Mac Trade-Ins Surge Amid MacBook Neo Launch

[31 Flavas]

Closer to 5.5 years if you purchased the M1 MBA on launch day like I did. It’s still going strong, battery is admittedly not as good as before (expected), and I wonder if being made to support the MacBook Neo for a couple more years means the lifespan of my MBA gets extended as well.

Oh… so you’re getting in on the Neo hate, too? 😂 The neo is only going to be supported for “a couple more years” when it just launched? Harsh! 🔪

I’m teasing.

 

[Abazigal]

Oh… so you’re getting in on the Neo hate, too? 😂 The neo is only going to be supported for “a couple more years” when it just launched? Harsh! 🔪

I’m teasing.

I will genuinely be very surprised and willing to eat crow if this Macbook Neo gets software updates for a minimum of 5 years. I am personally expecting about 3 years myself, maybe 4 if I were to be optimistic. It's one of those business meetings where I would really like to be a fly on the wall. Like yes, I know that Apple is able to use its control over software to optimise their OS to run well on limited hardware, and can therefore save on components (eg: get away with putting less ram on their Macs and iOS devices, a move which I suspect will grow increasingly important as ram prices continue to climb). But I also wonder if there is a long-term cost because then, they need to put in more work into supporting these lower-specced devices for longer.

I would really like to know how they decide when to cut off support, and the considerations that go into this. Like do they expect students using the Macbook Neo to also end up subscribing to their creator studio bundle, what percentage of takeup rate ($3 / month is actually a pretty good deal so long as you continue to qualify for it), and whether Apple is content to support their older devices for longer with the expectation that they make it back via subscriptions, app sales and other accessories? Do they project that the typical university student will subsequently upgrade to a MBA after graduation? There's so many possible permutations that this could play out that I feel like one could theory-craft forever. 😬

Unless Apple pulls one of those "update in name only" moves where only the OS number changes but you don't really get any new features, but that means it still gets security patches, I suppose. 😛

 

[TheOldChevy]

If you're into Linux, then I would keep it. The AS Mac doesn't fully support Linux unless that has recently changed. My 2012 Mini is happily running Ubuntu and I will convert my 2018 Mini with 32GB of RAM to Ubuntu as well. Ubuntu is one of the more complete and stable Linux distributions and if you are into adding themes, you can even make it look like macOS.

My experience converting an old Macbook pro to Linux was not good. Is it better with the mini ?

 

[theluggage]

I will genuinely be very surprised and willing to eat crow if this Macbook Neo gets software updates for a minimum of 5 years. I am personally expecting about 3 years myself, maybe 4 if I were to be optimistic.

That depends what you mean by "software updates".

Outside the US, in various countries Apple are required to provide (admittedly limited) hardware support for 5-6 years after they were discontinued, which is very hard without a supported version of the OS to install on it, even if it isn't the latest.

As long as it gets the major OS updates for the next 3 years, that means it will get security updates for 2-3 years after that.

I don't think Apple has ever dropped a system from new MacOS version less than 5 years after it was launched - although the 2019 MacBook Airs come close. I don't think they've dropped any Apple Silicon machines yet - they should be easier to support than Intel machines with a mix of third-party GPUs and i/o chippery.

 

[theluggage]

… but if you listen to forum posters here 8gig was already too little RAM back in 2020.

It was too little RAM on a $1100 laptop (and the upgrade was too expensive). It was always OK for light use but a $1100 computer needs to do better than "OK for light use".

The Neo costs $500 less than a MBA. Some people here seem to need reminding of that in every post.

 

[theluggage]

My experience converting an old Macbook pro to Linux was not good. Is it better with the mini ?

Last I looked, "bare metal" Asahi Linux only really supports M1 and M2 and there are still ifs and buts for those. Its an ambitious project.

The practical way to run Linux on a Mac is under virtualisation.

Also, a lot of Linux/Unix software for servers, development etc. runs fine under MacOS (which is Unix) via homebrew or MacPorts, so a Mini can still be a half-decent server.

 

[31 Flavas]

I will genuinely be very surprised and willing to eat crow if this Macbook Neo gets software updates for a minimum of 5 years. I am personally expecting about 3 years myself, maybe 4 if I were to be optimistic. It's one of those business meetings where I would really like to be a fly on the wall.

That’s a reasoned stance. I don’t feel I really agree with it. But, I postulated it to Gemini, Grok, and ChatGPT. They’re really no better then weather forecasters (and often times worse), however, I figured this could get ballpark estimates.

Grok spent the most time, ChatGPT didn’t know if the Neo had an M-series chip, and Gemini didn’t have any standout characteristic. But, none predicted a catastrophically short OS support cycle for the Neo. That said, ChatGPT was the only one that mentioned late 2008 white Macbook which it estimated had 2.7 years of OS updates.

They all felt that the Neo would receive 5 years of support and M1 would lose support first before the Neo. I’ll see I can link Grok’s response: Here

 

[31 Flavas]

It was too little RAM on a $1100 laptop (and the upgrade was too expensive). It was always OK for light use but a $1100 computer needs to do better than "OK for light use".

The Neo costs $500 less than a MBA. Some people here seem to need reminding of that in every post.

Is anyone really complaining that the M1 itself is anemic or sluggish today, though? I mean, sure the M5 runs laps around the M1, but this very thread is recommending the acquisition of an M1 over the Neo — and you can’t really find negative reviews or press on the Neo.

The fact that you can get a shockingly competent and well built laptop at $600/500 is the disruptive part.

 

[Happy_John]

Is anyone really complaining that the M1 itself is anemic or sluggish today, though? I mean, sure the M5 runs laps around the M1, but this very thread is recommending the acquisition of an M1 over the Neo — and you can’t really find negative reviews or press on the Neo.

The fact that you can get a shockingly competent and well built laptop at $600/500 is the disruptive part.

I didn’t read the article as being specifically about trading in an M1 mac for a Neo. All the M1s are still pretty good, they’re sellingquickly and for OK prices, so that’s a better option than an Apple trade-in, and the only thing that’s probably an issue with an M1 air (or oro) would be the battery, and there’s no way around that except replacing the battery.

I’d imagine the attraction of the trade in would be a getting a discount on a Neo by trading in an intel mac, as their second-hand price has collage’e and not that many people are buying them. Apple won’tgive you much for an intel mac, so it’d be more atrractive to keep it than trade it in for a dicount against an new air or pro, but as the Neo’s price is low already, even a $50 discount is a reasonable chunk off the sticker price, especially if you’re not using the intel mac or frustrated by using it, due to throlling, fan noise, supported features etc.

As an example, I won’t buying a Neo, not because it’s not good, but because I didn’t need one. I’m happy with my current sety up (private and business), and my family are happy with what the6 currently have to.

If an accident happened, and one of our machines got trashed, I would very very likely to by a Neo, as it’s the best option if your need to buy a Mac out of the blue, and not having budgeted for it.

On the other hand, I have a 15” 2017 MacBook Pro with a maxxed out GPU option - it cost a fortunę when I bought it, and now I never use it. I’ve kept it because it looks pretty but, at this point, given it’s worth, I’d be happy to swop it for a new, boxed Apple Watch SE, because that’s all it’s worth (if that) in terms of the market.

So, if I had to buy a Neo as an emergency replacement Mac, I’d definitely trade in the 2017 MBP against it.

 

[switz]

Have just installed Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Lightroom Classic and worked on photos I downloaded from my Leica SD card. Doing what I needed to do on this very small portable device.

Adobe says their software will work on Macs with 8GB. Obviously my M1 Ultra Mac Studio with 128GB and 8TB SSD is faster.

But this Neo works when I am out side away from electric power and a desk with a chair. Truly a portable working device.

 

[iShater]

Oh I was just joking. I'll never part with my 15" 2015 MBP.
It's a GOAT that I'll hang onto forever.

I actually have two of them!

Did you use Open Core to keep it kicking? I am still holding on and considering that. I feel it beats Neo for me just for the awesomeness.