I am just about to get a new 15inch i7 quad core macbook pro.
I am going to be installing a SSD in the optical bay to boot off.
My question is how is the best way to configure the mac so only osx and application data is written to the sad and everything else goes to the optical hard drive? I have been scoring the net and can't find a good tutorial on the best way to configure this without always doing everything manually any ideas folks???

Thanks Rob I am not really an IT geek is this full on ... Is there an app or basic way of doing it without major hacking etc

cheers that looks really good if you discover anything else please do post it..

Originally Posted by JimWOz

Put the SSD in the HD drive bay, and the HD in the Optical.
SATA 3 is not available in the Optical, only SATA 2 works there. - The chipset and logic board support SATA 3 in the optical bay, but currently only SATA 2 devices are stable there.
Apart from the newest Seagate XT Hybrids, all HD's are SATA 2.
The cost difference between a SATA 2 and SATA 3 SSD is marginal - so get a SATA 3 SSD into the HD drive bay.

The only downside is that the HD drive bay will support a 12.5mm high HD (older model WD 1TB drives) whereas the optical only fits a 9.5mm.

As far as moving large data files off the SSD goes, yes use Symlinks for individual folders, or just move the entire home directory to the SSD via the advanced option in the Users & Groups Preference Pane. (control click on your username)

further question if the boot drive with apps is on the ssd is it possible to make the desktop contents come from the hard drive. As All I want is osx and apps, all other data I want on the hard drive.

Originally Posted by JimWOz

Then this is your best way to do it.

Thanks to all for the great advice , it should be a screamer of a machine Im also putting 16gb of ram in it to boot.