Hello MiloMindberbinder, thank you I understand all. I don't doubt he's is correct, but attitude!! when I'm seeking advice?
I've always run a PC with Windows and I'm getting sick to the teeth of problems and security issue's with MS products and it appears like most enlightened computer users, the Apple Mac seems to be a superior product, but at a price in the UK.
My concern is that I also have large CD collecton where I transfer only the tracks I like to my desktop PC and play them with iTunes. Apple Macs are very tidy looking machines and seems that with the new 2012 iMac, I will require an external optical drive to transfer my music and thanks to yours and Apple Macster's reply, I see it may not be an issue. The 2011 iMac does have a neat optical drive to the side of the display though and I was wondering if I should buy the outgoing version over the latest version, that's all.