i've installed ram in an IBM thinkpad before...usually there's a cover on the bottom of the laptop that you need to take off with a tiny screwdriver, then the ram looks pretty darn similar to regular "desktop" ram and you put it in that way....not too complex , as long as there is a cover on the bottom and room for more memory inside.
btw..i have ALSO seen laptops where the keboard actually de-hinges and you access the internals of the computer underneath the keyboard, but i'd say most laptops just use a cover on the bottom.