MacBook 2013 vs. MacBook 2012

On June 10, 2013, had come. By the way, and relatively unspectacular, the new version of the Macbook Air was introduced. Externally not or hardly changed should get there a whole day on a single charge thanks to the new Haswellprozessor it now. Twelve hours promised. At least at the 13 "versions.

The pros and cons Apple factions cried again loudly: No Retina Display, visually unchanged, not a revolution, lower clocked processor? Please what?

The standing room in question is therefore: What added value does my new Macbook at all and worth the upgrade?

Since I was able to test both the 2012 and the 2013er, I think, to be allowed as a user allow me an opinion.

What has extremely annoyed in advance, were supposed tests or "Multiple pages" who have tested the new MacBook also supposedly, but then only the already known facts together lined up based on technical specs and press photos and basically anything brought from a user perspective.

This took time and wasting my equally useless.

Therefore you get here is a small review of all user view:

Expectations

Now that WWDC has the main innovations indicated Yes:

- Haswell processors

- Faster graphics (Intel HD 5000)

- 12 or 9 hours of battery life.

So what did I expect? Exactly! No more, no less. And as we know Apple, the battery life usually are not just empty promises.

And I can anticipate: they were met!

Facts

The 13 "Macbook Air has been compared in its basic endowment. This may be the configuration of most MBA owners.

Macbook 2012 = 1.8 Ghz Ivybridge i5, 128 GB SSD, 4 GB RAM

Macbook 2013 = 1.3GHz i5 Haswell, 128GB SSD, 4 GB RAM

Practice

Outwardly has really not done much. Only the microphone has been changed and now consists of two "holes", one of which is the actual microphone and the other is used to reduce ambient noise. This works surprisingly well, although the opposite one perceives a bit dull here.

If one has the Macbook so in hand, one gets the impression, precisely to have the same device as before. But that in case Apple does not have to be bad, the processing remains virtually unparalleled good.

In daily work a minimum speed increase can be established, otherwise everything is the same. But it is also felt not slower, which definitely speaks for the efficiency of the 1.3 GHz Haswell processor.

The "instant-Da-feeling" has been previously and it is now back. Therefore, we need no longer talk about great differences in speed of processors. If you like working with video etc., eh accesses to the Pro versions. The whole system works afloat. Point.

The new SSD now depend instead on recent SATA3 connector on the PCIe and work accordingly afloat when large data packets are copied. But falls in everyday work hardly and impressed only with appropriate benchmarks. From about 40% performance increase is talk there.

The screen is good. Not very good but good. It is not a Retina screen but it does not bother when you sit in normal distance from the Macbook Air. The colors are relatively strong and slightly improve contrast compared to its predecessor. The MacBook Air is designed for maximum portability and so makes a Retina Display in conjunction with the targeted battery life under the current technical possibilities apparently no sense.

In the end you would probably also run the risk, the Pro models abzugraben from below the water.

If you now have fully charged the battery, which lasts about one and a half hours, you really have to look twice when a suddenly indicates the battery indicator with a remaining term of schlappen 18 hours. Of course, only theoretical values ​​but the impression is still enormous.

In practice, will be achieved in normal surfing in total between 10-15 hours. Under full load, but it can sometimes be just five hours. But what notebook offers at the moment?

Another advantage is due to this fact that I at the same age and notebook user profile in the long term significantly less charge cycles on the clock have, than its predecessor. Power, for example, the sale later well.

Working with the Macbook is a dream, but that was no different in the predecessor. I have to now worry in everyday life make battery life and squint after the next outlet and can be a really relaxed.

A thick Extra mention should be the speakers. This not only sound clear but voluminous even in some ways. And much better than at the 2012 predecessor. Alone if the overall size and the absence of sound impressed this fact twice.

Costs

Was the Macbook Air 2012 still with 1.199, - listed, now a price reduction has taken place and the new MacBook Air 2013, starting at a list price of 1,099 - to have. I therefore mention the price list because it is now much cheaper to have on numerous handers such as Amazon or MacTrade.

Especially with Amazon you have to watch that you pay for the "old" Macbook too much, since the new price is at a similar level there.

Assuming an approximate price difference of 200, - between old and new from (2012er 2013er refurbished vs. new), so everyone himself must consider whether it is worth the benefits it.

Conclusion

The upgrade is worth so now or not?

If you come from a 2012er Macbook Air, in my opinion, worth the upgrade only if you need the battery life. Because this has increased significantly and delivers what it promises.

For all others who own a 2012 model, I can say with a clear conscience: Keep it, the other differences are so marginal that they are not noticeable in practice.

Did you, however, a Macbook Air 2011 or older, you should really think about switching because the new MacBook runs like hell. At least felt. An increase in output is then but clearly detectable.

The many in the press to be read error (WLAN, changing volume, flickering image) did not show up at me in practice and were otherwise well fixed via an update.

Apple has a total of careful model facelift operated and ventured no big experiments. Exactly like it here, because it was an almost perfect device to precisely relevant areas yet refined.