EugW
macrumors P6
Our M4 MacBook Air looks fine with its non-2X scaled default resolution IMO. I think the fact nobody complains about it and in fact most people don’t even know it’s non-2X scaled are strong testaments to that.
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Typing this on a Neo - It's a winner!
- Thread starter turbineseaplane
- Start date
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I tried the different screen resolutions on my Neo and ended up putting it back to Default. And I haven't noticed any issues with viewing angels either.
Maybe the fact that I am half blind in one eye and can't see out of the other along with having to wear bifocal lenses has something to do with it.
Maybe the fact that I am half blind in one eye and can't see out of the other along with having to wear bifocal lenses has something to do with it.
DankeBrutus
macrumors regular
I think if we consider this as an education laptop the lack of Touch ID on the base model makes a lot of sense. I imagine admins could set an MDM profile to disable the Touch ID sensor but it is another cost-saving measure for Apple to just remove it.
That's disappointing, but it's the same logic Apple applied in the 2010's when they shipped MBPs with the default resolution scaled to 1440x900. I ran my M1 MBP at the "more space" resolution or whatever it's called (1680x1050) for years, but once I noticed the fringing on text I couldn't unsee it. After setting it to the x2 resolution of 1280x800 it looks significantly better. Some third-party apps don't behave well with that resolution but it's worth it for how crisp everything looks.
Royksöpp
macrumors 68030
That screen looks so nice without a notch. I would happily trade the notch for thicker bezels any day.
Im thinking of buying a Neo just for no notch. The notch on my MacBook Pro is insulting.
Zazoh
macrumors 68000
A few years ago I had an Aluminum Chromebook from Acer. It was NOT good. Dented easily and the Mac-like track pad was garbage. I got it for about $349 but Apple really nailed the quality feel on the Neo.
I think I bought my Dell Inspiron in late 2022 or early 2023. There definitely is a difference in build quality. The Neo outperforms the Dell even though the Dell has 4 times more RAM. Part of the performance difference is the OS but the rest is all hardware.
conmee
macrumors 6502a
All the lies, I need to unfollow @turbineseaplane for the previous vitriol, and the later complete 180!
😉
Great feedback on this so far. I am considering one of these for my mom who is having issues with the ipad setup she has, and I feel this would be more of a stable solution for her.
She still types like an olympic data-entry pro so I feel the stable environment will work well for her!
😉
Great feedback on this so far. I am considering one of these for my mom who is having issues with the ipad setup she has, and I feel this would be more of a stable solution for her.
She still types like an olympic data-entry pro so I feel the stable environment will work well for her!
KUKitch
macrumors 6502
I have always loved the 12” MB, despite its flaws (and the performance was rightly maligned)… an M chip in that chassis would be just perfect.
Apple_Robert
Contributor
I agree but, I don't see that happening any time soon. If you look at the Neo frame, there isn't a lot of room left over on each side of the keyboard, especially if one wishes to keep the current and proven keyboard. I don't think I would like to go to a keyboard like the 11" iPad Pro. Granted, it's not terrible but, it isn't as smooth to use as what we have now.
One minor point I forgot in my list of initial impressions, which is entirely subjective and has no bearing on the Neo's performance: I prefer the minimalist Apple logo on the lid to the shiny versions on the Pro and Air.
KUKitch
macrumors 6502
Oh I know, it’s dead as a doornail - I just always loved the form factor and the retina screen… i mean my 11” iPP and Smart Keyboard gets the most use of anything I own and I suspect that wouldn’t be too dissimilar, size-wise - and actually I like it, but that’s definitely subjective
Apple_Robert
Contributor
The wedge design is still king in my heart. Maybe we will see something similar with a thin chassis as tech matures even more and gets smaller and smaller. For portability and different use dynamics on the go, the iPad Pro Celluar with keyboard is king at the moment. I would like to see that thinness, power, and ability in a future small Mac form factor.
Happy_John
macrumors 68000
Heh, I thought this thread would be about the keyboard on the Neo. Eventually it was, which is good.
Maybe not everyone, but for me the quality of the keyboard is far, far more important than the vast amount of other issues that are being quibbled over with the Neo.
8 gig of memory and a good keyboard with as little flex as possible is far more important than 16gig memory + and either a mushy keyboard or a keyboards that feels like it will destroy your fingerjoints.
The best MacBook keyboard Apple ever made? I'd say the keyboard on the non-retina Macbook Air, but I know a lot of people think the TiBook was the peak.
Maybe not everyone, but for me the quality of the keyboard is far, far more important than the vast amount of other issues that are being quibbled over with the Neo.
8 gig of memory and a good keyboard with as little flex as possible is far more important than 16gig memory + and either a mushy keyboard or a keyboards that feels like it will destroy your fingerjoints.
The best MacBook keyboard Apple ever made? I'd say the keyboard on the non-retina Macbook Air, but I know a lot of people think the TiBook was the peak.
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They just aren't things that I would compare, if I need more RAM I need more RAM - how good the keyboard doesn't factor into the equation for me in this scenario.
Happy_John
macrumors 68000
No, buy what you need. My point was that, personally, I'd prefer more focus on the typing experience on the Neo, and not just synthetic benchmarks and "how many tabs can I open?". At the end of the day, the keyboard is the moving part that is going to get a hell of a lot of use, and is the part of the machine you physically interact with the most.
A bad keyboard is a dealbreaker for me. I've been typing for decades. Sore fingers and sore wrists are not fun.
And, to be fair, I thought it was funny that I read the thread title and assumed "Cool, a thread focusing on the keyboard".
Though I usually use an external display and Magic Keyboard, I was surprised by how much the mushy Neo keyboard dampened my excitement for buying one later this year. Coming from my 2015 and 2018 MacBook Pro, I'm used to keys that bounce back much more readily.
adrianlondon
macrumors 604
I run my 14" MBP at "More Space". If I drop the resolution, the entire UI looks like a toy to me.
I definitely prioritise screen 'real estate" over any perceived improvement in clarity (which I don't notice, as I wear reading glasses when using my laptop).
I definitely prioritise screen 'real estate" over any perceived improvement in clarity (which I don't notice, as I wear reading glasses when using my laptop).
Happy_John
macrumors 68000
Good feedback, thanks. ( Although I hoped the keyboard would be better). I haven't had a change yet to try one in the real world, but I was a bit worried when I saw a review video where it looked like there was a bit too much flex in the top case around the keyboard, even when the reviewer was saying "there's no flex!".
Like you, day-to-day, I use external magic keyboards (the older ones without Touch ID) or the older, wired version ( roughly the same profile, maybe with a little more travel), and that's what I'm happy with, so it's what I'd use as a baseline.
I guess that, if I'm picky about keyboards, I should like mechanical keyboards, but I'm not a huge fan of them.
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Happy_John
macrumors 68000
I used to, but I'm getting old. :-( Not happy abut having to use "cartoon resolution", but it's just the way it is.
adrianlondon
macrumors 604
I'm getting old too! Buy stronger reading glasses - much cheaper than upgrading to the 16" MBP 😁