My old MacBook Air from 2009, given up the ghost. The board constantly caused problems and so had a new device here (because you MacBooks unfortunately can not repair itself). Since I'm a lot better than with MacOS (I use both systems on different devices) with Windows rightly, I wanted to upgrade to a Windows device. But a trip to Samsung was rather sobering. The unit looked almost like the MacBook (Samsung had copied the design very nice), but keyboard and especially the screen were too bitter descent. So Samsung back, MacBook ordered.
2. Compare MacBook 2009 - 2013 MacBook
The old MacBook running Lion. I had deliberately not updated to Moutain Lion, because the greater web integration for me is irrelevant to disturbing and reported performance issues. If you come from a four year old MacBook, the performance gain is, however (well despite Mountain-Lion) significantly. This will certainly be due to the SSD, which had not the 2009 device.
As the 2009 device is the MacBook really hot (in office use but less than the model of 2009). So is not a notebook, with which you can work times so just hold on your lap, if you do not want to grill the thigh. However, it is quieter. The MacBook Air 2009 I had already joking that "Air" presumably it refers that the fan is working loudly and blows like a hairdryer.
The screen is, as usual, great. No Retina display is installed, I like that. ME is more of a promotional hype. The difference in resolution for everyday life is rather irrelevant, but consumes a Retina display (like the iPad) more power. Mir is more important than longer term pixel. The screen shines. I really do not like, but the mirrors kept within acceptable limits.
The term is - as far as one can tell after a few days - really great. In office operations to get loose with no mains connection through the entire workday.
For switching from the MacBook 2009 is also nice that the unit now has at least two USB 3.0 ports, a Thunderbolt port and a SDCard slot (SDXC).
3. Tips on Buying
a) Banal but important: Be sure to buy the newest model. The Macbook Air 2012 and the 2013 MacBook Air currently often cost the same; if the dealer that - unlike Amazon - not makes clear by the words' in June 2013 ", just have a look what kind of graphics card is installed (2012: Intel HD 4000, 2013 Intel HD 5000).
b) Amazon currently makes no precise indication about the delivery time. This is because it is not clear how come in many MacBooks from Apple. Only times from practice: For me, it was first called, the delivery would take three to five weeks. Effectively, the MacBook was then 8 days after the order there.
c) If you have no Amazon credit card and want to buy the MacBook, should consider to bring a: You do not get only 30 Euro Star credit, but also later effectively 2% discount on purchases from Amazon (in the form of vouchers), which again makes just over 20 euros in the MacBook. And are obtained in particular by a contract concluded with the credit card agreement insurance an "extended warranty" at 1 year for units that are Amazon (not MarketPlace) bought and paid for with the Amazon credit card. Especially important since Apple only one year warranty is because so that the seller guaranteed for 2 years extended by Amazon for another year to effectively three years (so that mE because Amazon is acting in warranty cases very customer-friendly after the first six months, an expensive Apple-care package is unnecessary). I know that sounds very much like advertising for Amazon, but that this aspect has brought me to buy the device from Amazon and not directly from Apple, and I thought that might also be interested in this one or the other. If something is good, you have to sometimes may praise.
UPDATE: The purchase insurance is to change the Amazon Terms unfortunately only for sales transactions made until 31.10.2014. For purchases, carried the then, they are no longer valid.