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

mattwolfmatt said:
Anything less than a $5000 laptop is technically a compromise. The question is: for 80% of users, are they willing to wait one more second to start up the computer, or 1/4 of a second to open an app? Is that time worth the $500 less they are not going to spend? For almost everyone, it is.

Compared to a BMW, a Camry is a compromise, yet Toyota sells millions and millions of them each year.
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Your $5,000 MacBook Pro doesn't have 128GB RAM, 8TB storage, or a touch screen. Those are compromises.

This interview was with the VP of Industrial Design. It's about the touch, feel, and operation of this MacBook.
 
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Radeon85 said:
"'We’re certainly not making any compromises', right? 😄 There is a USB 2.0 port—a speed that debuted 26 years ago! While the other port is fine you're using an A18 Pro, not an A19 Pro; not only is there no Face ID, but Touch ID is exclusive to the high-end version. Add in only 8GB of RAM and a low-brightness, 500-nit LCD, and that’s five compromises already. 😄

Then you have the iPhone 17 Pro, which is faster and capable of significantly more storage and RAM (up to 2TB with 12GB RAM) but held back by iOS. Or an M-series iPad that could run rings around that A18 Pro MacBook, yet it’s crippled by iPadOS. It’s a damn joke."
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You do realize this is the lowest end, right? Of course devices that cost more have more.
 
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The Neo is going to sell like hotcakes to it's intended market which is people like students, teens, parents or frankly anyone who just needs a laptop for usual everyday computing.

My sister is looking at the Neo and she's a classic example of this part of the market. She's doing an online university degree and is currently using a base model 2014 rMBP with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage. That laptop still gets the standard computing tasks done for her so a laptop like the Neo is a huge upgrade.
Yes the Air is a better laptop but it should be at double the price.
 
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Veinticinco said:
if we’re listing compromises, how about the 36.5 Wh Lithium-ion battery compared with the 53.8 lithium-polymer in the MBA
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This is actually a feature... "It's the most efficient laptop we've ever shipped." 😀

Seriously though, the Neo battery is smaller than any other Mac's battery ever (except I think the 11" MBA?). Also the weight coming out to exactly the same as the MBA seems intentional. They could have put a smaller battery and beat the MBA on weight, or a bigger one and beat the MBA on battery life. I think they sized it just right for the sales ladder.

Honestly I could see them continuing to move the Air up-market and adding a higher tier of the Neo next year. A19 Pro w/ full GPU core count, 12GB RAM, 512GB, $799 MSRP ($999 1 TB option). Maybe add back a few other features like True Tone, P3, and backlit keys. It would be a great laptop for like 75% of people out there. Then move the Air to OLED at $1299.
 
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I have not tested a MBN yet, but it looks like Apple made a relatively low price laptop with a build that will not denigrate the Apple brand. That is a difficult-to-achieve feat that will bring more users into the ecosystem.

It amazes me how many people say that the MBN should have "more." Of course devices that cost more have more. Duh.
 
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No compromises? You’re using iPhone chip in a laptop, reusing laptop chassis, limiting it to 8GB RAM and 512GB storage and that’s “rethinking” something Anderson?

have you seen ANY keynotes from Steve, Jos or Phil (when the last two still made sense) how to pitch & explain product’s raison d’être ?

Why is Apple putting people like this in front of media at all? 😖
 
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MacRumors said:


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.

MacBook-Neo-Held-Out-x4.jpg

"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'
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I agree that Apple did not make compromises. Reasons: all materials and features were selected to address low price and customer need target. This is not a compromise but matching cost, price and targeted customer needs. It is an excellent business strategy decision. The product is designed for customers that do not need bells and whistles but do need basic computer processing such as students. Excellent product strategy. Apple has reached and met various customer needs with large choices of Mac!
 
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harriska2 said:
Of course it’s a compromise. I got my son a MBP in 2015 and it was a pile of crap by 2021. Couldn’t even run Microsoft Word it was so underpowered and slow. This is likely the same thing. Not. Worth. It. 8gb memory? Yikes.
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A six year life cycle is not bad, probably exacerbated by underbuying the RAM when you bought it. My 2016 MBP with maximum RAM (16) also was RAM-slowed by ~2021.

You are correct about "8gb memory? Yikes." Most students will grow their laptop demands fairly quickly, and will experience RAM-based slowdowns much sooner than your son's 6 years. Parents should expect the cheapest, lowest-end Mac laptop to have a relatively short life cycle for a student.

Others like granny with her email, etc. will probably do fine with a MBN for a decade.
 
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B4U said:
Please explain why not include the camera light letting the user know the camera is on? 🥲
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Yes this is the lamest and cheapest omission on an otherwise fine device.

My guess is that they're using a camera module from an iPad. But iPad is inherently more secure since it's locked down.
 
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sully54 said:
Some people here talking like compromise is a bad thing and that this is the *only* MacBook available. If you choose to get this product despite needing a MacBook Air and MacBook Pro for your workflow, then you're the one who compromised, not the product. For the segment of the market this is aimed towards, this thing is more than enough.
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My “workflow” is writing, watching videos, surfing the web etc. You know what helps improve that workflow? MagSafe charging, Touch ID, a backlit kb, etc.

The point is that while the chip is plenty powerful for many users needs, that doesn’t mean that they didn’t skimp on about 2 dozen other things.

And yes, it will fly off the shelves for $499. Good and good for Apple. But in Canada the Touch ID version is $999 list while a M4 MBA is currently $1039 on Apple s “refurbished” store.
 
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It would be interesting to learn the production process. For example, deep draw metal stamping is a process using a punch and die to create deep, hollow shapes in metal sheets, by pulling the metal into the die cavity. Certainly more interesting than Molly reciting a script from her PR flack.
 
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Peterrocks! said:
My “workflow” is writing, watching videos, surfing the web etc. You what helps improve that workflow? MagSafe charging, Touch ID, a backlit kb, etc.

The point is that while the chip is plenty powerful for many users needs, that doesn’t mean that they didn’t skimp on about 2 dozen other things.

And yes, it will fly off the shelves for $499. Good and good for Apple. But in Canada the Touch ID version is $999 list while a M4 MBA is currently $1039 on Apple s “refurbished” store.
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Even in the U.S. most people would be much better suited picking up a refurbished M4 Air for $759 over the Neo.
 
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Peterrocks! said:
My “workflow” is writing, watching videos, surfing the web etc. You what helps improve that workflow? MagSafe charging, Touch ID, a backlit kb, etc.

The point is that while the chip is plenty powerful for many users needs, that doesn’t mean that they didn’t skimp on about 2 dozen other things.

And yes, it will fly off the shelves for $499. Good and good for Apple. But in Canada the Touch ID version is $999 list while a M4 MBA is currently $1039 on Apple s “refurbished” store.
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If you're going to compare $499 edu, it's $849 for the 512/Touch version in Canada.

In Canada, the pink and yellow 512GB versions are even more back ordered than U.S., now with ETA of March 30 - April 7.
 
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