Merom and 64-bit tech in a MacBook Pro

[sethypoo]

Ok, so I'm as excited as anyone about how sometime within the next year or so, Apple should be releasing an update to the MacBook Pro line consisting of, among other things, Merom processors in the MacBook Pro.

Merom is a 64-bit processor, meaning that it could address 8GB of RAM at a time (yum). My question is this: how is Apple going to give us enough space to physically install 8GB of RAM into the already small MacBook Pro case? Will we see the advent of 2GB SODIMM's? Or something like the iPod nano's 4GB DIMM? What's going to happen?

I really hope that Apple doesn't give us a 64-bit processor in a MacBook Pro and then not let us put in all the RAM that could be addressed. I'd love to run Photoshop entirely out of the RAM.

 

[generik]

I don't know about you, but I just can't imagine opening the panel and seeing 4 memory slots in it. Can you?

It will be functionality over form, and we all know what happens whenever Apple has to make a choice between the two...

 

[bodeh6]

Even the Alienware Aurora m7700 with dual optical drives, dual HD, AMD Desktop processor, memory card reader and over 2" thick (2.1” x 15.6” x 11.7”) only has 2 slots for RAM. Don't look at the 1" MBP to have more then that. Only possible way would be to make 2GB DIMMS so you could have a max of 4GB possible.

 

[trogdor!]

Bigger chips is the only way you will see more memory in notebooks. They have 2 and 4gig full size sticks, so soon they will at least get 2gig sticks into the smaller format. I expect to see potential 4gigs of memory in notebooks in the coming year.

 

[alexstein]

If you consider the formfactor of the MacBook Pro there is no way to get more RAM slots. I think that we will see RAM sticks with more larger amounts of Memory hence 2-4GB.

In the beginning it will be fairly expensive but as time goes on (with everything electronic) and things become more mainstream prices will go down.

 

[ipacmm]

If you consider the formfactor of the MacBook Pro there is no way to get more RAM slots. I think that we will see RAM sticks with more larger amounts of Memory hence 2-4GB.

In the beginning it will be fairly expensive but as time goes on (with everything electronic) and things become more mainstream prices will go down.

The problem is that I haven't really seen the price of 2GB sticks come down that much in price...I hope by the time the new MacBook Pro are released the price of 2GB will be close to 1GB sticks...

But 4GB of ram will be nice in a laptop...now all we need to see are some bigger hard drives and then we can truly have a desktop replacement.

 

[alexstein]

But 4GB of ram will be nice in a laptop...now all we need to see are some bigger hard drives and then we can truly have a desktop replacement.

...and faster HDD...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

2 RAM slots is most likely. 2GB DIMMs should be available by then, and who knows? 4GB DIMMS might show up soon enoguh.