Installing MacBook RAM before first use?

It doesn't matter when you do it.

Welcome.

Cheers.

 

I personally always turn it on first just to make sure it works.....

 

Agree 190%. Make sure it works and everything checks out first, then install the RAM. If there is something wrong w. computer, you'd always be second guessing the RAM if installed before testing. Seriously - test computer first.

 

I installed mine before I booted it up for the first time.

 

I AGREE 290%. IT DOES MATTER!
Run it, you don't have to register OS X yet, because you can always re-install Leo later. Run the hell out of it, try everything. Make sure it all works. You could even run Tech Tool Deluxe. Then after you're sure you don't have DOA, shut it off, perform surgery, and then reinstall Leo and register. Just my 2cents.

 

You can if you want, but I was thinking instead of doing whatever migration/installation you were planning on doing, you could just run a dummy account and try out the computer for a bit. See how it feels and make note of the speed, while of course testing to make sure all the hardware works. Then when you know you don't have to send it back for being DOA, install the new RAM and proceed with a REAL install exactly the way you want it. This would also let you feel how much faster it responds with double the RAM.

But that's just the way I would do it because I've done quite a few installs on OS X and it's not a big deal for me to re-install every now and then. I store my data on other drives. YMMV, and welcome to the Cult of Mac.