I have been pretty sure that I will order the 768 GB option for the 27" iMac... and then compliment it with my existing 8TB Pegasus R4 Thunderbolt array.
As I consider it... I think there are actually two ways to go "SSD only" inside the iMac:
If I go option #2... the there are two sub-options:
I would still have the HDD inside (obviously)... but if I selected the option to spin down the HDD when not in use... would it really shut down? It is not a huge deal... but I would prefer to not have it spinning and making noise.
My biggest reason for wanting the "SSD only" option is that I want to keep my entire Aperture 3 library on the SSD. However, I do have the Pegasus R4... and it is actually quite fast with its 4 spindles. I could go that route... save $1K and then eventually buy a Thunderbolt SSD if I want additional IOPs for my A3 library.
In many ways... since the 2011 iMac with Thunderbolt... we actually have much less reason to get into the machine... given that most people do this to upgrade storage. Thunderbolt gives the option to upgrade much more easily and maintain very good performance.
/Jim
As I consider it... I think there are actually two ways to go "SSD only" inside the iMac:
- Order the $1300 768GB SSD Option
- Order the $250 1TB Fusion option... but keep the capacity under 128 GB
If I go option #2... the there are two sub-options:
- Keep the data on the Fusion drive below the size of the SSD... preventing any data actually reside on the HDD.
- Spilt the Fusion into independent SSD + HDD... and don't use the HDD.
I would still have the HDD inside (obviously)... but if I selected the option to spin down the HDD when not in use... would it really shut down? It is not a huge deal... but I would prefer to not have it spinning and making noise.
My biggest reason for wanting the "SSD only" option is that I want to keep my entire Aperture 3 library on the SSD. However, I do have the Pegasus R4... and it is actually quite fast with its 4 spindles. I could go that route... save $1K and then eventually buy a Thunderbolt SSD if I want additional IOPs for my A3 library.
In many ways... since the 2011 iMac with Thunderbolt... we actually have much less reason to get into the machine... given that most people do this to upgrade storage. Thunderbolt gives the option to upgrade much more easily and maintain very good performance.
/Jim