SimScape Differences - MatLab 2012a vs. 2013a Student Edition

Hello,

I am trying to model mixed-domain (electro-pneumatic) systems in MatLab2012a Student Edition using Simscape without much luck. Do I need to upgrade to a more recent version?

It appears that MatLab 2012a may contain the first version of SimScape in the Student Edition. There are differences between current online tutorials and 2012a version of MatLab/Simulink/SimScape. Additionally, I am modeling on a Mac computer, and significant differences appear in some tutorials (the tutorials are presented in the Windows version of SimScape). For instance, some configuration pulldown menus are completely missing in my Mac version of SimScape compared to tutorial examples in Windows (refer to RED arrow in attachment).

Another difference is many SimScape elements (e.g., hydraulic spool valves) used in tutorials are missing in the 2012a Student Version. I am trying to model an electrically-actuated needle valve that includes pneumatic forces on the needle valve. I do not see any electro-pneumatic valves in the SimScape libraries I've purchased. Online hydraulic valve tutorials use elements that aren't included my 2012a version of SimScape.

What do these missing pieces reflect? Are the online tutorials more modern than my 2012a version? Is the Student Edition different than the Commercial edition? Or is the 2012a version that much different than the 2013a edition? Basically, I need to understand what edition to purchase?

One last observation I'd like you to investigate: SimScape windows are displayed in what appears to be Carbon graphics (i.e., not Cocoa graphics, aka Mac OS X graphics for Intel computers). Is that true?