Apple introduces Macbook Neo - cheaper Macbooks starting at $599
2026-03-04 14:39 UTC
Replies (21)
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@mrmaplebar@fedia.io 2026-03-04 17:26
Not usually an Apple guy, but it's hard to overstate how smart it is to focus on affordability right now. I feel like having a ~$500 device in the current market is so important. (Especially if it respects your privacy.) This is the opposite of "own nothing and be happy" and I suspect these things are gonna sell like hotcakes. Now we just need to get Linux going on them. 🫡
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@popcar2@piefed.ca 2026-03-04 14:43
Honestly I’m expecting this to take up most of the mid-range laptop market. 8gb RAM and only 256GB storage is lame, but the rest of it probably makes it really good value (especially with components getting more expensive recently). Unless you’re buying used or refurbished, most laptops I found at ~$600 or less kinda suck. Either it has terrible specs, or uses cheap plastic, or has a terrible screen, etc. I don’t like Apple, but hopefully this is a wake-up call for other vendors. Lower end laptops should stop being cheap garbage.
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@random_character_a@lemmy.world 2026-03-04 14:50
Reasonably priced Mac. What a crazy timeline.
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@veeesix@lemmy.ca 2026-03-04 14:57
Looks interesting. I’d love to get one for my parents that insist on having a laptop for the keyboard, but they’re so afraid of learning anything new that it isn’t worth the hassle.
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@aeronmelon@lemmy.world 2026-03-04 15:11
The MacBook 5C.
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@CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 2026-03-04 15:15
A renewed interest in competing with Chromebooks? Can’t complain. My kids need to use something beyond my 8 year old Surface.
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@adespoton@lemmy.ca 2026-03-04 15:18
This is the “let’s get the budget computer crowd using iCloud services” solution. They can afford to sell at a loss if needed, because the onboard storage is just low enough to make NOT subscribing to cloud services painful after 6-8 months.
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@veeesix@lemmy.ca 2026-03-04 15:42
ICYMI, the Neo is an even better deal at $499 with education pricing.
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@aReallyCrunchyLeaf@lemmy.ml 2026-03-04 15:50
If it had more memory I’d be on board. 8GB is fucking rough. Honestly if it forces software to be leaner going down the line, I’m ok with memory crunches (it won’t, but I’m just thinking out loud).
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@brokenwing@discuss.tchncs.de 2026-03-04 16:26
I think it would be good for the industry. Windows had a stronghold in this price bracket and a competition is never bad especially considering how MS is pushing AI into W11.
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@goatinspace@feddit.org 2026-03-04 16:58
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@MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca 2026-03-04 17:09
Does it run Linux? /s or not
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@hperrin@lemmy.ca 2026-03-04 17:19
So at this price point, there’s basically no reason to ever buy a Windows PC at all.
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@fuzzywombat@lemmy.world 2026-03-04 18:09
Considering Windows has become a complete dumpster fire recently, this $600 laptop could be a really appealing option for some if they’re mostly browsing the web.
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@thoralf@discuss.familie-will.at 2026-03-04 18:51
If it wouldn’t carry just 8 GB of RAM, it would be a great deal. Sadly, it’s not even upgradable, so its usefulness is rather limited.
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@pewgar_seemsimandroid@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2026-03-04 19:34
the yellow one looks like a surface to me
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@BladeFederation@piefed.social 2026-03-04 20:12
You known what, good job Apple. You’ve been winning me over lately. I’m not sure I’d exactly recommend this route to people, the 8 GB RAM is rough even with macOS being more efficient with it. But in the RAM-pocalypse we’ll take what we can get, and the rest is fire for budget range.
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@btsax@reddthat.com 2026-03-04 20:23
How soon until Asahi will run on it
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@FireWire400@lemmy.world 2026-03-04 21:30
I would be kinda impressed that Apple is finally offering something that’s good value, but 8GB of RAM? ehhhhhh. It’s probably still a decent-ish deal, I don’t really know how good a phone SoC would handle anything more than light tasks, though.
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@FrChazzz@lemmus.org 2026-03-04 23:10
It’s pretty. But I recently bought a Lenovo IdeaPad at Costco for less, with 16GB ram and 1TB SDD and am running Linux Mint on it, which I’m getting way more out of than any other Mac I’ve owned. Without a doubt the Mac’s screen is better than mine. But I feel like, all things considered, what I have can do more (and probably for longer). I’m happy to see something like this come along and take the wind out of Microslop’s sails (and sales). At the same time, I feel like one is able to get far more value out of a less-costly machine. If one were going to switch OSes anyway, why not Linux? I guess they’re banking on people already owning iPhones and therefore making this a more seamless transition or whatever…
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@Harvey656@lemmy.world 2026-03-04 23:31
Apple has been violating people’s wallets for how long and they finally decide now is the time to make affordable macs? Complaining aside, this is a darn good move. The timing is great, so they are likely to be very popular too, which is good for the future of the market. I hope.