Time for a new iMac...Advice?

Question

Presently using an iMac...OS X (Panther 10.3.9), 1 GHz PowerPC G4, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB space (about 75 usable).
And, GarageBand 2.
Often have to go thru a lot of extra steps to create a song. (i.e. taking part of a song to iTunes, bringing it back, to complete a tune. Reason: Maximum number of tracks I can use. Usually about a half dozen, especially if half are MIDI. My recording work seems to put a lot of strain on the processor and I never have another application open when using GB2 (would like to, for example Band-in-a-Box).
So that I never have to worry about computer power again, here's what I'm intending to buy: a 21.5-inch iMac, 3.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; 8 GB RAM; and 2 TB Serial ATA Drive. It would seem this would give me all the power, speed and space I would ever need.
But first, a few questions for all of you:
1) Has that problem with CD/DVDs on the new iMacs been resolved? (Read about that right here in Discussion Forums; seems to have been a problem with the optical drive...not recognizing, or rejecting CDs/DVDs);
2) Apparently, the new GB I'll be getting (GB '09) won't accept my work done in GB 2. Not a deal breaker. If true, I'll finish up my work in GB2 and then do my recording on my new computer with GB '09. But, could I install GB 2 and use it on my new machine, while simultaneously having '09 on it? Also, would my audio fonts I added to GB2 (i.e. Boldt fonts) be transportable to GB '09? I presume my Jam Packs that I bought could simply be installed in GB '09. Right?
3) Could you suggest a few features/capabilities GB '09 has over GB2. I mean for my home recordings; not really interested in other things like how to play a guitar,etc. Are there more sound fonts, loops? How about things like changing key in mid-song, or tempo? Printing music that's been recorded (i.e. for one track)?
4) I'm also going to get Logic Express 9 w my new computer. I think I'm ready for it, but: Could you guys offer me a few features or capabilities Logic has over GB? Like, what would that comparatively sophisticated program do for my recording work that GB won't? My wife asked me that and I really couldn't answer.
I appreciate your advice and comments. My present iMac is seven years old, still working fine and I think I've gotten my money's worth out of it. But for my home recordings, it's time to pork up. It would seem this new iMac will be more than loaded for me.

Answer 1

nemateoz wrote:
2) Apparently, the new GB I'll be getting (GB '09) won't accept my work done in GB 2.
this is not true, newer version of GB can open older data files, just not the other way around. i worked with GB2 files this past friday.
3) Could you suggest a few features/capabilities GB '09 has over GB2.
many! mostly from GB4, so read that first:
http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/GBFAQ.html#whatsnew08
(Let the page FULLY load. The link to your answer is at the top of your screen)
GB5:
http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/GBFAQ.html#whatsnew09
(Let the page FULLY load. The link to your answer is at the top of your screen)
My present iMac is seven years old, still working fine
and it will still work fine for other things, if anyone else you know could use it for web, email, and the like, but you should find much joy in the new machine!