Neo I'm Sorry
Recently I wrote a post about the Neo stating it is terrible value, while I don't think what I said to be wholly untrue now I have mellowed in my opinion of the device somewhat.
Macbook Neo
The biggest thing that made me change my mind was just using the demo one in the apple store, I was surprised with what it could handle with limited complaining, I had opened basically every single application installed on the demo machine at once and then opened about 50 tabs 10 of which being simultaneously playing YouTube videos and the results where suprising, yes there was a bit of swap going on due to the limited amount of ram but overall it was actually a great experience, next up was the glowing reviews from reviewers who used it over a longer term of a week or two, then there was the iFixit report on its excellent repairability and then there was the follow up reports about it selling so well that apple is reportedly burning through the binned A18 supply faster than anticipated
The thing is just a paradox to me, like this laptop should be bad, but its not, its really really not, yes of course like my original post you would be better with an air, there are clear upgrades, addition of MagSafe for charging, better multi monitor support, double the ram and double the storage at the base model now with the M5, better speakers, better scree, better webcam, backlit keyboard (although you should get good and learn to touch type then you don't need a backlit keyboard). Before it was easy for me to say skip the neo and go for the air whatever your situation, but I think now having used the neo it is hard to justify that uplift to basically double the price for the air at full price (of course my earlier advise still applies to maybe look for an M4 air on sale during black Friday) the neo is just a lot of laptop for the money, and I think it is still true to Steve Jobs words of "We don't ship junk".
Now I am kind of burring the lead here a bit to be honest, that's because I bought a MacBook Neo myself, I am a bit boring so I bought a silver one, (plese make a green or a purple next time apple) but yes I bought a neo partially cause I want to know first hand how this thing ages over the next few years, but also because I have found myself needing a laptop from time to time just to do laptop stuff™ and this seemed like the perfect device for that.
If you have read previous posts of mine you may be thinking didn't you have a thinkpad that you did up and installed linux on? Well yes I did however when I went to upgrade the screen on it something happend and the laptop no longer boots no matter what I try so sadly the ChonkPad is no more.
So be sure to tune back in soon to hear my thoughts after a few weeks of using this device, and yes if you where wondering this whole post was in fact written on the Macbook Neo.
Last Edited: 1 day, 17 hours ago.