Why buy a 512GB Neo over the MacBook Air?

[maflynn]

Honest question
For those ordering the 512GB model, what made you choose that over the MBA for a few hundred more (400 to be precise)?

The MBA you get a M5 processor with more cores, double the ram, better display, better keyboard that's backlit, better camera. What does the Neo offer you that makes it a compelling purchase over the MBA?

 

[joeblow7777]

If it meets your needs and costs less, why pay more for features you don't care about?

 

[maflynn]

If it meets your needs and costs less, why pay more for features you don't care about?

Fair response, but the configuration is atypical to what a lot of MR members here have espoused in the past. You can find threads where the consensus is that its best to upgrade your Mac to 32GB (or more) of ram, never mind 16, now where have people saying 8GB is more then enough

 

[Mike Boreham]

Honest question
For those ordering the 512GB model, what made you choose that over the MBA for a few hundred more (400 to be precise)?

The MBA you get a M5 processor with more cores, double the ram, better display, better keyboard that's backlit, better camera. What does the Neo offer you that makes it a compelling purchase over the MBA?

"....a few hundred more (400 to be precise)" is nearly 60% more expensive (57% to be precise 😉). For the market it is aimed at this is significant. For Mac enthusiasts it is probably not, and personally I would buy an M5 Air over a Neo in a heartbeat.

I don't think this thread will reveal anything not said in many others....folks are buying Neos to use alongside their expensive Macs or instead of iPads and as a semi disposable travel machine.

 

[joeblow7777]

Fair response, but the configuration is atypical to what a lot of MR members here have espoused in the past. You can find threads where the consensus is that its best to upgrade your Mac to 32GB (or more) of ram, never mind 16, now where have people saying 8GB is more then enough

I was mainly looking at it from the perspective of average users. For most people here, I think that the appeal is mainly novelty.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Why buy a MacBook Air when for only a few hundred dollars more ($600 to be precise) you can get a MacBook Pro?

You’ll get more GPU cores, a bigger screen, BIG improvement in max brightness, 120Hz response, HDMI/SD, and better battery life.

Everyone decides their need & budget, and buys accordingly.

 

[Moonjumper]

Fair response, but the configuration is atypical to what a lot of MR members here have espoused in the past. You can find threads where the consensus is that its best to upgrade your Mac to 32GB (or more) of ram, never mind 16, now where have people saying 8GB is more then enough

The people saying to get 32GB RAM are not the market for the Neo, and they are often talking about future-proofing, something less likely to be taken into account with a smaller purchase (not that I agree with future proofing anyway).

 

[ignatius345]

a few hundred more (400 to be precise)

This is one answer: a 57% price difference. Not everybody has $400 to comfortably throw into their laptop budget to get better versions of the features you get with the Neo.

more cores, double the ram, better display, better keyboard that's backlit, better camera

Speaking for myself, if the Neo had been out when I was looking for an auxiliary machine for writing and web use to go along with my primary M4 iMac, I would quite likely have bought the Neo. Instead I got an M4 Air, which is very nice, but also possibly overkill for my use case.

 

[bapegg]

I have two main reasons for buying the 512GB Neo

1. It's $400 cheaper and I am on a fixed income.
2. I don't want to use a $1000 laptop in state parks or conservation areas when I do Parks On The Air activations.

Other reasons.

• I don't plan on running a bunch of apps
• This is taking the place of an iPad Air for POTA use.
• I can run amateur radio related apps on the Neo that won't run on an iPad.

I would not have bought the Neo if I already had a MacBook Air. The Neo is going to be my first ever MacBook and I don't need higher specs for what I am going to use it for. I have my M4 Mac mini for that.

Plus $100 to double the storage is cheaper than the $200 that Apple wants on other Macs.

 

[4sallypat]

2 for 1

I am getting 2 Neos for the price of 1 MBA.

At EDU pricing, it's $100 each less for me so getting the Touch ID and 512GB storage was a bonus.

At $599 EDU for a 512GB + Touch ID + slightly faster RAM access = perfect travel laptop to replace my aging 12" rMB.

Any my wife's 11.6" MBA is being replaced with a EDU Neo.

 

[tripleburst]

I bought the base. It’s a secondary laptop and doesn’t need anything more. Also wouldn’t pay more for that purpose. I personally wouldn’t pick this as my only laptop.

 

[maflynn]

D2D's review and near the end of it, he makes a case that buying a refurb MBA makes more sense, which is sort of what I'm saying. (queued up the video to that section)

 

[MultiFinder17]

For many of my uses, I'm far more concerned with the amount of storage a computer has than its overall performance. Given that I can use my edu discount to get a 512GB Neo for $600 vs. $849 for a refurb M4 Air with 512GB, I chose to save the $250. That's really about it.

 

[STOCK411]

D2D's review and near the end of it, he makes a case that buying a refurb MBA makes more sense, which is sort of what I'm saying. (queued up the video to that section)

Agaib. That extra $$$ may be pocket change to you or me. That is absolutely not the case for everyone.

Also. The inventory on Refurb store changes by the hour. So its not even a good argument

 

[bapegg]

Even $200 or $250 can make a difference for a family with kids or retired people on a fix budget.

I watch Apple's refurbish store and yes inventory changes quite often.

Another thing to consider for those using an Apple Card to purchase from the Apple Store. You can't get the 0% financing on refurbished products. That can make a difference as not everyone can spend $500 or $1000 all at once. $50 or $100 per month for 12 months is easier on the wallet for some.

 

[DeepSix]

Because the Neo is the latest and greatest.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Because the Neo is the latest and greatest.

The former perhaps, but not the latter.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

Fair response, but the configuration is atypical to what a lot of MR members here have espoused in the past.

I hate to be a broken record but the Neo is not targeted to enthusiasts aka people who read and post on tech forums

 

[jclardy]

For me it is the size, the colors, and the price. I have a M4 Pro 14", and it is great. But I love tiny laptops, the 12" macbook was one of my favorites. I know this isn't it, but it is as close as we can get right now.

The Air is too close in size, too expensive and the colors are too boring to justify being a throw-around laptop.

And I went with 512GB to have touch ID.

 

[maflynn]

I hate to be a broken record but the Neo is not targeted to enthusiasts aka people who read and post on tech forums

Agreed, and I too hate to be a broken record, but it seems the enthusiasts here are lining up to buy the neo.

 

[4sallypat]

Agreed, and I too hate to be a broken record, but it seems the enthusiasts here are lining up to buy the neo.

Yes, tech nerd and Apple enthusiast here - ordered 2 Neos.

Both to be used for travel and bedside browsing...

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I’m not buying this machine, but there is an absolute psychological barrier that exists for your regular consumers between something that’s $500-$700, and something that’s over $1000.
I mean, all you need to do is look at the landscape of windows computers to understand this, most of the $500 computers are junk and almost always something can be found for only a couple hundred dollars more That’s 1000 times better, and yet time after time the $500 ones are the best selling.

 

[ivnj]

If it meets your needs and costs less, why pay more for features you don't care about?

Exactly

 

[ivnj]

I’m not buying this machine, but there is an absolute psychological barrier that exists for your regular consumers between something that’s $500-$700, and something that’s over $1000.
I mean, all you need to do is look at the landscape of windows computers to understand this, most of the $500 computers are junk and almost always something can be found for only a couple hundred dollars more That’s 1000 times better, and yet time after time the $500 ones are the best selling.

Exactly

 

[hajime]

So lots of people rushed to order to try them out and make review videos. Then later on return?