For a quick alignment, try Auto 2-star align. You will have to guide it to the first star but once you select the second star it will slew there itself and should get pretty close, and then you just correct it and it's aligned! This should be much better for goto accuracy and tracking as it had a better model of the sky.
Also careful selection of alignment stars can make a difference too...pick the two alignment stars so that they're between 20 and 70 degrees in altitude and around 120 degrees apart (give or take) in azimuth. For tracking solar system objects, pick alignment stars that satisfy these criteria and are in the north.
The SLT mount is not known for its overwhelming robustness, but you should still be able to get some decent results. Have you tried hanging some weight from the spreader? After you've touched the ota the vibration should damp after a few seconds, but I'm not 100% sure as the weight distribution of the 130 newt vs the little SCT is a bit different. I have a Nexstar 6SE/8SE which has a thicker, heavier tripod and even then the lighter ota makes a noticeable difference to its stability. If you're observing on a hard surface that can make things worse too, so I use vibration suppression pads when not on grass.
The ssd in the new Macs is really impressive, I use the last gen (Ivy Bridge) iMac with fusion drive and the machine is very quick and excellent for multitasking, but it's obvious when it's accessing the hard drive
