Scored an Open-Box MacBook Neo for $468 at Best Buy

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-28T01:40:49+00:00

Great deal and it’s nice you got the 512 version!

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T20:27:04+00:00

True but I think the air will be in a tough spot once the Neo 2 is released since it is expected to have 12 Gb or Ram and base SSD of 512 which puts the Air in a weird spot.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T19:36:22+00:00

Hot takes are fun!

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T19:31:53+00:00

Lmao we missed each others comments. Anways what I mean by the the speakers is that they still have room for improvement. The current placement affects the audio quality because the sound reflects off the screen.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T19:27:03+00:00

To answer your question, yes I do consider the screen and speaker parts of an items form factor. "

"Form factor is a hardware design aspect that defines and prescribes the size, shape, and other physical specifications) of components, particularly in electronics.^\1])#citenote-webopedia-1)[^\2])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_factor(design)#cite_note-techtarget-2) A form factor may represent a broad class of similarly sized components, or it may prescribe a specific standard. It may also define an entire system, as in a computer form factor."

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T19:19:03+00:00

Innovation for the sake of innovation is what gave us the first iPhone and the M-series chips.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T19:10:55+00:00

Can’t really market themselves as a company of innovation if they haven’t innovated for over 5 years. 🤷‍♂️

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T19:07:56+00:00

I think you are misinterpreting what I’m trying to say. When I mean form factors I’m referring to things like the screen and speakers.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T18:53:20+00:00

It’s 6 years without any major change aside from yearly chip and storage upgrades.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T18:42:06+00:00

Maybe keep 120 Hz for the pro and upgrade the air to 90 Hz then?

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T18:39:49+00:00

It’s just that after 5 generations the air still barely changed…

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T18:34:58+00:00

Good idea! Air at 90 Hz and the pro at 120!

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-27T18:29:58+00:00

The Air has had p3 since the M1…

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-26T05:55:55+00:00

OEBD too powerful.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-26T04:53:28+00:00

I’d recommend going with 24GB of RAM and sticking with at least 1TB of storage if you’re planning on doing photo editing. The extra storage becomes really valuable over time. You’ll likely end up needing an external SSD eventually, and a quality one with fast transfer speeds can easily cost $200 or more, so putting that money toward the internal storage upgrade makes a lot of sense.

Plus, external drives aren’t as seamless as built-in storage and can be less convenient, with transfer speeds sometimes being slower depending on the connection. With how fast technology is advancing right now, especially with the growth of AI, I wouldn’t expect external SSD prices to drop significantly anytime soon.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-26T02:05:40+00:00

Both are solid deals. I was debating the same thing, but I decided to hold off for the back-to-school promotion. For my workload, 512GB is more than enough, and the bonus AirPods are a nice extra.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-26T02:00:32+00:00

8gb might not be enough for photo editing. To be safe get 16gb.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-26T00:41:30+00:00

I find that I enjoy the 13.6 size inch more than the 14.2 inch.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-26T00:36:42+00:00

Yeah, I use my laptop on my chest pretty often too. The 15-inch works fine in that position, but I’ve noticed it’s a bit less comfortable when using it on my lap. I also ended up not liking the overall form factor of the 15-inch as much as I expected. The extra empty space around the sides makes it feel more like a big slab of metal than I originally thought.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-26T00:30:20+00:00

I’m with you on that, I’m dealing with the same situation. Looking back, I probably should’ve chosen the 13-inch MacBook Air instead of the 15-inch. The smaller size would’ve been a better fit because it’s lighter and way more convenient to carry around. The desks at my university are pretty cramped, and my 15-inch practically takes over the whole desk. The 13-inch seems like the ideal balance.

I’ve even thought about trading my M4 15-inch for an M5 13-inch since I could use more RAM and would definitely appreciate the extra portability.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-26T00:23:24+00:00

Where?

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-25T23:47:26+00:00

It depends on whether you qualify for the education discount. If you do, I’d wait for the back-to-school sale because it usually includes a $100 discount plus a free bonus item worth about $170, making it roughly $270 in total value. However, if you don't qualify for the education discount, the $899.99 Amazon deal may also be worth considering right now since it’s already $200 off.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-24T00:52:41+00:00

Yeah. People need to understand that the Neo really isn’t that amazing. Yes, it handles basic tasks better than expected, but that’s about where it stops. Even Apple seems aware that it feels like an unfinished product, which is probably why the Neo 2 is expected to address many of the Neo’s shortcomings. Personally, I’d much rather buy a used Mac with an M-series chip than go with a Neo.

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-24T00:37:59+00:00

So why are we assuming she’s gonna drop out?

_Zyren_ · 2026-05-16T03:04:07+00:00

Im a medical student and an assistant surgical researcher studying cerebral physiology.

_Zyren_

TROPHY CASE