Mastodawn

Went to the Apple Store to check out the MacBook Neo and I have thoughts. While Citrus is the most fun color and Blush is going to sell like crazy, Indigo is the color for me. It had purple tones, which is a plus. Overheard a teenager pitching her mom on one for school. The girl mentioned the education discount and mom was receptive. The sound is decent, trackpad and keyboard are excellent, screen crisp, feels fresh. I already have three MacBooks and shouldn’t buy one but almost certainly will.

Blake Garner Mar 14

@andrewbriscoe Ya gotta have that cool down period after visiting the store to make clear decisions! I'm hearing good things about the repairability of these as well. https://www.ifixit.com/News/116152/macbook-neo-is-the-most-repairable-macbook-in-14-years
The biggest compromise with these is the 8GB of RAM. Worth checking if any apps you use will struggle with that.

MacBook Neo Is the Most Repairable MacBook in 14 Years

Is Apple’s most affordable laptop ever also one of its most repairable? We’re loving the screwed-in battery.

iFixit

Andrew Briscoe Mar 14

@trode Luckily most all of the configurations are out of stock! The MacBook I use most often is an M1 Air with 8GB of RAM so not worried about that. Also running linux on that one. And I mostly just watch YouTube on it. It didn’t seem like a compromise at all. I truly believe that it can do almost anything any Mac can do, just a bit slower. I have an M4 Pro with 16 GB as well :)

David Croyle Mar 14

@andrewbriscoe @trode The Neo should be a great option for most people that want/need a laptop over a tablet.

I'd be tempted by one if I hadn't just pulled the trigger on a new M5 MBA. 😀

Andrew Briscoe Mar 14

@croyle @trode I mean, that’s a super powerful machine! Almost no one actually needs the Pro/Max chips. I’ve tried to get into the iPad SO many times and just can’t. We’ve probably had a dozen or more in my house. Once you add a keyboard it cost more than a Neo.

David Croyle Mar 14

@andrewbriscoe @trode I'd totally go for a Neo over an iPad myself too, but everyone has different needs. My kid just about lives on his iPad.

For me personally the 13" MBA have always been pretty much ideal: light and compact for travel but powerful enough for video editing, driving a pair of large external monitors, and everything else at home or for work.

Andrew Briscoe Mar 14

@croyle @trode Yup, two out my three kids use iPads. Every iPad I’ve bought has eventually gone to them. My youngest unfortunately breaks hers about once a year so we buy the $300 ones often.

David Croyle Mar 14

@andrewbriscoe @trode Doh! I have had friends who were perpetual phone breakers, but fortunately my family isn't... I have seen my kid drop his iPad a couple of times, but so far no smashy-smashy. It surely helps that he keeps his in a protective case. Fingers crossed.

He is rough on his USB cables though. But I'm much happier having to replace those every so often than the iPads. :)

Andrew Briscoe Mar 14

@croyle @trode lol she breaks USB cables and wired and wireless headphones like they are going out of style. The iPads are always in cases. She usually gets the USB port to the point it will no longer charge. 12-inch MacBook I gave her suffered the same fate. 😢 She uses they heck out of them so not a big deal.

David Croyle Mar 14

@andrewbriscoe @trode Heh, yeah my son has gone through a few sets of bluetooth headphones over the years too. Definitely some of this stuff falls into the category of "consumables," especially when they use the heck out of them.

Hiker Geek 🌲💻🌲Mar 14

@andrewbriscoe @croyle @trode

I have always put good cases and, maybe most importantly, glass (not plastic) screensavers on my devices.

The glass screen savers regularly absorb energy and crack but in their sacrifice save the screen. So they so need to be replaced sometimes but a lot better than a screen replacement.

Gorilla glass is still not completely indestructible.

P.S. I like SuperShieldz. Not expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/Supershieldz-Designed-Generation-10-9-Protector/dp/B0BJW26P31?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sMSMGRF3G410B0mLbYSxDc27Remkj0uRm9JJ2pFEPCrrsAfZcGoDRHoWHOWospzGj9CQ91E9A0mcxhVq-I86IBm1kSc4FunZMx3tnlJ7BscnXNl6EdY9HyRqSkt_at0Whzu9RAgBCNbxqRVrJmALqwtcd2mkbcMLtXrSNEICMflA-UYHQkiW8UqZJJfbsdZlRK7UcidvJ4sVS9APPkc5QKsfYfRZ9vsDq3KsPb_k7tA.FnyHDSFkHRaO2ywgqqBOe3e2SHzm4kE4KCWjrtdZ0XU&dib_tag=se&keywords=ipad+glass+screensaver&m=A279LIVC2BRR8I&qid=1773516578&refinements=p_6%3AA279LIVC2BRR8I&rnid=2491153011&sr=8-2

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Buy Supershieldz (2 Pack) Designed for iPad (A16) 11 inch 2025 (11th Gen) / iPad 10th Generation 10.9 inch 2022 Screen Protector, (Tempered Glass) Anti Scratch, Bubble Free: Screen Protectors - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

Jason Evangelho 🐧🎒Mar 14

@andrewbriscoe @trode Regarding the 8GB concern, I produced an EP with Logic Pro (and SEVERAL plugins) on an M2 Mini with 8GB of RAM. Never had any hiccups.

Not an expert, but 8GB on Apple Silicon just seems to go way further.

@andrewbriscoe how does it compare for the MacBook Air midnight color? I have that from work and like it a surprising amount.

Andrew Briscoe Mar 14

@eniatitova It’s a lighter color. I liked it much better than midnight myself. It gives off blue or purple vibes depending on the lighting.

Jason Evangelho 🐧🎒Mar 14

@andrewbriscoe This thing is going to sell like crazy, given the timing and the current dismal state of things with the RAM and storage. It's almost diabolical how perfect the timing is.

Andrew Briscoe Mar 14

@killyourfm The PC market is so screwed, and it seems like they know it based on the ASUS CEO comments. Apps loaded instantly and I noticed no slowness in normal use. It feels so fun and fresh. Almost more premium than the Air if you didn’t know the specs. I haven’t been able to get it out of my head since it was announced. I hope they refresh it with an A19 Pro next year with new colors. Orange, purple, and green would be cool.

EllenInEdmonton

@andrewbriscoe
That certainly looks like the colour for me! My 2017 MacBook Air will go to the electronic grave at some point in the future, and laptops are my favourite devices of all.

Andrew Briscoe Mar 14

@EllenInEdmonton This would certainly be a big step up from a 2017 Air. Most MacBooks seem to last forever though. 🙂

EllenInEdmonton

@andrewbriscoe
Time will tell whether that will be the case for these cheaper models, but the first 3 years that I had mine, I commuted daily, often through monsoons, and smashed my MacBook to the granite floor pretty much weekly. Honestly, I have no complaints with how it's still working, other than the battery life.

Andrew Briscoe Mar 15

@EllenInEdmonton My daughter came out and showed us her MacBook earlier, probably because she heard my wife, son, and I talking about the Neo. I checked it out and she has the 2017 Air too. Forgot I had given it to her after she broke a 2015 12-inch MacBook. Looked like it was still going strong too.

Kailas Idavanmuzhi Mar 15

Nice to see a review here.. In India where I come from apple products are seen as a status symbol.. this one is going to sell crazy here honestly.. i don't think am going to buy one though