MAC BOOK PRO.... Not keeping up with the D800e

I have this same model laptop and I upgraded to 8GB RAM and a Samsung 840 SSD + I left the 500GB HD in it (removed my DVD-ROM drive).  I use it as my tethering workstation for my P45+ and do minor editing on it when I am on the road.  It handles it just fine.  Not as good as my desktop workstation but good enough to show clients files, capture images and on the fly style changes / editing in C1.  So as others have stated, the RAM and SSD upgrades are the best and really the only options you have on this model.  Both will provide you the performance upgrade you might be needing.