of their Mac applications. This means the Intel CPU has to emulate a PowerPC CPU in order to run Adobe and Macromedia's software. This means they will run MUCH slower and require more RAM than if they were native Mac Intel applications.

I have no idea when Macromedia plans on updating their applications for Mac Intel, but Adobe has announced Spring 2007 for a Mac Intel version of CS3, and Fall 2006 for a Mac Intel version of Acrobat 8.

Apple's Pro applications (Final Cut Studio -- FinalCutPro, DVDStudioPro, Motion, Soundtrack, Compressor, LogicPro, Shake) and bundled consumer applications (iLife -- iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, iWeb, iTunes) have already been updated to native "Universal" Intel/PPC performance. Most of the newer Mac games and other applications have been too. Apple has a list of "Universal" software on their website.

 

[halfadder]

In the mean time, check out Parallels. (www.parallels.com) and download the free beta for Mac. It will let you run virual PCs inside Mac OS X, just like VMware or VirtualPC. It makes use of the Intel VT-x extensions and is FAST, like 99% of native speed fast! The only catch is it doesn't have fast video support, so it might be OK for business applications and maybe even Photoshop for Windows, but it's not for games. If you want to run Windows games, use Boot Camp to help you install WinXP SP2 on a second partition and dual boot.