Radical. So you think a new Imac is fine rather than a Mac Pro? I tend to head to overkill due to nerves and have been working on MBPs for six years now, so desktops seem foreign and daunting all over again.....
Thankfully I've already got cloud, so I am good to go on that front.
How much RAM would you add?
Thanks!
Before we go too much further, I think I should point out that I'm a PC guy, so you should definitely talk to someone more familiar with Macs before making a purchase. Hypothetically, there might be a compatibility issue somewhere, but as I understand Macs, they don't really have compatibility issues the way that PCs do. So, I can't imagine that'd be a problem, but of course it'd be wise to double-check.
The only thing I can comment on is the specs of any Mac, be it an iMac or Mac Pro -- the overall performance should be comparable to a PC with the same specs. Anyway, I edit with 8GB RAM, and a dual-core 2.7 processor. The Mac I recommended is better than that, and my computer is more than enough to edit a feature. You might consider spending a few extra bucks on more storage and memory.
RAM really makes a big difference. I did a quick configuration at the Mac store, and found that it's only $150 to upgrade to 16GB. Hell yeah, that's totally worth it, and you'll love the extra speed!
As I mentioned, you are gonna want more than one single TB of storage. An upgrade to 3TB might be a wise move, but you'd still want an external HD, if only for backup. Also, the larger monitor size makes a big difference. You can edit on a smaller screen, it's just not a very pleasant experience.
Anyway, off the top of my head, this is what I'd get if I were in your shoes:
Mind you, I spent about five minutes researching the subject, and you should obviously spend more time on it than that. I'm just saying that those particular specs I am confident you'd be very satisfied with.
As for iMac vs Mac Pro, as far as I can see it's pretty much just a question of whether you'll want to add more upgrades in the future, no? Is there really any other reason to get a Mac Pro?