From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.misc


Personally, even if I didn't dislike laptops, I wouldn't touch this
laptop with a 1000ft barge pole, but it could be a good device for
those with simple needs and it is more user-friendly than an iPad's
clumsy fat-finger OS.


MacBook Neo review: the new king of budget laptops
--------------------------------------------------
Don't call it compromised. The MacBook Neo is an amazing new entry
point in Apple's lineup that easily eclipses the base iPad and will
be a revolution in the education market.

Apple is no stranger to attempting new and interesting budget
products like the entry iPhone 17e or base iPad. While it thrives
in the premium market, Apple's best sellers are at the bottom of
the lineup, and that bottom just dropped again for the MacBook.

MacBook Neo is yet another move towards a more affordable Mac that
echoes previous attempts, like the iBook. Though, even in 2006, the
iBook was a closer relation to today's MacBook Air than to the
MacBook Neo.

Apple has never breached sub-$800 with a new MacBook, let alone
$699. Even in today's money, accounting for inflation, the iBook
started at $1,612.

The MacBook Air took on the "entry" model name with its $999 price
point, and that position has made it the most popular model. There's
a chance the MacBook Neo will take over that position.

Rumors have come and gone about a new MacBook in Apple's lineup,
especially with the introduction of M-series processors. Many
dreamed of a return to the flawed but beloved 12-inch MacBook
released in 2015, but with Apple Silicon.

We didn't get that 12-inch MacBook. Nor did we get a M-series
processor, but more on that in a bit.

.
<snip LONG review - see link below for full review>
.

MacBook Neo review - Pros
- First MacBook at the $599 price point
- Excellent colors, if limited options
- A fair trade of price and feature set

MacBook Neo review - Cons
- Display support and port specs clearly limited by A18 Pro
- Before buying, consider if webcam, keyboard backlight, or
trackpad mechanism spec reductions have gone too far
- 256GB storage in 2026 is pushing it, even with iCloud

Rating: 4 out of 5 for the $599 retail configuration,
4.5 out of 5 for the $699 config with Touch ID and
512GB storage.

It's easy for us to recommend the MacBook Neo for anyone that might
need a Mac for cheap. It's also not the perfect choice absolutely,
across the board, for everybody. A little bit more can get you a
discounted MacBook Air, or perhaps you might need an iPad instead.

Whatever the case, the 8GB of RAM and various cut corners will be
addressed in future revisions. This is an excellent first entry
into the Neo product line, and its value will surely only improve.



<https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/03/20/macbook-neo-review-the-new-king-of-budget-laptops>




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