This week, Apple announced the revised MacBook Air (2013) models. Like before, the new MacBook Air models are available in both 11“ and 13” models. Ahead is my executive summary of the improvements that Apple added, what Apple neglected to include (but should have), together with my purchasing advice.

Improvements that Apple added

• Greatly improved battery life (Apple now promises up to 9 hours for the 11-inch model and 12-hours with the 13-inch model.)
• Lower cost for entry-level configurations
• Improved WiFi, with the new 802.11ac (backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n), although you’ll have to upgrade your router or access point to an 802.11ac model to take full advantage

What Apple has still neglected to include, and should have added

• Sadly, Apple still doesn’t offer us the option of a matte (non-glare) display on either of the Air models. Those who demand such a display must continue to have a third-party retrofit the screen, i.e. from as TechRestore already does with several Mac models (click here and then slide down to the second section), as covered very well by Rob Griffiths of Macworld.
• Sadly, Apple still doesn’t offer a second Thunderbolt port on either of the Air models. This would be particularly beneficial in order to connect two end-point devices to a MacBook Air, like bus-powered Thunderbolt drives and many pro video interfaces which are end-point devices, like AJA’s T-TAP and Blackmagic’s UltraStudio Mini Monitor.
• Apple still doesn’t offer an SDXC slot in the 11“ MacBook Air model (the way the 13” MacBook Air model continues to offer).

Why I have purposefully ignored the processor specs

I have chosen to eliminate the processor specs due to the megaHertz (or gigaHertz) myth. Real world benchmarks (which are yet to be published) —together with battery life— are much more important than a published MHz (or GHz) spec.

Buying advice

If you are planning to purchase a 2013 MacBook Air, get it built-to-order with your desired inboard keyboard, processor and RAM, either from your preferred Apple authorized reseller (as long as the reseller has access to built-to-order configurations) or via your region’s Apple online store, if it exists, i.e. store.apple.com. See my 2009 article called Choose Apple’s Spanish keyboard, even if you only type in English.

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Si deseas suscribirte a mi lista en castellano, visita aquí. Si prefieres, puedes suscribirte a ambas listas (castellano e inglés).

My latest ebook

My most recent ebook is available in two languages. The format is Kindle, but even if you don’t have a Kindle device, you can read Kindle books on many other devices using a free Kindle app. That includes iPad, iPhone, Android phones, Android tablets, Mac computers, Windows computers, some Blackberry phones and Windows 7 phones.

In English:

In English, it is currently available in the following Amazon stores, depending upon your region:

• At Amazon.com (for all of the Americas and the Republic of India)
• Amazon.co.jp (Japan)
• Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom)
• Amazon.de (Germany)
• Amazon.es (Spain, pero a lo mejor lo prefieres en castellano, a continuación)
• Amazon.fr (France)
• Amazon.it (Italy)

If you’re going to buy a Kindle book as a gift, you must do so via the Pan-American Amazon store (the first one listed above), regardless of where you live or where the recipient lives.

En castellano:

En castellano, está disponible actualmente en las siguientes tiendas Amazon, según tu región:

• Amazon.com (todas las Américas y la República de la India)
• Amazon.co.jp (Japón)
• Amazon.co.uk (Reino Unido)
• Amazon.de (Alemania)
• Amazon.es (España)
• Amazon.fr (Francia)
• Amazon.it (Italia)

Si vas a comprar un libro Kindle como regalo, debes hacerlo vía la tienda panamericana de Amazon (la primera de la lista) sin importar donde vivas tú o donde viva la persona que recibirá el regalo.

Allan Tépper’s books, consulting, articles, seminars & audio programs

Contact Allan Tépper for consulting, or find a full listing of his books, articles and upcoming seminars and webinars at AllanTepper.com. Listen to his TecnoTur program, which is now available both in Castilian (aka “Spanish”) and in English, free of charge. Search for TecnoTur in iTunes or visit TecnoTur.us for more information.

FTC disclosure

No manufacturer is specifically paying Allan Tépper or TecnoTur LLC to write this article or the mentioned books. Some of the other manufacturers listed above have contracted Tépper and/or TecnoTur LLC to carry out consulting and/or translations/localizations/transcreations. Many of the manufacturers listed above have sent Allan Tépper review units. So far, none of the manufacturers listed above is/are sponsors of the TecnoTur programs, although they are welcome to do so, and some are, may be (or may have been) sponsors of ProVideo Coalition magazine. Some links to third parties listed in this article and/or on this web page may indirectly benefit TecnoTur LLC via affiliate programs.

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The articles contained in the TecnoTur channel in ProVideo Coalition magazine are copyright Allan Tépper/TecnoTur LLC, except where otherwise attributed. Unauthorized use is prohibited without prior approval, except for short quotes which link back to this page, which are encouraged!