To begin with, Apple is still supporting Aperture, they are not developing it further but they do support it and they will for some time. Everything I've read about Photo, the iPhoto Aperture replacement is very positive and I'd wait until it is available before I'd decide it doesn't work, just saying.
I have the Apple Airport Extreme router and it is amazing. It should work with any computer, a signal is a signal. I was replacing the original Airport Base station because of the range and signal strength, the Extreme is just that, extreme! Now I get signal everywhere in the house and it's strong and fast. You won't go wrong.
Just curious, after you process and adjust a RAW picture in iPhoto, why do you drag it to your desktop?
I never had a problem until two weeks age, iPhoto would not send any photo. I called Apple support and they walked me through the problem, come to find out I had changed my email password. If you have Apple support give them a call, even if you don't, give them a call, you can't go wrong.
iMac 27" 5K Retina, if you're going to do it, do it big!
You can still upgrade the RAM on the Retina iMac and it's somewhat cheaper that way.
Let's see, upgrade a 2008 MBP with ram and a SSD, money into a 6 year old laptop or springing for the state of the art 27" Retina iMac! I don't think you could ever talk me out of the 27" Retina iMac, I will not be deterred!
My vote is for the 5K retina iMac and here is why. The last computer you bought was 6 years ago and now you feel it's time to update. The retina iMac is $600 more than the standard iMac or $100 a year spread over 6 years! During that time you'll have a fast, state of the art, at least for a while, computer.
In early May I bought the non Retina 27" iMac and after seeing the Retina iMac, I'm sorry I didn't wait. I've seen them side by side and the Retina is just beautiful and in my estimation $600 would be money well spent, just saying.
I found a telephone number to customer service and spoke with a human in the, get ready for this, United States, Connecticut to be exact, and she was very helpful! Whenever possible I try to talk to customer service and in almost eve instance my results are positive!
I was fortunate enough to see her and Lake Street Dive at the Green River Festival in Greenfield, Massachusetts last summer and the intensity and emotions you saw in that song is what she and the band did with everything they performed. Her voice is haunting and she seems to live each song she does, beautiful and amazing! Thanks for sharing.
What company makes the battery that corroded? Most companies guarantee their batteries against corrosion and damage and will cover the cost of repairs and/or replacement. The batteries in my Apple touchpad corroded and would not come out. I contacted Duracell service with my concerns and they apologized and asked how much to replace the touchpad. I looked it up and told them and they sent me a credit card with that amount on it, along with a $20 coupon for Duracell batteries. They did ask I keep the trackpad for I believe was 30 days in the event service wanted to see it but I never heard from them again. Just saying, if the batteries are from a reputable manufacturer they should stand behind their product.
I think you're correct in your concern about a potential disaster when salt water is introduced into Lake Nicaragua from both oceans! But then again, you can't see a problem with the canal from China, just saying.
Back last Thursday, Rich asked the question "What's the better file over JPEG, Raw or TIFF". It seemed like a simple question at the time, like "What time is it", and the replies have grown into how to build a clock! If Rich can sort through and figure out "What is the better file over JPEG Raw or TIFF", through all the postings, he's a far better man than I am! Just saying!
In my opinion, the answer to your question, the better file over JPEG, is definitely RAW! TIFF file are Huge and I've never found any instructor suggesting using TIFF over RAW. Shooting in RAW allows you the most latitude in post processing your photographs. Too much data is lost in compression with JPEG.
If you're getting the Mac at an Apple store, bring in you pc and they'll walk you through, they are very patient. You'll walk out with a smile!