Need Convincing Which Mac To Buy:(

Question

Basically, I am pottering between the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and the iMac. Ideally I want this to be the last computer I ever buy so being a capable spec and sized hard drive are key motivators here:).
To make it easier for you guys to help me, I am a musician at College. So I'd be looking to run Logic, and Microsoft Office. I have about 40GB of Music, and a steadily rising 20GB of my favourite Music shows, so with that in mind I'dneed room for ducuments, the Photos and Videos from my Phone going on there etc. I spend a lot of time out and about so my Photos and Videos mean a lot to me, so iCloud syncing between devices are key here. I have Apple TV and an iPhone 4S so I'd be looking at capabilities of syncing between as many of those as possible (iTunes, Calender, Mail, Contacts etc.).
I wouldn't even mind a MacBook Air, it's just I want at least 500GB of storage capacity, and I'd have to go for the more expensive MacBook Air, and seeing as I don't want to spend anymore than I need to, this put me slightly off.
I also fancied the laptops as I get to move it around and get moblity with it, and it's not that I'd need that or use that all the time, but I'd certainly like the option.
My main question is would the lowest MacBook air, the lowest MacBok Pro with Retina, and the lowest 27-inch iMac, have enough processing power to be doing all these things without crashing, grinding to a halt etc.
If you guys were to say wht you have (The spec if you know it as well please), the stuff you use it for, and pros and cons about it that would be amazing!
I also would like to apologise for sounging like a bit of a bivvy, although this would be my first Mac I do understand that (With the new software, I think, Mountain Lion coming out soon) iCloud will be on all Macs etc. but I was just wondering without that, did certain things sync autmatically, or was it all through iTunes type thing?
Thanks again!
Ryan

Answer 1

Ryan,
Firstly, welcome to the wonderful world of Apple. I'll address your issues by number if you don't mind.
1. Apple is probably the best tech company for legacy support. That is up to a point. The fact that an over three year old smart phone, iPhone 3GS, is upgradable to iOS 6 is remarkable. Nothing on Android compares. Yes, there are features that are hardware based that you cannot use, but the OS is runnable. The only recent item I can say has been short lived is the original iPad. It can run the current iOS but will not be able to do iOS 6. Considering an over two year run isn't bad, could be better. Apple tends, again, to carry legacy hardware for up to five years. Of course that doesn't mean your hardware stops working. It just means you won't have the most recent OS or iOS. Average consumer computers have a 2-3 year lifespan. Apple products are more like 5-7.
2. I'm a bit confused about your reflection on having an iPad and an iMac. That combination is less expensive than a MacBook Pro or certainly a MacBook Pro retina, and it affords you the portability to share and enjoy your music, movies, etc. while on the go, but still have a very powerful workstation at home with a huge screen. Making use of iCloud facilitates syncing as well. The iMac is quite capable of running the programs you list. Even the iPad can do some simple media editing with iOS iMovie and GarageBand.
3. Storage. You began this thread indicating a need for about half a terabyte or 500GB. My recommendation of the low end iMac comes with that. Frankly, I wouldn't buy any more hard drive space from Apple than I had to in order to get the other features I want. HD's are remarkably cheap and very easy to install on an iMac. Ifixit.com has tutorials that are easy to follow. Were I buying an iMac right now I would buy the lowest end model as far as RAM and HD are concerned and bump both with RAM and HD from third party sources.
4. Both the iMac and any MBP, except for the retina, comes with a super drive. Apple sells a very capable, slim and portable super drive for about eighty bucks. I am about to by a lightscribe external super drive as it will also burn images on the reverse of the DVD or CD. Just a thought. Re-reading this point I see I misread a bit. True, you don't necessarily want to buy a terabyte of iCloud for backup. For overall backup/Timemachine I recommend any inexpensive 2 TB external drive. I use iCloud to backup my important documents, works in progress, etc. not my entire music or video library. Those are on my 2 TB external drive.
5. Ah, revisiting the backup issue. iCloud isn't a place I'd store a lot. The cost and available storage packages are prohibitive. Again, iCloud is great for syncing and offsite storage of critical things, but not your entire Pink Floyd collection. An external, big hard drive does the trick for a one time cost. Time Machine can do the leg work for you as well.
I hope that's been helpful, Ryan. Sounds like you're doing your homework!
David