For those who don't know me I'm a software developer and I create software apps and utilities for Windows, Linux, MacOS, Mobile and IBM i.
I have used and tested almost every Windows computer and MacBook under the sun in search of the best portability machine that performs well so I can still get things done efficiently.
This week Apple released the MacBook Neo. The Neo is basically a new version of the MacBook that uses the A18 ARM phone chip. And it starts at $599/$499 US with the student discount.
I had seen a lot of Neo reviews on the lead up to release day and since the release and thought surely this thing will be slow since it's using a phone chip. Release day happened to be during my vacation in sunny Florida. I tried to keep my FOMO in check but ultimately my curiosity lead me to picking one up on opening day. The Apple Store was not overflowing but the guy in front of me was picking up the same model. I went the Indigo Blue model. They currently offer Silver, Indigo (Blue), Citrus (Yellow) and Blush (Pink).
Even though I was trying not to check it out right away I couldn't help myself. My tech brain needed to see what this thing can do.
I've been trying out new technology on release day since the first Windows 95 release when I had to pick up my copy at midnight. At least this was a daytime pickup.
I purchased the 2nd tier 13" Neo model with 512 gb storage and a lowly 8gb ram. If the thing performed well I wanted to make sure I can take it along with me on a trip when I don't want a more expensive computer with me when traveling or when I need a capable backup computer "just in case".
My two main concerns about the device were:
- How well can it run things with just 8gb ram.
- Will I be able to use it in a dim room without the backlit keyboard.
Well I can share that it spectacularly failed the low light keyboard test, but as a potential choice for the user or developer looking for a low price MacBook to test the waters or for a first time Mac user to replace an older Windows or MacBook laptop I believe it's a win.
To put this machine to the performance test I decided to install a raft of my favorite development tools and other apps to see how they perform.
-Jetbrains Development Suite for .Net, Python, PHP, Java and HTML (Rider, PyCharm, PHP Storm, IntelliJ, WebStorm)
-VS Code with Code for i and other plugins
-IBM i Access (ACS)
-IBM i Access (ODBC)
-TN5250J
-IBM Rational Developer for i
-Rosetta (For running MacOS x64 apps)
-Greenshot
-LibreOffice
-Microsoft Office
-Remote Desktop Manager
-Windows App (RDP)
-Java JDK
-DotNet 10.0 SDK
-VMware with Ubuntu Linux
-VMware with Windows 11
I expected things to become sluggish pretty quickly because of the limited memory in the MacBook Neo.
Rather than take you through a litany of my tests let me just say that the MacBook Neo seems to run just fine with 8gb of Ram. Even VMWare seems to do quite well with Ubuntu Linux in case you like having a copy of Linux or Windows 11 available. Windows 11 only functions well with 5632 of memory of below. Windows in VMware is recommended for limited us only on the MacBook Neo. Ubuntu seems to be pretty snappy with 4gb.
The only reasons for not choosing this as your MacBook of choice might be for the user or developer who does a lot of photo editing or video editing of large file transfers or you want to do some local AI work. Or if you work in the dark often like I do you might want to choose a MacBook Air or Pro.
Highlights for the MacBook Neo
-2.7 lbs
-Price
-Performance and functionality
-Keyboard keys that match the laptop color schema
Potential shortcomings
-Mechanical trackpad (actually works quite well)
-No keyboard backlight
-No notch or live camera indicator other than in the menu bar
-Only 8gb memory
-Slower NVM disk speeds, although not really noticeable
-No high speed Thunderbolt ports, although it does have USB-C
-No separate charging port. Have to use the USB-C ports.
-Doesn't fast-charge
Ultimately if you have been considering purchasing a MacBook for the first time, the Neo is a great place to start and you, your wife or husband, your kids or grandma and grandpa will not be disappointed with this device unless they are high end gamers or photo/video production creators. A used or re-furbished MacBook of any vintage M1-M5 with 16gb would also be a good option.
If you don't purchase the MacBook Neo, let me just say that anything with the M5 processor will become a computer that can probably last you the next 5-10 years. I have been using a MacBook Air M1 from 2020 for almost six years and it still functions as my daily driver, even though I have newer machines. The M1 was one of the few bright spots of the pandemic year. I recall picking it up from the Apple Store while wearing a mask. Sadly Apple says it's only worth $200 on trade in. For that amount I will keep and continue to use it.
In case the MacBook Air is the sweet spot for your needs I will share with you my current favorite. My personal favorite laptop right now is the MacBook Air 15". If I were buying a new development workstation today I would probably go for the MacBook Air 15" M5 as a mix of high performance, light weight and value. However the MacBook Air 15" M2, M3 and M4 are really just as capable. You can't really go wrong with any Mac with an M1, M3, M3, M4 or M5 chip. These things just work and almost never make you wait.
No comments:
Post a Comment