Aperture (1.1 & 1.0.1) adjustments are chunky and slow

Question

I know there are other threads on "performance is slow" and 1.1 success/failure opinions, but really wanted to just talk specifics here.
I wanted to hold my powder a bit until I had a chance to work the tools a little, and didn't want to post based on just 1.0.1. Anyway, you can see my specs below, I am running on a brand new G5 dual (core)-2.3Ghz, 4.5GB RAM, Nvidia 7800GT video. The images I am working with are roughly 8-9MB CR2 RAW files from a Canon 20D.
I can say definitively that overall Aperture performance is not good. Here's some examples:
1) RAW image loading: when I click between images, it takes about 3 seconds to load each image.
2) Rotation tool: unbelievably chunky. When I first put the rotation tool over an image and move the tool, it takes anywhere from 2-4 seconds before the image responds by rotating. After the image starts to rotate, moving the tool further results in intermittent smooth rotation and 1 second response time, making for a chunky, jumpy rotation.
3) Exposure, Saturation, Brightness, and Contrast sliders: drag the slider, it takes anywhere from 1-3 seconds before the slider responds and catches up with the mouse. After the initial slider movement, if you still have the mouse pressed, additional slider movement is smooth.
4) Crop tool bounding box: intermittent smooth drag/delayed response on changing the bounding box size.
5) Loupe tool: mostly smooth, but occasionally just stops and hangs for several seconds, then jumps to where the mouse is.
I've got brand new hardware, significant processing power, memory, and the on the top end of video card. I have dual SATA-250 drives underneath me, which aren't even half full, so I/O should be good.
Given that 1.1 is the improved-performance update, and I'm fairly tapped on hardware, I don't know how to conclude anything other than Aperture doesn't perform all that well. Am I missing something?
I would appreciate the experience others are having on their hardware -- please no "it performs well for me" responses. I appreciate your subjective opinion, but I don't really know what that means unless you can give feedback on the amount of time for tools to respond.
Thanks,
Brad

Answer 1

1) RAW image loading: when I click between images, it takes about 3 seconds to load each image.
How long does Photoshop take to load the same image? Come on now, it take 3 seconds or longer. Do you expect Aperture to preload your image? I don't get the 'instant' loading complaint when any program takes time to load a large file. 10D 6mp loading is one second. 5D 12mb files 3sec. Your expectations should be the same in Aperture or PS.
2) Rotation tool: unbelievably chunky. When I first put the rotation tool over an image and move the tool, it takes anywhere from 2-4 seconds before the image responds by rotating. After the image starts to rotate, moving the tool further results in intermittent smooth rotation and 1 second response time, making for a chunky, jumpy rotation.
This has depended on other programs open and what is going on in the background. We process only with Aperture open. Rendering takes power and time. That tool takes some skill because of a slight rendering time, but I can pretty much nail the rotation after using it for processing. Agree with the slight rendering/delay but it is not a huge concern. You can always go to the hud and rotate by numbers in increments.
3) Exposure, Saturation, Brightness, and Contrast sliders: drag the slider, it takes anywhere from 1-3 seconds before the slider responds and catches up with the mouse. After the initial slider movement, if you still have the mouse pressed, additional slider movement is smooth.
Again, click the arrow on the sliders. My sliders are real time, but I do prefer to use the arrow in the HUD and possible last adjust by slider. I know by number where I want the adjustment. That comes from experience. Aperture is wonderful for fine tuning. I suggest you go by numbers if the sliders are a bother.
4) Crop tool bounding box: intermittent smooth drag/delayed response on changing the bounding box size.
Smooth enough on our iMac?
<<<Am I missing something? >>>>
Patients for rendering times is what you are missing or so it seems?
The best thing for you is to not use the sliders until the last adjustment and use the arrow adjustments or type in your values. We have grown so used to instant reaction when a button is pushed. The brain says, hey, I clicked and I want it now. It was a frustration in 1.0 for us so we started using the arrows and just got used to that method. 1.1 is much faster and near real time but we are still using our learned arrow adjustments.