IMac upgrade advice

I want to buy a new iMac to replace a 2007 model. I have 300GB of files/data. Which soft/hardware, gadgets, and/or upgrades do you recommend? I want to spend less time staring at the spinning beachball!
Many thanks,
Freckles

Hey OT,
Thanks for responding to my question - I've run Etrecheck and pasted the results below. My technical expertise is minimal to nil - I don't know what you mean by "SWODs, booting, specific apps, when?" If you're able to describe how to find the information in an idiot-proof way, I'll give it a go!
Thanks again,
Freckles
EtreCheck version: 2.1.8 (121)
Report generated 4 April 2015 18:17:19 BST
Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck
Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.
Hardware Information: ℹ️
    iMac (20-inch, Mid 2007) (Verified)
    iMac - model: iMac7,1
    1 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core
    4 GB RAM Upgradeable
        BANK 0/DIMM0
            2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667 MHz ok
        BANK 1/DIMM1
            2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667 MHz ok
    Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
    ATI,RadeonHD2600 - VRAM: 256 MB
        iMac 1680 x 1050
System Software: ℹ️
    OS X 10.10.2 (14C1514) - Time since boot: 23:24:0
Disk Information: ℹ️
    Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 disk0 : (1 TB)
        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
        [redacted] HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (689.37 GB free)
        Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB
USB Information: ℹ️
    Canon MX410 series
    Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
        Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard
    Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
    Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
    Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
    Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
        /System/Library/Extensions
    [not loaded]    com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboard (5.3) [Click for support]
    [not loaded]    com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouse (5.3) [Click for support]
    [not loaded]    com.wacom.kext.pentablet (5.0.3) [Click for support]
Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️
    [killed]    com.apple.AirPlayUIAgent.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.CallHistoryPluginHelper.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.CallHistorySyncHelper.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.coreservices.appleid.authentication.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.coreservices.uiagent.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.EscrowSecurityAlert.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.icloud.fmfd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.printtool.agent.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.printuitool.agent.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.rcd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.recentsd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.SafariNotificationAgent.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.sbd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.secd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.security.cloudkeychainproxy.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.syncdefaultsd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.telephonyutilities.callservicesd.plist
    17 processes killed due to memory pressure
Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ️
    [killed]    com.apple.awdd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.coresymbolicationd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.ctkd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.emond.aslmanager.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.icloud.findmydeviced.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.ifdreader.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.installd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.MobileFileIntegrity.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.nehelper.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.periodic-daily.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.sandboxd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.softwareupdated.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.sysmond.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.systemstatsd.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.tccd.system.plist
    [killed]    com.apple.wdhelper.plist
    [killed]    org.cups.cupsd.plist
    17 processes killed due to memory pressure
Launch Agents: ℹ️
    [not loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]
    [running]    com.trusteer.rapport.rapportd.plist [Click for support]
    [running]    com.wacom.pentablet.plist [Click for support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Click for support]
    [running]    com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.winzip.WinZip-Mac.plist [Click for support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
    [loaded]    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Click for support]
    [failed]    com.amazon.cloud-player.plist [Click for support]
    [running]    com.amazon.music.plist [Click for support]
    [failed]    com.google.GoogleContactSyncAgent.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]
    [loaded]    com.iLike.Agent.plist [Click for support]
    [running]    com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Click for support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
    Garmin Express Service    Application  (/Applications/Garmin Express.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/Garmin Express Service.app)
    iTunesHelper    Application  (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
    GrowlHelperApp    UNKNOWN  (missing value)
    iTunesHelper    UNKNOWN Hidden (missing value)
    Microsoft AU Daemon    Application  (/Applications/Microsoft AutoUpdate.app/Contents/MacOS/Microsoft AU Daemon.app)
    MicrosoftMouseHelper    Application  (/Applications/Microsoft Mouse.app/Contents/Resources/MicrosoftMouseHelper.app)
    MicrosoftKeyboardHelper    Application  (/Applications/Microsoft Keyboard.app/Contents/Resources/MicrosoftKeyboardHelper.app)
    Skype    UNKNOWN  (missing value)
    AdobeResourceSynchronizer    Application Hidden (/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)
    Google Drive    Application  (/Applications/Google Drive.app)
    Box Sync    Application  (/Applications/Box Sync.app)
    Google Chrome    Application Hidden (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)
    Spotify    Application Hidden (/Applications/Spotify.app)
    Dropbox - Antoinette    Application  (/Applications/Dropbox - Antoinette.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
    FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10
    AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 10.1.13 [Click for support]
    AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.13 [Click for support]
    AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin1016264: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 [Click for support]
    Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.134 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
    SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.8 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]
    AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101749: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 [Click for support]
    iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0
User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
    RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown
Safari Extensions: ℹ️
    Blur
    Pin It Button
User iTunes Plug-ins: ℹ️
    Flash Player: Version: 9.0.159.0 [Click for support]
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
    Flash Player  [Click for support]
    Growl  [Click for support]
    Microsoft Keyboard
    Microsoft Mouse
    TeXDistPrefPane  [Click for support]
    Trusteer Endpoint Protection  [Click for support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
    Skip System Files: NO
    Auto backup: YES
    Volumes being backed up:
        Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 309.97 GB
    Destinations:
        LaCie 1TB [Local]
        Total size: 1.00 TB
        Total number of backups: 123
        Oldest backup: 2010-07-08 19:35:01 +0000
        Last backup: 2015-04-03 19:32:32 +0000
        Size of backup disk: Adequate
            Backup size 1.00 TB > (Disk used 309.97 GB X 3)
        LaCie 350 GB [Local]
        Total size: 320.07 GB
        Total number of backups: 5
        Oldest backup: 2014-12-09 22:12:01 +0000
        Last backup: 2015-03-08 12:40:04 +0000
        Size of backup disk: Too small
            Backup size 320.07 GB < (Disk used 309.97 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
         4%    cloudd
         3%    WindowServer
         2%    systemstatsd
         1%    accountsd
         1%    apsd
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
    176 MB    Safari
    90 MB    Google Chrome
    73 MB    Finder
    73 MB    com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64
    47 MB    mds_stores
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
    42 MB    Free RAM
    1.22 GB    Active RAM
    1.19 GB    Inactive RAM
    575 MB    Wired RAM
    19.43 GB    Page-ins
    464 MB    Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
    Apr 3, 2015, 06:50:45 PM    Self test - passed
    Apr 3, 2015, 09:58:33 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.AmbientDisplayAgent_2015-04-03-095833 _[redacted].crash
    Apr 3, 2015, 09:50:31 AM    /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Google Drive_2015-04-03-095031_[redacted].crash

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