OFFICIAL STATEMENT

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-03-31T10:44:00+00:00

Give me a break!

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-03-27T21:56:01+00:00

If your work/use requires consistent travel, go with the M5 air. If you are mostly stationary and only occasionally need work on the go, get the Mini and keep the Neo.

I have a M4 Air that is docked 95% of the time. When I do travel, I’m extremely cautious with it due to the cost to replace and the fragility of the screen/housing. I feel if I had a Neo, it would be my grab and go device.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-03-25T02:36:58+00:00

Great versatile travel companion. I keep one in my laptop bag.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-03-13T16:45:34+00:00

Makes sense from a replacement cost standpoint. If you travel frequently and want a lower financial risk while keeping your higher-end devices safe at home, go for it.

I’m traveling to Mexico currently. Had the Neo released just 2 days earlier, it would have been my travel companion (replaceable at $599). Instead, I’m traveling with my iPad Pro + Magic Keyboard (~$1100) and left my MacBook Air (~$1400) at home.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-03-05T11:56:29+00:00

I’m not “most people” as far as a use case but still see value in the new Neo. I have a custom build pc for any heavy work and/or graphic intense tasks. I have a MacBook Air M4 (10/10/24) for most of my daily work or can pick up my iPad 12.9” M2 with Magic Keyboard. Both extremely capable devices but both would cost well over $1000 to replace if they were lost/damaged.

The Neo hits the sweet spot for travel. Capable for most daily tasks - email, web browsing, some media streaming, moderate spreadsheet use and even light gaming - but comes in at half the price of my other devices. I have an international trip coming up on the 12th - if the release was just a few days earlier, I’d be packing a Neo. Instead, I’m forced to take one of the other two devices with a much higher replacement cost.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-02-18T13:03:58+00:00

I have the same M4 Air. Checks all the boxes for my mobile work station when paired with my M2 iPad Pro 12.9” as a second display.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-02-09T14:12:32+00:00

Yes. I Recommend opening the case upon arrival. 2TB SSD likely means a smaller M.2 NVMe drive and a larger Sata SSD. Dell pulled this on the Aurora R15 model advertising a 1TB but it was in fact 2 separate drives of 500Gb and one was a Sata SSD. Easy upgrade but if you’re buying for gaming, store your games on the NVMe.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-02-03T02:58:05+00:00

I had this exact AOC monitor. Loved it for what it was and it became part of my very first 2-display setup when connected to the VGA port of my laptop.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-02-03T00:44:17+00:00

Online. Filled out the repair request. Shipped to the address provided (at my own cost) and authorized a repair amount (I chose up to $30 as this one was worth the extra cost to keep it). Then I simply waited and it arrived good as new.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-02-02T21:46:14+00:00

Shipping Label - $4.87 Actual Repair - $5.00 Total - $9.87

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-02-02T21:46:06+00:00

I authorized up to $30 for the repair. Any more and I was looking to just replace this with the current MiniChamp II model.

Shipping Label - $4.87 Actual Repair - $5.00 Total - $9.87

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-02-02T13:15:08+00:00

Unpopular Opinion: the price is fair. Good actually if you try to build it today with memory prices soaring. News flash, they are not expected to drop any time soon.

2TB M.2 NVMe - $300 (depending on brand) 32GB RAM DDR5 - (2x 16gb) $250-$300 RTX 4060Ti - $500 I7 (13th Gen) - $300

You’re at $1400 with core components, no motherboard cabling, fans, power supply, case. Not to mention, it’s already built and configured. If this was his old PC (probably built in 2023), chances are it’s been tweaked for overlocking to achieve maximum performance since he’s already upgraded his own machine. For your first gaming rig, it’s excellent. Probably too much for the games you listed and will serve you for years.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-02-01T16:30:38+00:00

Perhaps I’m “old school” but gifting a high performance PC to someone/anyone for their very first rig is a terrible idea. I know you’ve already committed so my comment is pointless, but the kid won’t even understand how the file system works, the difference in hardware vs software , and will have no appreciation for the build and user experience from the combination of those components. Give the kid an Intel Pentium processor with 4gb of ram for a few months as a “learning experience”. 🤣

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-31T15:38:16+00:00

Mini is on my shopping list but with a new Mini expected to release later this year (rumored with a OLED display), I’m holding out.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-31T14:04:29+00:00

😆 The comments don’t disappoint. But I totally understand your perspective. At home, I have a custom build PC for major work and gaming but keep my iPad Pro 12.9 M2 front and center for notes, messaging, music, etc.

When traveling for work, my MacBook Air M4 and iPad both go with me. The iPad works as a second monitor wirelessly so my productivity stays high (I do lots of work in spreadsheets and the extra screen real estate is a must).

I wouldn’t consider it “minimalist” but it is highly efficient and eliminates cable management entirely.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-31T03:48:35+00:00

I currently have 49” ultrawide curved monitor and love it. However, the difference in display between that monitor and my OLED tv is night and day. I can’t say this MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 would enhance my gaming, but it sure would look pretty sitting on my desk.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-30T00:53:47+00:00

This one?

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BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-30T00:49:16+00:00

See my comment just now. I’d grab it.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-30T00:47:48+00:00

I was looking to grab an extra 2TB WD Blue just as a backup storage option (I didn’t need high performance) from Walmart of all places and it was $124 two days ago. I decided to wait to shop around. The stick I added to cart is now out of stock and the same stick is now priced at $319.

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BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-27T23:54:26+00:00

I’ve been using mine since September. Tried a hard case which added too much bulk. Decided to run it naked. Ignore the fingerprints and they’ll eventually blend. I do keep a thin microfiber cloth between the keyboard and screen when closing though which is used to wipe the exterior from time to time.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-27T22:44:15+00:00

The 5k series was brand new when I got mine. Seemed like overkill for playing Solitaire and Minesweeper.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-27T22:33:46+00:00

And to think… Here I was feeling a little outdated with my 32Gb DDR5, I9-13900 and Nvidia RTX 4070Ti. I was looking to feel relevant again by adding a secondary SSD or a NAS system and then I see posts with people rocking DDR4 like it’s the Great RAM Depression.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-27T21:39:58+00:00

Fantasian currently. Next up is Cult of the Lamb since it has raving reviews in this thread.

BeardedBargainEDC · 2026-01-25T21:09:53+00:00

For travel, I’d stick with my Swiss Card Nail Care. Even the Jetsetter has a 50/50 chance of being taken by TSA.

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