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

Websnapx2 said:
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.
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But compared to laptops running Windows in this price range or to similarly priced Chromebooks, it will look, feel, and perform like a premium laptop.

I have several of those types of laptops/Chromebooks (including three Chromebooks that were all >$500). They are all fine, but all feel and look cheap compared to Macs. They also all have serious compromises in performance—trackpad issues, dim screens or ones with not very accurate colors, flaky Wi-Fi (two different brands of premium Chromebooks I have require wired connections [USB-C to ethernet] to maintain any sort of semi-demanding internet connection like streaming video), low quality speakers, noisy fans or quick thermal throttling, etc.

I’ve tried several times to get non-Mac laptops to save some money and I never last more than a year or two before the quality limitations, even with >$1000 ones are more than I want to deal with.

Desktops are fine because I can build my own, but I’ve not yet found a non-Apple laptop that's been nearly as solidly built and reliable as any of the Macs I’ve owned.
 
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turbineseaplane said:
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.
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For the TARGET market, it's likely not making any compromises. Research likely shows that many customers rarely use half the features that came with their more expensive MacBook, so building a machine that *matches* usage means nothing is lost. Logic.

Compare that to the current trend of internet providers determined to upsell customers to the "next big bucket of data" for "just another $20"... when they know that most customers will never use that, so it's free money.
 
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My son is turning 10 this summer and I want to buy him a new computer to replace my crumbling PC he has been using. Considering we already have a monitor, keyboard and mouse, I don't see a reason to buy the Neo over a Mac-Mini.
Mac-Mini is the same price and would last him a very long time without a hiccup, and portability is not an issue at this age.
Now the question is whether to wait for the M5 mac-mini or try to find a deal for the M4.
 
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Yup, no Touch ID (yes, I know), no MagSafe, no backlit kb, usb-2. Definitely no compromises there.

This is the problem - the mainstream media is gushing over it because it’s powerful enough. Sure, but what about the 20-odd other features that it also lacks?

Edit: I read online that it’s “essentially a smaller, lighter MBA”. Then they go on to say that it’s a tad thicker and weighs the same. How, precisely, is that smaller and lighter?
 
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I was against this when it was just a rumor, but now after seeing it, I'm actually onboard with it. I just hope that it's still high quality enough to last and keep the Apple reputation of a long computer life. It's branded well, but I'd hate to see the actual product turn into a low budget, low quality computer like many of the offerings from Dell, Lenovo, etc.
 
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Veinticinco said:
Is that the stuff they tried to convince everyone was more premium than titanium when unveiling the iPhone 17 Pro?
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They’re pretty fair and honest. This is a low-cost process not suitable for higher end Macs.

Although the new process greatly reduced costs, Anderson explained that this does not mean that it will necessarily be used for future versions of the MacBook Air or Pro.

"Every system we design is unique, this is another tool in our toolbox."
 
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liorzzz said:
My son is turning 10 this summer and I want to buy him a new computer to replace my crumbling PC he has been using. Considering we already have a monitor, keyboard and mouse, I don't see a reason to buy the Neo over a Mac-Mini.
Mac-Mini is the same price and would last him a very long time without a hiccup, and portability is not an issue at this age.
Now the question is whether to wait for the M5 mac-mini or try to find a deal for the M4.
Click to expand...

The Mac mini M4 is a way better computer. Good choice.
 
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JPack said:
They’re pretty fair and honest. This is a low-cost process not suitable for higher end Macs.

Although the new process greatly reduced costs, Anderson explained that this does not mean that it will necessarily be used for future versions of the MacBook Air or Pro.

"Every system we design is unique, this is another tool in our toolbox."
Click to expand...
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.
 
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It’s funny to hear about the slow USB-C port as one of the big downsides of this thing (even if having ports with different speeds is a threshold Apple never dared to cross). Very few of its users will care or even notice this.

However, almost no one talks about the lack of True Tone, which is a much bigger downside that many people will be able to notice.
 
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