Sluggish MBP - Should I buy new?

My MBP is now 4 years old. It's been showing sluggish performance for at least 18 months now. I've had independent people look at it, and I've brought it to the Store and had a Genius take a look. I get a lot of pinwheels, applications can take up to a full minute or even more to load, and I'm running out of HDD space. My independent guy thought the HDD was failing, but the Genius did analysis and said no. He said all was running fine, but I know it's not like it used to be.
I have a 2.66 i7 chip and today's MBP's have a standard 2.5 i7 chip. Is it really a step down? I'm not super techy, so I need help on that. I'd like more RAM, as I'm maxed out at 8GB. I have just 75GB of HDD space left on my 500GB drive. I also see the advantage of solid state drive.
Before I spend $3000 on a new MBP, I just want to do my homework.
I use my system for relatively minor stuff. I'll have most things open all at once, but nothing that I see is particularly intense on the processor or the memory. I'll typically have the following apps open:
AppleMail
Contacts
Notes
Messages
Safari with 4-8 windows open
iPhoto
a bunch of pdf's
iTunes
When I open Activity Monitor, it generally is not showing that my system is tapped. A fairly typical load profile is like I have right now this morning as I write this:
Physical Memory: 8GB
Mem Used: 7.95 GB
Virtual Mem: 12.06 GB
Memory pressure is green
CPU has 90%+ idle
I do have a program on my system that is a bit of a hog. I sell digital x-ray machines, including 3D imaging systems and I generally need to shut most other things down to open that program. Even when I open that imaging program, the memory and CPU specs don't get maxed out. I just don't get it.
Any thoughts/ideas are appreciated.
Here's my Etrecheck report:
Problem description:
General sluggishness. Pinwheel, slow to open apps, overall deterioration of performance.
EtreCheck version: 2.1.2 (105)
Report generated December 12, 2014 at 6:38:10 AM CST
Hardware Information: ℹ️
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) (Verified)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro6,1
1 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2-core
8 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
Intel HD Graphics - VRAM: 288 MB
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M - VRAM: 512 MB
Color LCD 1920 x 1200
System Software: ℹ️
OS X 10.9.5 (13F34) - Uptime: 6 days 22:36:56
Disk Information: ℹ️
Hitachi HTS725050A9A362 disk0 : (500.11 GB)
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (69.14 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS23N
USB Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Seagate FA GoFlex Desk 2 TB
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
TimeMachine (disk1s2) /Volumes/TimeMachine : 2.00 TB (1.53 TB free)
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
Anywhere
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.aliph.driver.jstub (1.1.2) [Support]
[loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.1.1) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions/Seagate Storage Driver.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_4 (5.1.1) [Support]
[loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.1.1) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.SeagateDriveIcons (5.1.1) [Support]
Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.paragon.NTFS.auth.plist [Support]
Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist [Support]
[running] com.monitoringclient.cmhelperd.plist [Support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.cocoatech.pathfinder.SMFHelper7.plist [Support]
[running] com.crashplan.engine.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.klieme.TimeMachineScheduler.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.monitoringclient.client.plist [Support]
[running] com.monitoringclient.diskjournald.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.monitoringclient.updater.plist [Support]
[running] com.planmeca.romexisserver.plist [Support]
[loaded] org.firebird.gds.plist [Support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]
[invalid?] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]
[running] com.microsoft.LaunchAgent.SyncServicesAgent.plist [Support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
CrashPlan menu bar UNKNOWN (missing value)
Wondershare Helper Compact Application (/Users/[redacted]/Library/Application Support/Helper/Wondershare Helper Compact.app)
HP Scan Application (/Applications/Hewlett-Packard/HP Scan 3.app)
CrashPlan menu bar Application (/Applications/CrashPlan.app/Contents/Helpers/CrashPlan menu bar.app)
HP Scheduler Application (/Library/Application Support/Hewlett-Packard/Software Update/HP Scheduler.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
OVSHelper: Version: 1.1 [Support]
Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.2.0.16   - SDK 10.8 [Support]
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.09 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 15.0.0.246 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
DivX Web Player: Version: 3.2.3.1164 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
Silverlight: Version: 5.1.10411.0 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.246 - SDK 10.6 Mismatch! Adobe recommends 16.0.0.235
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
CitrixICAClientPlugIn: Version: 11.2.0 [Support]
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8
AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.09 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.6 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.9.0 - SDK 10.7 Check version
User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: Version: 1.0.105 [Support]
WebEx: Version: 1.0 [Support]
Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 [Support]
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
Citrix Online Plug-in [Support]
Flash Player [Support]
Flip4Mac WMV [Support]
Paragon NTFS for Mac ® OS X [Support]
SafeGuard Monitoring [Support]
TimeMachineScheduler [Support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: ON
Auto backup: YES
Destinations:
TimeMachine [Local]
Total size: 2.00 TB
Total number of backups: 51
Oldest backup: 2014-08-20 05:39:49 +0000
Last backup: 2014-12-12 12:16:37 +0000
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk size 0 B X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
      9% WindowServer
      4% mds_stores
      3% com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64
      1% mds
      1% sysmond
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
807 MB CrashPlanService
344 MB mdflagwriter
258 MB iTunes
254 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent
223 MB iPhoto
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
26 MB Free RAM
2.90 GB Active RAM
2.88 GB Inactive RAM
1.33 GB Wired RAM
7.65 GB Page-ins
396 MB Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

Lex & Esquared
Thanks for your thoughtful responses.
I've done many of the things that Lex suggested with the following failures(operator error I'm sure):
CrashPlan is my off-site backup. I'd rather not delete that. Is there a specific reason to get rid of that?
Could not find the TimeMachineScheduler in my application folder. How else do I uninstall it?
Same on PathFinder
Same on Paragon
Not sure how to uninstall Seagate software on the external drive. Other reformatting, and that will kill all backups. Any other way?
After the things I did do...not a lot of change.
=======================================
EtreCheck version: 2.1.2 (105)
Report generated December 15, 2014 at 10:11:46 AM CST
Hardware Information: ℹ️
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) (Verified)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro6,1
1 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2-core
8 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ️
Intel HD Graphics - VRAM: 288 MB
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M - VRAM: 512 MB
Color LCD 1920 x 1200
System Software: ℹ️
OS X 10.9.5 (13F34) - Uptime: 10 days 2:10:20
Disk Information: ℹ️
Hitachi HTS725050A9A362 disk0 : (500.11 GB)
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (65.18 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS23N
USB Information: ℹ️
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Seagate FA GoFlex Desk 2 TB
S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified
EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
TimeMachine (disk1s2) /Volumes/TimeMachine : 2.00 TB (1.48 TB free)
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
Gatekeeper: ℹ️
Anywhere
Kernel Extensions: ℹ️
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.aliph.driver.jstub (1.1.2) [Support]
[loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.1.1) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions/Seagate Storage Driver.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_4 (5.1.1) [Support]
[loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.1.1) [Support]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.SeagateDriveIcons (5.1.1) [Support]
Problem System Launch Agents: ℹ️
[invalid?] com.paragon.NTFS.auth.plist [Support]
Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist [Support]
[running] com.monitoringclient.cmhelperd.plist [Support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.cocoatech.pathfinder.SMFHelper7.plist [Support]
[running] com.crashplan.engine.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.klieme.TimeMachineScheduler.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.monitoringclient.client.plist [Support]
[running] com.monitoringclient.diskjournald.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.monitoringclient.updater.plist [Support]
[running] com.planmeca.romexisserver.plist [Support]
[loaded] org.firebird.gds.plist [Support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ️
[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]
[invalid?] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]
[running] com.microsoft.LaunchAgent.SyncServicesAgent.plist [Support]
User Login Items: ℹ️
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
HP Scan Application (/Applications/Hewlett-Packard/HP Scan 3.app)
CrashPlan menu bar Application (/Applications/CrashPlan.app/Contents/Helpers/CrashPlan menu bar.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
OVSHelper: Version: 1.1 [Support]
Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.09 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 16.0.0.235 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
DivX Web Player: Version: 3.2.3.1164 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
Silverlight: Version: 5.1.10411.0 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
Flash Player: Version: 16.0.0.235 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
CitrixICAClientPlugIn: Version: 11.2.0 [Support]
SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.7 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.09 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: 14.9.0 - SDK 10.7 Check version
User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️
CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: Version: 1.0.105 [Support]
WebEx: Version: 1.0 [Support]
Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 7.1 [Support]
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️
Citrix Online Plug-in [Support]
Flash Player [Support]
Paragon NTFS for Mac ® OS X [Support]
SafeGuard Monitoring [Support]
TimeMachineScheduler [Support]
Time Machine: ℹ️
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: ON
Auto backup: YES
Destinations:
TimeMachine [Local]
Total size: 2.00 TB
Total number of backups: 51
Oldest backup: 2014-08-20 05:39:49 +0000
Last backup: 2014-12-15 15:55:30 +0000
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk size 0 B X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️
      10% WindowServer
      3% com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64
      1% coreaudiod
      1% iPhoto
      1% CrashPlanService
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️
807 MB CrashPlanService
223 MB Mail
210 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent
180 MB WindowServer
163 MB AdobeReader
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️
24 MB Free RAM
2.41 GB Active RAM
2.39 GB Inactive RAM
1.36 GB Wired RAM
15.69 GB Page-ins
1.05 GB Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ️
Dec 15, 2014, 07:29:05 AM pdftopdf_2014-12-15-072905_Steven-ONeils-MacBook-Pro.crash
Dec 15, 2014, 07:28:01 AM pdftopdf_2014-12-15-072801_Steven-ONeils-MacBook-Pro.crash
Dec 15, 2014, 07:26:37 AM pdftopdf_2014-12-15-072637_Steven-ONeils-MacBook-Pro.crash
Dec 15, 2014, 07:08:16 AM pdftopdf_2014-12-15-070816_Steven-ONeils-MacBook-Pro.crash
======================================
Based on your responses, I've decided on the following course of action:
Keep my existing MBP
Replace existing HDD with SSD
Fresh install of everything...most of what I use is inherent with OSx. I don't want to bring "bad stuff" from existing setup to a new setup, so I'm thinking NOT to do a TimeMachine Restore
New battery
Do you know of a step-by-step for this process? Starting with your recommendation of a 1TB (750GB min) SSD? I need this to be as plug & play simple as possible. I'm a fairly average user, and the physical install is no problem. I just want to make sure on the configuration settings etc.
Thank You

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kurt188 wrote:
I know how to change default languages, becasue I read and understand English. But as I said, if the default language is one you don't rread or understand, it can be difficult to change to another one.
Goodness gracious me! The prospective owner is buying a Mac in Shanghai or in Paris. Either way, she's not going to get one set to Maltese or Mongolian! It's going to be Chinese, French, or English. She's Chinese and does business in English and French. If it'll take her more than 30 seconds to change the language in Mac OS X, I'll eat my hat.
There are four considerations, other than price.
(1) Return & exchange. That's the most important. In theory, it shouldn't make too much difference. In practice, it's much easier to handle this where you bought it.
(2) Keyboard. That depends on the user, and what she's accustomed to. If she learned to type in France or Wallonie (francophone Belgium), then she's accustomed to AZERTY -- default in Paris, difficult to get in Shanghai. But that doesn't seem likely. If she learned to type in Shanghai, chances are she learned Pinyin on QWERTY. If she's from Taiwan, chances are she learned on Zhuyin, which is also based on QWERTY. I don't know if Apple even sells MBPs with Zhuyin key labels, but, if it does, I suspect they'd be very difficult to get in Paris, and perhaps difficult to get even in Shanghai. If she doesn't need them, then she'll be OK with QWERTY, which she can get in either location. The only caveat is that she might have to wait a little in Paris. When I got a Mac in France (not in Paris, though) I had to wait for several days, because they had only AZERTY in stock.
(3) Documentation. The days when Macs came with a thick wad of manuals, beautifully typeset and illustrated, printed on thick, glossy paper, are long gone. What they come with nowadays doesn't even deserve the name. And she's trilingual, so it really doesn't matter.
(4) Bundles or special offers -- if any.
Overall, if it were me, I'd buy in Paris, because, as eww said, that's where it's going to be used. And I'd also get the extended AppleCare.

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I can only echo what Pogo says about buying based on what it does today.
3 weeks ago I bought a Mac Mini. A new Mac Mini model has been rumoured to come out anywhere between the same week I made my purchase and the end of August. None's been released as yet.
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I can promise that within seconds of the iPad3 being released, the web will be full of rumours about the next one!

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The cycle count is 310, and checking System Profiler, the battery full charge is 5143.
Should I buy a new battery in a now, or should I not worry about buying a new battery, because I heard 310 cycles was a lot.

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HT201304 I want to buy new level from candy crush, but unfortunately apple required to accept terms and condition first before I can buy. But once I click yes no more option to click I agree with the condition. what should I do?

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Perform a Reset... Try again...
Reset ( No Data will be Lost )
Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears. Release the Buttons.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1430

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