[sandipc]

> a few hours of assembly/disassembly time

for replacing the RAM on a unibody aluminum MacBook Pro? it's one screwdriver (Phillips 00), maybe 10 screws to remove from the edges of the back cover, and the RAM modules are easily accessible without any additional tools. One of the easiest RAM upgrades I've ever done... maybe 10 minutes max.

(not that it matters anymore since the retina models aren't user-upgradeable)

[jtbigwoo]

The 2006/2007 versions were definitely a chore to take apart and required three or four different screwdrivers. The unibody ones starting in late 2008 are much easier to work on. (At least when replacing the RAM and HDD.)

[judk]

The hard drive was not user serviceable. The ram was, just behind the battery

[cookiecaper]

I've never upgraded a unibody aluminum MBP. The ones I've worked on were from 2007.

It is nice that there was a temporary respite of upgradability before they decided to go to the furthest extreme possible and make it entirely non-upgradable.

[Igglyboo]

Newer macs have the ram soldered onto the board.