Does the 4th GB of RAM makes any senses in the nem MacBook Series?

Question

Risking to start a neverending troll, and risking, the topic was discussed in exteso earlier, I have to admitt that I am a little bit ****** about a company that merchendizes computers with larger RAM-possibilities than the CPU can handle (to my knowlwedge also RAM doesnt grow on the floor for free...). And in particular, have their local dealer to sell those 4GBs w/o mentioning this limitation (Dataquest company Zurich Switzerland). I actually was so noobish, that i have built in 4GB of RAM in my Dual 2.16 17" 3 months ago, unfortuneately it went broken yesterday, so i wont be able to do any checks myself. The following english statement of Apple dates to October 26, 2006, so maybe it was kinda a 'childhood sickness' that has be fixed in the meantime, and my investement in the 4th MB wasnt for nothing.
What makes me more suspicious is the fact that in the german translation of the topic, which dates to the June 07, 2007, this limitation to 3GB RAM for MacBook Pro (with 4 built in) is still mentioned. Well, because my poor Dual did only survive 3 monthes (dont let em drop on concret floors, Steve Jobs wont give u a new one, although he argued, the comp would survive the drop w/o any scratch...) i need a new one and i wanna be informed about the actual situation at the RAM's front best.
*Does anybody know, do the newest models of MacBooks not only accept 4GBs of RAM, but can they also access them all?*
+The MacBook Pro (15-inch Core 2 Duo) and MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo) notebooks have two SDRAM slots in the bottom of the computer, and they come with at least 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM installed into the bottom slot.+
+Although these notebooks will accept up to a 2 GB SO-DIMM in each of the two memory slots, the MacBook Pro will only support 3 GB total memory. If you want to maximize the amount of SDRAM in your computer, install a 2 GB SO-DIMM in one slot and a 1GB SO-DIMM in the other.+
+You can use Small-Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules (SO-DIMMS) that meet all of these criteria:+
PC2-5300
unbuffered
nonparity
200-pin
+667 MHz+
+DDR2 SDRAM+
+You can use RAM module sizes of 1 GB or 2GB in the top or bottom slots.+
+DIMMs with any of the following features are not supported in the MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo) notebooks: registers or buffers, PLLs, ECC, parity, or EDO RAM.+
+Note: If you do install a 2 GB SO-DIMM in both the bottom and top memory slots of the notebook, the About This Mac window and Apple System Profiler will both show that you have 4 GB of SDRAM installed. However, Activity Monitor and other similar applications will reveal that only 3 GB of SDRAM has been addressed for use by the computer.+
*Kindly, Dhura*

Answer 1

Yes, the latest 2.2 and 2.4 models can see and use 4gb of ram.
The previous model can see 4 but only use 4 maximum - this applies to all Core 2 Duo machines pre-dating the latest ones which are based on the intel "Santa Rosa platform".
The original Core Duo machines could only see 2gb.
These are limitations of the intel chipsets - not of the Apple MacBook Pro per se.
Best of luck.