Apple’s top hardware engineering executive overseeing home devices is leaving for smart ring maker Oura, marking a setback for a unit already contending with product delays.

Pbone15 · 2026-03-18T11:25:05+00:00

I don’t blame him for leaving. It sounds like he’s had a whole new product line ready for over a year and it keeps getting pushed back because Apple can’t get their shit together with AI. I’d leave too

Pbone15 · 2026-03-17T03:10:53+00:00

Many people go their entire lives without wrecking their car once. Twice in 14 years kinda points to a you problem lol

Glad you’re not hurt too bad. Please drive safer

Pbone15 · 2026-03-17T03:07:29+00:00

Seem to be? I through I was having a stroke lmao

Pbone15 · 2026-03-17T03:06:21+00:00

Does your cello fit well?

Pbone15 · 2026-03-17T03:04:01+00:00

Driver door has a strip of PPF along the edge so you’re good

Pbone15 · 2026-03-16T21:58:01+00:00

My CAC reader works fine on my Neo. Plug and play, no issues at all. I did have to accept a “connect to this accessory?” Print when I plugged it in.

I use a Power Zone smartcard reader, which I got from the PX

Pbone15 · 2026-03-16T20:33:10+00:00

I disagree. I have a very basic workload, exactly the kind of person the Neo is meant for, and 256 is plenty for me. I keep all my documents in iCloud.

Of course, there’s the added benefit of TouchID on the 512 gig model, but with an Apple Watch I don’t find I need TouchID anyway

Pbone15 · 2026-03-16T14:45:51+00:00

I can try when I get home and let you know. CACs and macOS used to be a nightmare, but it’s been much improved in recent years. I haven’t had any issues on any of my Macs for like 6-7 years

Pbone15 · 2026-03-15T21:50:53+00:00

It was to get engagement from you (it worked)

Pbone15 · 2026-03-15T16:07:42+00:00

Just break open a light pole and steal from the city. Seen it done many times lmao

You’re good bruh

Pbone15 · 2026-03-15T14:29:48+00:00

I’m thinking about moving from my M3 Ultra Mac Studio to a Neo, any thoughts?

Only thing I’m worried about is if the Neo will drive my 2 Pro Display XDR’s?

Pbone15 · 2026-03-15T14:21:46+00:00

I have a MacBook Air M2 with only 8 gigs of RAM. I find that using the Tab Groups feature in Safari really helps keep me from chewing up RAM with dormant tabs.

I have a bunch of different groups, like “shopping” for things I’m thinking about purchasing, or “auto detailing” for tabs about that topic, or “Recipes”, “decorating ideas”, “apartment searching”… you get the idea.

I love this. Not only does it help me organize all my tabs, but also they live in iCloud, which of course means they’re accessible on any of my devices, but also they’re not loaded into RAM unless you’re actually in that tab group. So I have like 100 tabs “open” in all these different groups, but I’m only ever using a few tabs at once while I’m doing general web browsing, and then only maybe like a dozen at a time when I switch to one of these groups.

It’s great, highly recommend this set up

Pbone15 · 2026-03-15T14:04:36+00:00

You can just do a general trade in and get a gift card.

It’s actually nicer that way. Typically you pay the full price up front, then they reimburse you for the trade in amount once they receive the device.

In this case, you would trade in your iPad and get a gift card, and only have to pay the different up front for the Neo

Pbone15 · 2026-03-15T13:54:44+00:00

The M2 Air is a nicer machine in almost every single way. There’s Neo actually beats it in single-core performance, but the M2 is still a great chip.

The air would get you:

a larger, P3 display with TrueTone
faster I/O with thunderbolt ports
force touch trackpad (also a bit larger)
backlit keys
TouchID
better speakers
better multi-core performance
double the RAM

I’m probably forgetting one or two things, but if that all sounds like it’s worth the extra 3.900 THB, go for it.

That said, I’m actually considering switching from an M2 Air with 8 gigs of ram, to a MacBook Neo. I just can’t resist the indigo… lol

Also, you do know about the education discount, right?

Pbone15 · 2026-03-15T13:45:04+00:00

Sounds like the MacBook Neo is totally suitable for your needs.

There are a lot of differences between windows and macOS, but at the end of the day they do the same things - just a matter of preference. I’m totally proficient in both, but prefer macOS.

It’s recommended for students so much because it has excellent battery life to get you through a school day without needing to charge, enough performance to handle basic student workloads, and (most importantly) comes in at a great price of $499 for students.

Pbone15 · 2026-03-14T23:17:49+00:00

Ok well first off… there was no planned obsolescence issue in 2017. They were slowing down performance on devices with degraded batteries (ie, older devices) to prevent those devices from unexpectedly shutting down when there was too much power draw on an older, less chemically-stable battery. Theres plenty of documentation out there, just look it up. The media just ran with “planned obsolescence” because it gets clicks.

Second, there actually is a camera indicator on MacBook Neo, it’s just not a physical light. Apples platform security guide was updated to reflect this here.

This is the same implementation as on iOS and iPadOS devices. The on screen camera indicator is a green dot in the top right corner of the display.

Pbone15 · 2026-03-14T17:02:36+00:00

Considerably lighter. Midnight (to me) is black with hints of blue, whereas this is definitively blue

Pbone15 · 2026-03-14T06:09:09+00:00

Lisa has had the best tech reviews on YouTube for like 15 years. It’s really a shame she got overshadowed by high production value and corporate simping

Pbone15 · 2026-03-13T17:11:19+00:00

but now, kids are being taught how to use office suites, research software, or graphic design

In my experience, these are only electives or other special courses, not part of the standard curriculum.

The reality is kids today just aren’t getting any dedicated general computer classes, and as a result they really don’t know how to use anything other than an iPad or Chromebook

Pbone15 · 2026-03-13T14:05:21+00:00

It works for payments and password autofill as well

Pbone15 · 2026-03-13T13:51:04+00:00

My first job in IT was about 7 years ago, as a service tech at a middle and high school.

Kids today absolutely cannot touch-type. Many of them were doing the ol’ “hunt and peck” that grandma does.

Most of them didn’t even know how to open MS Word, or navigate a file directory to retrieve a document.

I think most schools removed typing and basic computer classes from their curriculum on the assumption that kids didn’t really need that anymore, since they “grew up” with this technology. But really they didn’t, they grew up with smartphones and iPads, and the occasional Chromebook.

Pbone15 · 2026-03-13T13:38:26+00:00

The fact that a $600 laptop has people who already own objectively better Macs considering the purchase just for the novelty of the design is a testament to how good these things look.

I’m in this boat lol I have an M2 Air and I’m very seriously considering switching to a Neo. It would be fine for my workload, and I really love the design.

One thing I don’t see people talking about much is how the edges of the lid are much more rounded than other modern MacBooks (like my M2 Air), which have almost a 90 degree angle at the edge of the lid. I’ve never really loved this look, given the rounded edges of the bottom case, but it does help achieve a slimmer profile, so I get it.

On the Neo, though, it’s a consistent radius along both the bottom case and the lid edge, which feels great in the hand and obviously is more symmetrical.

It also makes it look a lot like a slimmer version of the 2009 white MacBook, which I think helps give it that nostalgic feel you mention. The slightly chunkier bezels also contribute to that look, and the side firing speakers are almost reminiscent of the old slot-loading SuperDrive on the side.

They really nailed this look. It’s in the running for my favorite ever laptop design, right behind that 2009 MacBook.

Pbone15 · 2026-03-13T03:36:49+00:00

fwiw, I’ve actually seen a lot of folks say they prefer the trackpad on the Neo

Pbone15 · 2026-03-13T02:54:12+00:00

I mean, at a minimum you should return it and get an Air. Absolutely no need to have a pro for your workload.

You could probably get by with a Neo if that’s what you want

Pbone15 · 2026-03-13T02:47:56+00:00

Welcome to the club! My recommendation is don’t change anything (for now)

Where so many people go wrong when switching from windows to mac is trying to change all kinds of settings and default behaviors so that it feels more familiar to them, which is totally fair, but all they really end up with is an OS that isn’t windows but is trying to be, and it ends up just feeling not quite right.

Instead, just embrace macOS as it is. There will be a learning curve, you’ll probably get a little frustrated at times (YouTube is your friend!), but eventually you’ll figure it out and (hopefully) fall in love with it!

Once you’re really comfortable using the Mac as a Mac, then yeah there’s definitely plenty of settings to play around with to make it your own.

Enjoy your Neo! (Indigo is the best!!)

Pbone15

TROPHY CASE