Christina WarrenThere are obvious deficits to the MacBook Neo — connectivity is a huge one, but I’m just stoked there is a $500 MacBook (assuming you use the student discount, which of course you obviously should) and in fun colors!
Jason Snell@film_girl I just wonder how much connectivity the buyers of a $599 laptop need....
Nick Heer@jsnell @film_girl Is the USB 2 port (or, more precisely, having only one USB 3 port of the two) perhaps downstream of the choice to use the A18? I agree that it’s not a dealbreaker but it *feels* nickel-and-dimey (and confusing, given that they look the same).
@nickheer @film_girl yes, it was impossible to do two usb 3 ports on this chip.
@jsnell @nickheer yes. And that was a choice Apple made. They could have used an iPad chip or an older iPhone Pro chip. I understand the technical limitations; my point is these were all limitations that Apple chose. And fine. But I don’t give them any grace or a pass on this just because they want 50% margins.
Greg Thompson@film_girl @jsnell @nickheer A couple things from a Tech Director for a K-12 School Corporation.
1. Chromebooks are getting more expensive by the day with the RAM Shortage.
2. The screen on the Neo Destroys any Chromebook I have ever seen.
3. Yes Jamf is Expensive, but we have already invested and set up that architecture for our 1:1 iPads.
4. Yes, Most schools buy "cheap" Chromebooks, but you get what you pay for. $350 for a device that falls apart in a year or 2.
1. Chromebooks are getting more expensive by the day with the RAM Shortage.
2. The screen on the Neo Destroys any Chromebook I have ever seen.
3. Yes Jamf is Expensive, but we have already invested and set up that architecture for our 1:1 iPads.
4. Yes, Most schools buy "cheap" Chromebooks, but you get what you pay for. $350 for a device that falls apart in a year or 2.
@film_girl @jsnell @nickheer
5. There will be resale value for the Neo after 4 years of use, Chromebooks are junk after 2 years.
6. We will absolutely transition to these from our iPads at Grades 7-12.
5. There will be resale value for the Neo after 4 years of use, Chromebooks are junk after 2 years.
6. We will absolutely transition to these from our iPads at Grades 7-12.
@gc_headtech @jsnell @nickheer wouldn’t it be more economical to write off the cost of the machines as amortized than to resell for what, $200 at most? again, genuine question. Transition from iPad I can see, but again, my question is: would you ever get the approval to double the budget to get off Chromebooks?
@gc_headtech @jsnell @nickheer agree with all of that. And it would be better longterm to buy higher quality machines. But let me ask you: would your district agree to double the budget for laptops? I understand you have to replace them more often, but would they even entertain doubling the budget today? Genuine question.
@film_girl @jsnell @nickheer
That's the thing, it's really not double the budget when you look at Chromebook prices and the residual value after our lease. We still make money on selling back iPad 7th gen devices.
That's the thing, it's really not double the budget when you look at Chromebook prices and the residual value after our lease. We still make money on selling back iPad 7th gen devices.
@gc_headtech @jsnell @nickheer fair enough. I assumed the tax implications on sales wouldn’t be worth it but fair enough!
@film_girl @jsnell @nickheer No Tax for K-12 Public School Corporation (Federal or State) We always take our residual value and roll it into the next lease. As a bonus many companies are now working with us to have community buyback programs where we sell our used iPads to the local community.
Philipp Sommer@film_girl @jsnell @nickheer "They could have used an iPad chip or an older iPhone Pro chip."
They use an iPhone 16 Pro chip.
Raphael Rychetsky@film_girl @jsnell @nickheer I’ve read so much about the USB-C 2.0 port that I wish Apple gave it only one USB-C port at all
philmehew@film_girl @jsnell @nickheer A great point..why do we have iPads with laptop chips in them and laptops with phone chips in them…can’t imagine it makes more than a 10% cost difference, and if they wanted to break into the lower price market, they aught to have absorbed that additional cost to show users in that price bracket what a proper Mac is like to own.