It's essentially a cache drive with a very large cache, where the cache doesn't empty therefore you you can use the cache as part of the storage too. Caching is a technique of using the speed of a faster drive to make the whole system fast. This just takes it to the limit, and dumps all frequently used files on the SSD. Windows has had the ability for you to add your own SSD and use either part of it or all of it as cache. And people have been setting up their own dual SSD and HDD system for a while now. They just didn't have the software to manage it and so manage it themselves by putting media in the HDD and and everything else in the SSD.https://www.macrumors.com/2012/10/23/apples-new-fusion-drive-not-a-typical-hybrid-drive/
I have yet to see anyone offering a 128 GB "cache" drive. Anyways, read the above, it's way different than caching.
Newsflash: It's not a portable. It sits on a desk and stays there.
If the optical drive was no longer necessary, I'd want that to be reflected in the price.
You'd save like $15 or so. I'm sure the cost saving has been reflected somewhere, but it's such a small amount, you probably wouldn't notice it.
And man, I love how easy the thing is to hook up. You just take it out, plug it in, and there you go.
I'm sorry, is that a REPLACEABLE PROCESSOR???
http://www.kodawarisan.com/k2012_02/images/113022.png
What kind of useless questions are these? Sure I'll have a stab at being on the opposite end then:
Does anyone use the Super Drive? No.
Does removing the Super Drive allow the iMac to be eight pounds lighter? Yes
Did Apple add any new features? Fusion Drive
Can you install more than 16GB of ram? Yes.
Does it perform better? Yes. Fusion Drive + Ivy Bridge + 1536 CUDA cores GFX + 32GB ram + less reflection on the display
I can see mSata connector in one of pics (white thing in lower left corner - http://www.melablog.it/galleria/imac-2012-smontato/8). I wonder if you can put your own mSata SSD and how would it work? I'm not into Fusion Drive - prefer to have my two drives visible.
PS. Hey, I'm new!
how do you know that was the "prime directive" and not moving away from optical drives? People complained when Apple removed the floppy drive but that had nothing to do with thin and light. Seems to me Apple thinks optical drives and wired networking are becoming things of the past.I love Apple's products, use their phones and tablets, but this thing is just sad. Their quest for "thin and light as prime directive" knowo bounds.
I'm one of those people myself. Yeah, shaving 9 pounds off the 27" model is definitely an improvement, but they did so in a way that's really questionable. I have absolutely no problems with how thick my iMac is, but maybe it would be nice if they eliminated or trimmed away at the "chin" on the computer, or squeezed in the black border around the screen.Is the imac lighter? YES(by about 33% for the 27" model), this may not mean much to you, but guess what, an optical drive doesn't mean much to me. Some people move their imacs around quite a bit.
how do you know that was the "prime directive" and not moving away from optical drives? People complained when Apple removed the floppy drive but that had nothing to do with thin and light. Seems to me Apple thinks optical drives and wired networking are becoming things of the past.
Absence of an anti-glare matte panel option: FAIL
No ergonomic adjustments: FAIL
Continuation of Apple's form-over-function design ethos: FAIL
There is nothing to see here...
Technically the 27" iMac already close to retina, in fact just a hear shy of the 15 RMBP. Especially since your viewing from over 2 feet. The only "real" retina displays are the iphone 4S/5 and the ipad.
I feel like if you remove something that's obsolete, you replace it with the technology that is responsible for it's obsolecense (in this case, I believe, cloud computing and digital purchases of media, etc). The floppy drive was replaced by the optical drive. The optical drive was not replaced with any hardware, and the computer became thinner and lighter. I agree that the need for an optical drive is drastically decreased from where it was, I was merely disappointed they removed this practicality completely, merely to replace it with nothing and make a computer that is not intended to be moved more mobile.
Absence of an anti-glare matte panel option: FAIL
No ergonomic adjustments: FAIL
Continuation of Apple's form-over-function design ethos: FAIL
There is nothing to see here...
its sucks that it is not a retina display. I have rmbp i cant go to non retina device anymore
not true, it is retina, the rmbp screen is so much better than my non retina mbp and it is obvious
What kind of useless questions are these? Sure I'll have a stab at being on the opposite end then:
Does anyone use the Super Drive? No.
Does removing the Super Drive allow the iMac to be eight pounds lighter? Yes
Did Apple add any new features? Fusion Drive
Can you install more than 16GB of ram? Yes.
Does it perform better? Yes. Fusion Drive + Ivy Bridge + 1536 CUDA cores GFX + 32GB ram + less reflection on the display
I'm sorry, is that a REPLACEABLE PROCESSOR???
http://www.kodawarisan.com/k2012_02/images/113022.png
All the whinny people on this forum are a disappointment to me. If you don't like it, don't buy it.
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Is you lack of English the reason you sound like a whinny, spoiled brat? But, hey, cool story bro.