Apple on MacBook Neo Design: 'We're Certainly Not Making Any Compromises'

[MacRumors]

While the MacBook Neo starts at just $599, or an even lower $499 for college students, Apple has insisted that it did not make any design compromises.

"It's undeniably a MacBook, we're certainly not making any compromises on the design and that's really important," said Apple's vice president of industrial design Molly Anderson, in an interview with architecture and design publication Dezeen.

Anderson added that "it was important" for the MacBook Neo "to be quintessentially a MacBook."

Chiefly, the MacBook Neo is made from aluminum, not plastic.

"It wasn't just a redesign, it was starting from the beginning, and we're not using cheaper materials, it's incredible aluminium," she said.

Available in fun colors like Blush and Citrus, the MacBook Neo is meant to be distinguished from the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, according to Anderson.

"It was important to make it feel part of the family, but with its own personality," she said.

Even though the MacBook Neo is designed with premium materials, Apple did have to make compromises in other areas. For example, the MacBook Neo has only 8GB of RAM, and a Touch ID button is limited to the $699 model. Plus, there is no MagSafe, one of the USB-C ports is limited to USB 2 speeds of just 480 MB/s, and the keys are not backlit.

Despite its limitations, the MacBook Neo will likely be a hit with students and customers who need a Mac mainly for everyday tasks, like web browsing and document editing. Pre-orders began on March 4, ahead of a March 11 launch.

Article Link: Apple on MacBook Neo Design: 'We're Certainly Not Making Any Compromises'

 

[mihighil]

Im gonna wait for the incredible aluminium pro max version.

 

[Rockanrolero]

The only people that should be mad that this exists are the people that got their kids an M4 MacBook Air for Christmas knowing they won’t use half of the power it provides 😂😂😂

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

The idea of the GPU in this thing technically having hardware ray tracing support is so weird.

 

[steve217]

Anderson, eh?

 

[B4U]

Please explain why not include the camera light letting the user know the camera is on? 🥲

 

[magicschoolbus]

Is it unapologetically aluminum? If not, back to the drawing board apple.

 

[PowerMac5500]

Im gonna wait for the incredible aluminium pro max version.

I'm going to wait for the price to drop. The base model will be $579 at larger retailers within a few months, $499 deals by the holidays. And $529 will be the "standard price" by this time next year. (Not that the price is unreasonable, but it will go lower.)

 

[Minato1990]

The only people that should be mad that this exists are the people that got their kids an M4 MacBook Air for Christmas knowing they won’t use half of the power it provides 😂😂😂

Exactly. Apple is poised to make a lot of money from this budget option, and parents won't have to shell out big bucks for a macbook anymore. Same for 90% of college students I wished I had an option like this 10 years ago back in university. Would've saved me money to yes spend on more booze and partying hahaha

 

[Websnapx2]

Maybe not cheaper materials, but cheaper components in some cases — like the non-haptic track pad, slower SSD, non Display P3 screen, non-backlit keyboard, non Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and no thunderbolt.

But yes — aluminium.

 

[ThomasJL]

Introducing the MacBook Neo, brought to you by Agent Cook.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Give me a break.

The entire device is one compromise after another.

I know gaslighting is the norm with Apple now, but this is a bit much.

 

[LevorgPenmancho]

InB4 300 posts about how bad MacBook Neo is.
…it’s going to be a huge hit.
So get over it.
Relax.

 

[Veinticinco]

“we're certainly not making any compromises on the design”

Apart from the size, the weight, the mechanical trackpad last seen over a decade ago, the weird speakers and the fat bezels an iPad would be ashamed of.

Sometimes, it’s better to say nothing and to be thought a fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

 

[Veinticinco]

“It wasn't just a redesign, it was starting from the beginning, and we're not using cheaper materials, it's incredible aluminium," she said.

Is it transparent, Molly?

Honestly, the guff this company comes out with. And to think, people mocked Jony Ive.

 

[dhiebert]

How can the MacBook Neo's USB-C Port Limitation not be considered a compromise?

 

[turbineseaplane]

How can the MacBook Neo's USB-C Port Limitation not be considered a compromise?

It absolutely is.

This is completely outrageous to be claiming no compromises in public.

 

[Veinticinco]

Please explain why not include the camera light letting the user know the camera is on? 🥲

That 0.00002 cent cost, would tip it over the magical 499 price barrier.

But someone spent a fair bit of software time cost ensuring there was a barely noticeable menu bar alert instead. No compromises she said, remember!

 

[Veinticinco]

How can the MacBook Neo's USB-C Port Limitation not be considered a compromise?

She did say “design”. If she said the product, you could rattle off a very long list instead.

 

[Funny Apple Man]

This is from the same company that told us that "8gb on Macs is like 16gb on Windows" nonsense.

The Neo is great for the price, but to say there's zero compromises is a straight up lie.

 

[turbineseaplane]

She did say “design”. If she said the product, you could rattle off a very long list instead.

“Design is how it works”

 

[BeerDrinkerDan]

InB4 300 posts about how bad MacBook Neo is.
…it’s going to be a huge hit.
So get over it.
Relax.

Not surprisingly, the complainers and naysayers were faster.

 

[MN7119]

Maybe not cheaper materials, but cheaper components in some cases — like the non-haptic track pad, slower SSD, non Display P3 screen, non-backlit keyboard, non Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and no thunderbolt.

But yes — aluminium.

And 8gb RAM. Jobs was famous for the turtle neck. Cook will be famous for the turtle Mac.

 

[Minato1990]

Give me a break.

The entire device is one compromise after another.

I know gaslighting is the norm with Apple now, but this is a bit much.

But my guy
Its not for you.
You have your other options that are stronger than this

 

[JPack]

It’s forged aluminum or as Apple calls it, “formed” aluminum. Not CNC like Air and Pro. That’s what makes Neo thicker.

There’s no compromises at $499. That would be a fair statement. What other notebook at $499 has this build quality or 500 nit display?