Today I gave away my 13 inch MacBook Pro to a coworker and adopted a 13 inch MacBook Air.[1] It is not the first time I have used a MacBook Air, but it is the first MacBook Air I have used with two USB ports. I gave away my 13 inch MacBook Pro not because I was ready for a new machine, but because I was ready for a change. If you know me, you know how often I switch my cell phone. Using new technology is what I like to do. By going back to the Air I am not saying the Air is better than the Pro, but that the Air is different enough to keep me interested. For me the hardest choice is not to change, but the distance my decision takes me.

Today’s MacBook Air comes in four configurations.

• An 11 inch with 64GBs of SSD storage
• An 11 inch with 128GBs of SSD storage
• An 13 inch with 128GBs of SSD storage
• An 13 inch with 256GBs of SSD storage

The specs of all four machines are very similar. The 13 inch models are slightly faster, have a larger 16:10 display with 1440 by 900 pixels, come with a 7 hour battery, and are equipped with an SD card slot. They weigh 2.96lbs. The 11 inch models are slightly slower, have a smaller 16:9 display with 1366 by 768 pixels, come with a 5 hour battery, and are not equipped with a SD card slot. They weigh 2.38lbs. All models of MacBook Air offer similar performance, but the base 11 inch model with 64GBs of storage comes with only 2GBs of non-upgradable memory. (The rest of the machines have a adequet 4GBs of RAM.[2]) All models of MacBook Air utilize Intel Core i5 processors with 4 logical cores, but there is an option for upgrading to a 1.8GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7 processor that can automatically increase the speed of the CPU at the cost of battery life.[3]

If you are in the market for a second computer, and are primarily looking for portability, the base model 11 inch MacBook Air is a bargain at only $999, but its lack of additional memory makes it a poor choice in the long run. Apple does offer a $100 4GB upgrade option, but such customizations are build-to-order only[4], and do not save you much over getting a 11 inch model with twice the storage and double the RAM for only $200 more. 256GBs of SSD storage is an option for the high end 11 inch MacBook Air, but it is a costly upgrade, and most can make due with half the space.[5]

I really wanted the 11 inch MacBook Air with the 128 GB drive for the smaller profile it provides, but the 13 inch model with the 128GB drive and similar specifications is a hard bargain to pass up. For only $100 more the base 13 inch model with the 128GB drive gives you slightly faster performance, 246,912 more pixels, 2 hours longer battery life, and a SD card slot while only weighing 0.58lbs. more. I respect people who purchase the 11 inch MacBook Air for the portability it provides, but I ask them how useful their computer is after only 5 hours of battery life? As an amateur photographer I value the larger screen size and greater pixel count the 13 inch MacBook Air provides, and its built-in SD card slot is a nice feature for off-loading pictures on the road. If I had two Thunderbolt Displays, one at the office and one at home, I might opt for a 11 inch MacBook Air, but until I am so lucky the value and features of the 13 inch MacBook Air with 128GBs of storage outweighs the portability of the smaller MacBook.