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Aperture 2.0: the Ars Technica review: Page 1

If you don't want to read all 8 pages (though it's probably worth it), here's the final say:

Conclusion
Aperture 2 isn't doing anything groundbreaking over the previous version, but the better overall speed and Quick Preview combined with background processing alone will be worth the cost of the upgrade for many users. If you're just checking out Aperture since running like the wind from version 1.0, rest assured that Aperture 2.0 is a completely different animal and produces very good results most of the time. Its new interface is easier to navigate and is more customizable, so it will accommodate different users' workflows.

The new version does have a few issues, most significantly the lack of a good denoise and sharpen tool, which makes dealing with images with any amount of noise a pain. As an overall library/metadata/shoot management tool, though, it is very easy to recommend. The addition of a professional-grade clone and repair tool, tethered shooting, a really nice Vibrancy adjustment and a well-rounded interface make Aperture much easier to enjoy.

You still need a pretty beefy system to run it on, so if you're looking for a good excuse to buy the latest and greatest hardware, this will do nicely—.Mac sold separately.

The Good
Faster all around thanks to better thumbnail caching, Quick Preview and non-modal workflow
Streamlined interface with fewer panels and it's more customizable for particular workflows
Vibrancy tool is very good
Better RAW conversion than Aperture 1.5
16-bit printing support
Exporting to iPhone and iPod touch mean you don't need iPhoto anymore

The Bad
Still shrunken open/save dialogs and UI text
Still has problems with combination of sharpening and noise reduction
Still no network support for Vaults

The Ugly
Knowing that a Microsoft product has better metadata syncing options