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Hands-On With the New MacBook Neo

abowlby said:
No it isn't. It objectively is not.
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Have you worked in education (or Edtech?)
I have. So please state your case why it's not specifically targeted for the Education industry..

Do you think Apple specifically mentioned the EDU pricing in its press release "just because"? Because thats the first time apple has put that sepcific info in a press release for a new product
 
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prospervic said:
Are you forgetting the 12" MacBook was $1300? Hardly qualifies as a "burner/travel lappy", while at $600, this new Neo certainly does.
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what I was hoping for from the Neo:
- smaller
- lighter

None of those are necessarily more expensive features. If the Neo had a 12" screen and an eight hour battery — both things that would have helped it meet the low price — it would have met that criteria.
 
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The specs of this low cost computer opens an important question … what if one day I could simply plug my iPhone onto a screen a mouse and a keyboard and have enough to work with … I know it’s possible on android … what if this will happen when apple will sell the iglass that supposedly offer different function if you plug to a Mac or iPhone or iPad … As for this MacBook Neo I showed it to my 11 year old daughter who replied “it doesn’t have a touch screen like my iPad Air ?” … It reminds me my all white MacBook around 2005 … Maybe thats all it is …
 
MichaelAdam said:
The specs of this low cost computer opens an important question … what if one day I could simply plug my iPhone onto a screen a mouse and a keyboard and have enough to work with … I know it’s possible on android … what if this will happen when apple will sell the iglass that supposedly offer different function if you plug to a Mac or iPhone or iPad … As for this MacBook Neo I showed it to my 11 year old daughter who replied “it doesn’t have a touch screen like my iPad Air ?” … It reminds me my all white MacBook around 2005 … Maybe thats all it is …
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www.tomsguide.com

Apple patent reveals MacBook-like dock for iPhones and iPads

Would you store your iPhone in your MacBook?
www.tomsguide.com www.tomsguide.com

ovRp9iADcfu89CXUACh5cM-1000-80.jpeg
 
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Chomp81 said:
Same price as an iPad Air M4; interesting.
Of course, the difference is the keyboard, mouse and MacOS; but I can't see why to choose the Neo over the iPad Air

Thinking for someone not tech savvy
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If it's for someone elderly that has Zero clue or never used a computer before and you want to get them online fast. The Air would fit the bill just fine. My mom uses one as her primary media consumption device and for keeping in touch with family.

BUT the on-screen keyboard is pretty horrible to type anything regularly on. Hell even filling out forms can be a pain in the butt and take 10x longer - no writing novels or long forum posts on it comfortably.

I think most people who try to do everything they are used to doing on the iPad will, at some point feel it severely lacking. I tend to think off my iPad as an extension of my Mac to offload certain tasks from my desktop rather than as a standalone device.

I really tried using the iPad (M3 Pro) on a vacation ONCE (with keyboard/trackpad) and even pretty basic tasks were a horrible experience which lead to me selling it and buying a M1 iPad Air which does everything I need.

Of course there's also the the screen size to consider as well which may or may not be a big deal.

Realistically to get close to the same experience on an iPad Air you are at almost double the price of a Neo.
 
Good video. The Neo is a good laptop but has its shortfalls too. Colors could have been better. I like the Citrus. Not going to buy one but looking forward to the reviews.
 
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STOCK411 said:
Have you worked in education (or Edtech?)
I have. So please state your case why it's not specifically targeted for the Education industry..

Do you think Apple specifically mentioned the EDU pricing in its press release "just because"? Because thats the first time apple has put that sepcific info in a press release for a new product
Click to expand...
No it isn't. They specifically mentioned edu pricing during an iPad soft launch in Chicago a few years back.

If you were being honest/of good faith and have an understanding of more than one department in one district, in one county, in one state - then you would have a much different approach and nuanced discussion regarding this subject. "Apple = Correct," is not that.

Going from a $150 w/included software Chromebook or $200 iPad to a $500 Apple netbook is substantially more expensive.

Lets look at Duval Public Schools in Jacksonville, FL. There are 127,971 students in that district. They are currently in a financial crisis and just days ago passed a resolution to maintain a 1 million dollar property tax. The most recent data I can find suggests they are $100M IN DEBT.

So let's give you the benefit of the doubt, and say a $200 iPad migration to a $500 Apple Netbook solution.

So now, putting that public education to use: this migration would cost a district $100M in debt roughly $38.5M to complete BEFORE SOFTWARE LICENSING in the midst of passing a resolution to try and maintained increased property taxes to mitigate $100M of debt. There is no chance you are trying to have a good faith discussion about this without acknowledging this not uncommon reality.

Edit to clarify: The $38.5M listed above is IN ADDITION to the base cost of the $200 machines.
 
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klasma said:
An important reason is to maximize use of available fab capacities, I suspect. If everything has the same chip, they can make fewer devices overall, because fab capacity is limited per specific process. Process lines would also become more expensive if you only use them for a year or two.
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This is also why Apple doesn't update the entire product line all at once. Product releases are staggered so capacity can keep up with demand (part of the reason why the Air is usually towards the tail end of the upgrade cycle, it's their most popular model).
 
prospervic said:
Why one or the other? Get the MacBook Neo, but also the iPad Air* 11 WITHOUT the Magic Keyboard -- it's still better ergonomically than any MacBook for media consumption.

*or Pro, if you want the OLED display and are willing to cough up the cash.
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I have an iPad mini and a reMarkable I use for note taking so I can't justify another iPad, if I weren't a broke student I would definitely have the Neo and an iPad Pro haha
 
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repoman016 said:
Trying to reach the "we don't know what specs mean but that color is sick" crowd
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That’s not a bad thing.

It’s better value than the original MacBook Air and even more than the $1,300 MacBook with an intel Core M chip.

Anyone who wants to complain about it only having 8GB RAM or any other spec limitations need to realise this computer isn’t for them.

It’s for every day people, like small children/teenagers for school, grandparents to keep in touch with family or people who just want a basic tablet/ netbook experience in a laptop form for College or everyday browsing, email and word processing.

I personally think Apple have struggled to appeal to the budget/ everyday non technical people for years.

It may not be the answer for people like us on these forums.

That’s why the MacBook Air and Pros exist.

I feel the MacBook Neo will be a game changer for being cheap and simple.
 
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EugW said:
I'm worried the Neo will not get updated as often as the MacBook Air, meaning that I wouldn't be completely surprised if the Neo skipped a generation.

BTW, a little tidbit: The Neo wallpaper says "MAC".

www.macworld.com

There's an Easter egg hiding in the MacBook Neo's wallpaper

Look closely.
www.macworld.com www.macworld.com

View attachment 2610398
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I guess we’ll have to wait and see for that.

But in all honesty, because it’s a cheap and a simple laptop it might just need a chip bump every year or two and then after 5 or 6 years a re-design.

I think keeping its chip as the pro A chip from the prior iPhone gen is a good model.

Because the A18 Pro is a fantastic chip and with the way Apple has been upping the RAM recently with their A series silicon the next gen might get 10 or 12GB which we can all agree would be overkill for the demographic this laptop is aimed at.
 
thelion7 said:
I guess we’ll have to wait and see for that.

But in all honesty, because it’s a cheap and a simple laptop it might just need a chip bump every year or two and then after 5 or 6 years a re-design.

I think keeping its chip as the pro A chip from the prior iPhone gen is a good model.

Because the A18 Pro is a fantastic chip and with the way Apple has been upping the RAM recently with their A series silicon the next gen might get 10 or 12GB which we can all agree would be overkill for the demographic this laptop is aimed at.
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It won’t be 10 GB. It won’t be 8 either. The next step will be 12 because the A19 Pro only comes with 12. And if it skips a generation, A20 will also likely be 12.
 
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Ever since the 12.9” screen rumour I thought/hoped it would have a 4:3 aspect ratio. And it really makes better sense for a screen this size and for a laptop which is meant more for education than content consumption.
It would also make more product separation from the Air and make the Neo more unique in the Macbook lineup.
 
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