Apple has begun offering a “stripped-down” 13-inch MacBook Air to educational institutions purchasing in bulk, replacing the discontinued white MacBook, according to “MacRumors” (http://www.macrumors.com).

The article says the new educational-exclusive Air boasts the same specs as the entry-level consumer 11″ MacBook Air: 1.6GHz i5 processor, 2GB RAM, 64GB flash storage, and the Intel HD Graphics 3000 chipset. The machine is available in a five-pack for US$4,995 or $999 per machine. The standard 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,299.