Memory in a new macbook pro

Hello, I am about to buy this machine:
Apple - 15.4" MACBOOK PRO INTEL CORE 2 DUO 2.33GHZ NOTEBOOK WITH GLOSSY DISPLAY
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz, 2GB DDR2, 120GB SATA/100, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 256MB, 15.4" TFT 1440x900, 6x SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW), Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11g With Glossy Display, OS X 10.5 Leopard
Part #:7133537 $1,869.00 each

Here are my questions:
I have read in other posts that this machine will only recognize 3.3 gig of ram if I upgrade to 4 gig. Does the machine have two slots? If I want 4 gig I assume I have to throw away 2 1 gig strips and replace them with 2 2gig sticks. Am I wrong?

second question: For about 100 bucks different I can get this machine:
Apple
15.4" MacBook Pro - Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz, 2GB Memory, 120GB Hard Drive Notebook
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz, 15" TFT, 2GB DDR2, 120GB SATA, Nvidia GeForce 8600 128MB, 8x SuperDrive, Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T, Airport Extreme, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR & iSight, OS X 10.5 Leopard

Different video card, faster superdrive. I can also get it with the glossy screen for the same price.
So, The actual question is is there that much of a difference between these two cards?
Thanks for reading my wordy post. The machine will be used for light video editing, lots of music, internet, and parallels desktop for my quicken and mediamonkey,

I would definitely go for the 2.2GHz -it will support 4gb -you will have to take out the two 1gb sticks.
the 2.33 only supports 3gb of ram...

Thanks for the reply. I didn't realize that there was that much of a difference because of the processor speeds. I guess I have a lot to learn

its not the speed it the type apple moved from the c2d chips when they upgraded the speed to 2.2 upwards anything slower than 2.2 will not take the 4gb of ram and why have 3gb when you can have 4

Now I am confused. If the C2D chips handle 4gig, wouldn't the 2.33 ghz machine described above handle 4gig? It is also a C2D.

You also get a LED backlit LCD screen on the 2.2GHz MBP, I say go for it!

P.S. Both models mentioned by you are Core 2 Duo, however the latest C2D a.k.a. Santa Rosa (2.2/2.4/2.6GHzs) have a faster front side bus speed and better power efficiency etc.

The reason the newer C2D 2.2 can use 4gigs, and the older 2.33 can only use 3 gigs is due to the Santa Rosa platform. The 2.33 was not on the Santa Rosa, when Santa Rosa was released the processor speeds changed. The 2.2, 2.4 and 2.6 can use 4 gigs, where anything else will only be able to read 3gigs.

recon731 said:

The reason the newer C2D 2.2 can use 4gigs, and the older 2.33 can only use 3 gigs is due to the Santa Rosa platform. The 2.33 was not on the Santa Rosa, when Santa Rosa was released the processor speeds changed. The 2.2, 2.4 and 2.6 can use 4 gigs, where anything else will only be able to read 3gigs.

Click to expand...

correct...

Thank you all. Now I understand. It is the Santa Rosa platform that I need to keep an eye out for. Many thanks.