Reviews are out and the winner is…Apple
I was thinking … after watching the plethora of reviews for the Macbook Neo, that we have reached a point in tech where we are happy to have a laptop weaker than an Ipad mini and that … says something.
Let’s take some of the review titles on Youtube:
MKBHD Macbook Neo Review: Better than you Think!
Shortcircuit DAMN, Apple - MacBook Neo
Austin Evans You Should Just Buy the MacBook Neo
Most reviews are positive and not only positive but marking the Macbook Neo as one “disruption to the market“ “product of the year“ “incredible value for the money" and so on. Let’s get out of the way the thing which I agree it impressed even the grudgy old me: Build quality. Aluminium body at 600 dollars is something hard to find. But that pretty much sums up the innovation what Apple brings to the table.
I mentioned from a hardware perspective what are the “high“ specs of the Macbook Neo are and will not repeat myself. Just for the fun of it, I had a look over the tablet market from Apple. And surprise surprise, the Ipad Mini stood out as a contender for the highly acclaimed Macbook Neo.
Processor: A17 Pro → older
Storage: 256GB → Same
Screen: 8,3 → smaller
Camera: Front and Rear → Better
Touchscreen: → Better
Wifi version starting for the specs above for 679 Euro. For Macbook Neo the cost of the similar configuration is 699 Euro. To summarize , Apple delivered a laptop comparable specs than one of their cheapest tablets and people are calling it market disruption. So we have lower spec hardware in a bigger chassis for more money than the Ipad mini.
I was honestly baffled by the almost uniform reaction of some reviewers ,,, was expecting it, but not like this. With the fact that it can be used for small children as their first device, entering the computer world and tasting the forbidden Apple, therefore being inclined to continue spending their parents money on Apple products because they were raised with them, I agree. It is solid strategy from Apple and honestly coming a bit late but probably now as Microsoft is continuing it’s losing crusade with their customers, pushing unwanted software and AI features on them.
One thing I must give Apple and that is their ability to make money out of everything. What bothers me is the fact that, even the products which are at most fine, are being called revolutionary. Why are we encouraging this, is beyond my understanding.
Instead of pushing Apple in lowering the price of the M processor making them accessible for more people, we encourage outdated machines being called entry level and the laptops which would make sense being in the entry level market, like the Macbook Air receive a price bump in the process. Again, a laptop at Ipad mini hardware levels…
I will go now to my Linux machine and search for old hardware which I could mark as next disruptive tech … but probably will fail as I don’t have the marketing budget of the tech giant, which is Apple, behind me …
Until next time, TFG