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Question Apple launches the MacBook Neo at $599

UNCjigga

UNCjigga

Lifer
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In the wake of tariffs, war-driven inflation and RAM shortages, Apple is launching a $599 laptop with 8GB of RAM at the perfect time!

In truth, I think this could have a profound impact on the PC market over the next decade. This product isn’t necessarily aimed at Microsoft Windows or the PC market. This is squarely aimed at Google and Chromebooks in the education market. Chromebooks have a virtual monopoly in public education, as only the richest school districts and private schools are springing for iPads these days. If Apple can make a foothold here, I think you’ll see many, many more MacOS users as these kids age up to college and the working world. While the average price point ($499 with Ed discount) is still much higher than what I assume to be the average Chromebook unit price ($250-$300 based on what my kids are using in school) the MacBook Neo will arguably be of higher quality and may have a longer lifespan—things that school administrators would definitely consider. Apple Silicon has proven its usefulness, and even the underpowered A-series chip here can outrun any Mediatek Chromebook or Celeron/N-series Intel chip. Add to that a larger App library and the Neo seems like a good value.

While I don’t think I would buy the 1st generation Neo myself (I have no real use for it, and Gen 2 will likely start with a more useable 12GB of RAM and stronger port options) I think this would make a good first computer for anyone under 18.
 
8gb of RAM while pushing on device AI is a choice I guess.

It will be undoubtedly better quality than a cheap Chromebook but, if it's for the classroom, it's not the low quality that makes them break it's the kids getting bored and destroying them.
 
WelshBloke said:
8gb of RAM while pushing on device AI is a choice I guess.

It will be undoubtedly better quality than a cheap Chromebook but, if it's for the classroom, it's not the low quality that makes them break it's the kids getting bored and destroying them.
Click to expand...
Machined aluminum may hold up a bit better than your typical plastic/magnesium shell.
 
Obviously we aren't the target market, but 8GB RAM is an absolute deal-breaker. Even the new iPad Air has 12 lol.

But agreed that this is a good price point and the CPU blazes in GeekBench.


UNCjigga said:
Machined aluminum may hold up a bit better than your typical plastic/magnesium shell.
Click to expand...
We'd need a lot of data to know if that's actually as useful as it sounds. For example, business PC leases are often around 3 years.

Hypothetically, what's better for the budget: Chromebooks that last 3 years, or MacBook Neos that go 6? How's that 8GB RAM going to handle macOS 29? 🤣

(I didn't realize how dominant Chromebook is in education.)
 
manly said:
Obviously we aren't the target market, but 8GB RAM is an absolute deal-breaker. Even the new iPad Air has 12 lol.

But agreed that this is a good price point and the CPU blazes in GeekBench.



We'd need a lot of data to know if that's actually as useful as it sounds. For example, business PC leases are often around 3 years.

Hypothetically, what's better for the budget: Chromebooks that last 3 years, or MacBook Neos that go 6? How's that 8GB RAM going to handle macOS 29? 🤣

(I didn't realize how dominant Chromebook is in education.)
Click to expand...
I think most Ed contracts will stick with their standard 3 year terms or whatever—the question is how many units will last all 3 years and how many need replacement.

I do wish Apple had been able to utilize an A19 Pro with 12GB vs. the A18 Pro. Probably came down to supply chain. It’ll probably happen at some point, but if these things are flying off the shelves, I doubt Apple will make any changes until 2028 at the earliest.
 
UNCjigga said:
I think most Ed contracts will stick with their standard 3 year terms or whatever—the question is how many units will last all 3 years and how many need replacement.

I do wish Apple had been able to utilize an A19 Pro with 12GB vs. the A18 Pro. Probably came down to supply chain. It’ll probably happen at some point, but if these things are flying off the shelves, I doubt Apple will make any changes until 2028 at the earliest.
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Which is kind of my point. Being engineered to last 7 years matters less when your lease period is 3 or 4 years. Although I do accept your premise that teenagers will bang the shit out of school issued laptops, so durability isn't a bad thing. We'd need to know what repair rates on Chromebooks look like in the real world.

2 years is about right for a spec bump. A 50% increase in RAM is massive. 16GB unified RAM In 2034? 🤣
 
Err LOL A18 Pro ST smashes x86. Can't wait for this thing to come with 16GB of RAM. 😛


hardware.slashdot.org

Apple MacBook Neo Beats Every Single x86 PC CPU For Single-Core Performance - Slashdot

Early benchmarks show the A18 Pro-powered MacBook Neo beating every current x86 CPU in single-core Cinebench performance, including chips from Intel and AMD. Notebookcheck reports: We have performed a couple of benchmarks and were particularly impressed by the single-core performance. Not in...
hardware.slashdot.org
 
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