8GB of RAM, 2/4 core CPU, no thunderbolt, nerfed display out, 256GB of storage, nerfed LCD.

[jeremykanter@mastodon.social]

@paul No keyboard backlighting or Force Touch trackpad either. And I’m curious how Apple Intelligence is supported on 8 GB of RAM.

Despite all that, still seems like a great option for folks who just need a computer for basic productivity (most of which is probably happening through web apps).

[cronocx@mastodon.social]

@paul And one of those USBC ports is actually USB2 😒

[jvnknvlgl@mastodon.social]

@paul and they're gonna sell millions to schools.

[kkolakowski@mastodon.social]

@paul Thunderbolt is really a „power user" territory - I don't even know if I even used it once above what regular USB-C provides.

Other than that - for sure. I kind of hoped for at least A19 Pro & 12GB of RAM which would make it slightly more useful.

Especially 8GB of RAM feels very limiting these days. I tested Tahoe on 8GB VMs a lot and it allows mostly for few apps or browser with few tabs before swapping.

Tahoe consumes ~4GB of RAM just freshly installed.

[emmeff@hachyderm.io]

@paul If you’re commenting about the (lack of) RAM, you’re not the intended target market…

[jasoncox@mastodon.social]

@paul Assuming you're talking about the MacBook Neo? You're not the target audience; the target audience is probably more middle and high school kids who are getting issued shitty Chromebooks.

[ryanhyde@techhub.social]

@Sonikku @paul I think they’re also tied to the limits of that cpu. The phones with the A18 only had 8gb, so it would make sense if that were the highest they could go. Maybe future versions based on A19 or higher could at least have 12gb https://getmona.app/rich_text/360829870883

[jaffa@mastodon.social]

@paul Hard disagree. Apple sell a product with all the items people are variously lamenting in the comments (16GB RAM, MagSafe, etc). It’s called a MacBook Air. Most normal users don’t even know what Thunderbolt is!

They will absolutely sell these in insane volumes and people will love them. I work in an Apple support role and even just today alone I’ve mentioned the MacBook Neo and its price to several casually and you should see how their eyes light up when they hear about it.

[curt@gts.curttech.com]

@paul what I find interesting about this product, it is the first A series chip to run macOS. Or am I wrong about that?

[dirkk@fediscience.org]

@curt @paul The original developer kits for Apple Silicon had an A12Z from the then-current iPad Pro. But otherwise, yes.

[roses4cardinals@hachyderm.io]

@paul The item that stands out to me is the ram. 8GB wasn’t enough 6 years ago. Can people make it work? Yes, but not well. I might give it a pass at 12GB, compromises can be made, but 16GB should be the minimum.

Everything else is reasonable compromises for a Chromebook competitor that runs macOS.

[paul@tapbots.social]

A lot of people have said "The new MacBook is not for you". I used a MBA 11" during the intel era for several gens. from right after the time they release the non prototype (aka envelope) model through when they nerfed them. Pretty sure the majority of some versions of Tweetbot was developed on one.

I could live with most of the limitations but there's two reasons I won't get one. 8GB is just insanity in 2026 and my MBP M1 Pro is just still too damned good enough for what I do on laptops.

[shnhrrsn@mastodon.social]

@paul I still regret buying the M1 Max and not Pro… Apple made these chips too good, just no reason to upgrade

[joshhrach@iosdev.space]

@paul It's crazy that the M1 Pro/Max, albeit 4 years old now, are so good that lots of us aren't even tempted by the M5 generation yet.

[jasoncox@mastodon.social]

@paul M1 Max here and I just have no idea when I’ll upgrade. It runs circles around my work issued M3 Pro too!

[mike@libertynode.net]

@paul I hate the “it’s not for you” argument because it’s a dismissal of legitimate criticism.

If serious people keep dismissing criticism in this way, eventually they won’t make a product “for you” anymore and you’ll be spending your money elsewhere.

[interfaceengineer@mastodon.world]

@paul M1 Pro chips are amazing. Mine still going & will hold out to see M6 lineup.

My personal recommendation for people is to get refurbed M2 Air or potentially higher. Or identify their use case as even iPad with stage manager could be more than enough

Too many UX compromises - no Touch ID on base model & usb 2 port instead of MagSafe. Plus the fact it’s a binned a18 pro chip! IMO it really ought to have the A19 Pro chip to benchmark higher than M1 for both single & multi core

[sappharad@mstdn.social]

@paul I would normally consider upgrading my M1 Max MBP for an M5 Pro just based on age, but the rumors about the next model being a refresh are what's making me wait.

I think it's nuts that the Studio Display XDR has a more powerful processor in it than the new MacBook though. From the cost difference it makes sense, but they might as well just let the monitor run macOS.

[nonproductive@mastodon.social]

@paul I gave my last MacBook to my kid for college last year and we were told we could use our own machines for work instead of their decrepit intel based ones.
So, I’ve been saving (and selling things), and ordered an M5 Max that I am hoping will last me 5+ years and won’t make me regret it in 1…

The Neo is still tempting as a second “I just need a terminal, a browser and a few apps” machine for offisite meetings.

[dustinbucher@hydrocube.space]

@paul A coworker of mine asked me how I felt about the M5 and if I wanted one, and I told him that I honestly don’t feel limited at all by the M1 Pro I have